Bucephalandra Study Group

[gnatster]

You going to try it?

Added it to my projects list.

I've done something similar in a past life. I've found, through some cursory research, that the equipment has matured since my foray in the 90's. With the hydroponic/indoor grow market out of the closet, there are legit horticultural companies with lots of products. Inkbird offers an inexpensive controller, and there are many inexpensive CO2 monitors on the market.

 

[BranchScape]

Has anyone here had experience with the Dark Skeleton King variety of Bucephalandra?

I’m considering adding it to my 120P, but I’ve seen some notes suggesting it may be better suited for terrariums or paludariums, as seems to be the case with many of the larger‑leaf Buce varieties. I’ve been interested in doing an immersed grow‑out of Buce for a while, so I’m trying to gauge how well this one actually performs long‑term under full submersion.

If feedback on submerged growth and lifespan isn’t great, I’ll likely still pick it up and reserve it for a paludarium build instead. Skeleton King has been on my list for some time, so that may ultimately be the better application if submerged performance is mixed.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Just want to add to this post and tie it in with Dennis' recent post:

Post in thread 'Competition to bury Java fern, Bucephalandra and Anubias rhizomes.'

Mar 9, 2026

This post is perfect timing, I love all of your mythbusting in this hobby.

I can add my experience as well, representing the inert-substrate side in this exploration of planting "epiphytes/rheophytes" directly in the substrate. You'll cover this on the leaner, rich-aquasoil side of the hobby, I'll try it on the inert-substrate-rich-column-dosing side

I recently did a semi-reset on my experiment tank and about 3 weeks ago I planted 5 different bucephalandra species directly into the inert (BDBS ) sand:



Most I planted with the roots in the substrate...

• Naturescapes_Rocco

• 
• 

I'm growing buce planted in inert sand. Some of them even have the rhizome buried fully under the sand, and are putting out new leaves!

Has anyone here had experience with the Dark Skeleton King variety of Bucephalandra?

I’m considering adding it to my 120P, but I’ve seen some notes suggesting it may be better suited for terrariums or paludariums, as seems to be the case with many of the larger‑leaf Buce varieties. I’ve been interested in doing an immersed grow‑out of Buce for a while, so I’m trying to gauge how well this one actually performs long‑term under full submersion.

If feedback on submerged growth and lifespan isn’t great, I’ll likely still pick it up and reserve it for a paludarium build instead. Skeleton King has been on my list for some time, so that may ultimately be the better application if submerged performance is mixed.

@Mr.Shenanagins gave skeleton king a try in this post!

 

[anewbie]

Has anyone here had experience with the Dark Skeleton King variety of Bucephalandra?

I’m considering adding it to my 120P, but I’ve seen some notes suggesting it may be better suited for terrariums or paludariums, as seems to be the case with many of the larger‑leaf Buce varieties. I’ve been interested in doing an immersed grow‑out of Buce for a while, so I’m trying to gauge how well this one actually performs long‑term under full submersion.

If feedback on submerged growth and lifespan isn’t great, I’ll likely still pick it up and reserve it for a paludarium build instead. Skeleton King has been on my list for some time, so that may ultimately be the better application if submerged performance is mixed.

I have some variety of skeleton king (not sure if it was buce or someone else) that is growing ok emersed; i could never get it to grow submersed in different environments but i did not try hard water - just soft and very very soft.

 

[anewbie]

Just want to add to this post and tie it in with Dennis' recent post:

Post in thread 'Competition to bury Java fern, Bucephalandra and Anubias rhizomes.'

Mar 9, 2026

This post is perfect timing, I love all of your mythbusting in this hobby.

I can add my experience as well, representing the inert-substrate side in this exploration of planting "epiphytes/rheophytes" directly in the substrate. You'll cover this on the leaner, rich-aquasoil side of the hobby, I'll try it on the inert-substrate-rich-column-dosing side

I recently did a semi-reset on my experiment tank and about 3 weeks ago I planted 5 different bucephalandra species directly into the inert (BDBS) sand:



Most I planted with the roots in the substrate...

• Naturescapes_Rocco

• 
• 

I'm growing buce planted in inert sand. Some of them even have the rhizome buried fully under the sand, and are putting out new leaves!


@Mr.Shenanagins gave skeleton king a try in this post!

In truth i never had problems burying rhizome for buces; but for most anubia it seems to be instant rot; java fern has been more mixed but it leans to the rot side of things.

 

[BranchScape]

I am giving up on Skeleton King and going to try Schismatoglottis Reseopatha.. I find it interesting to try other Buce adjacent plants and have some Piptospatha Ridleyi in my AIO 20g currently. I am following the Buce planted carpet attempts, I hope it works as that would look amazing.

 

[snowballs99]

I am giving up on Skeleton King and going to try Schismatoglottis Reseopatha.. I find it interesting to try other Buce adjacent plants and have some Piptospatha Ridleyi in my AIO 20g currently. I am following the Buce planted carpet attempts, I hope it works as that would look amazing.

Never had it work.
Tried 3 times.
Co2 injected as well.

Only people Ive seen grow it well was in emersed set ups. Quite a shame because it's a good looking plant. Also ashame buceplant still sells it despite probably knowing this.

 

[Capraquaria]

The 3 assorted bunches, each with 3 varieties, arrived today.

Split them evenly between 2 containers
Container 1 - ControSoil and Lava Rock with GLA Fertilizer capsule granule at each plant site.
Container 2 - Eggcrate, RO Water to the base of the eggcrate with 2 drops APT3

Container 1

Looking forward to seeing how your experiment does! I had some Buce arrive yesterday for my upcoming build, but am still in a dark start for my current build and my farm tank is full! After watching this video earlier in the week, I set up something similar yesterday with GLA liquid Macros/Micros in the water solution.

...Endless Buce Video...

I have a four-shelf plant propagation rack that I use for garden seed starts, that sits idle most of the year once transplanting is done, so at least I can put it to good use in the off-season. I opted for this method in the hopes of dodging some of the fungus/mold issues I have seen in some cases when trying emersed Buce propagation with soils. Now I am super curious to follow your experiment with controlsoil/lava rock vs. the nutritive water method.



I will split mine in half into another container later today, as they are a bit crowded (I was in a hurry when they arrived yesterday), but was considering trying a smidge of Seachem Flourish Advance in one container, and not the other. Buce is so slow growing, I know adding a phytohormone may not make a difference, but I am curious if it does, and it certainly never hurts to try. Just Kedagang in this box, but I have a couple of more rare Buces on the way that I would love to keep going in case of in-tank losses, or the desire to add more at a later date, if this method works out.

 

[gnatster]

Refer back to this post Bucephalandra Study Group for previous images.

It's been about 6 weeks. The main difference I am seeing is in root growth. Plants on the substrate are showing better root growth than those on the eggcrate. Few, if any, new leaves have appeared. We also went through quite a cold spell here, with ambient temps in the house in the mid-60s instead of the normal 70ish. Lighting is different between posts.

 

[gnatster]

I've had this going for 259 days or ~9 months. Some have been harvested for other projects along the way.

Kedagang Red and Super Mini Ghost. Both from TC.

July 8, 2025



March 23, 2026

 

[JayP]

Good to see positive results but man, at these rates of growth, doesn't seem like a great cash cow.

 

[gnatster]

Good to see positive results but man, at these rates of growth, doesn't seem like a great cash cow.

Not this time. There are more lucrative crops. This is all for fun. I've taken a liking to Buce, bordering on colectoritis.

 

[Capraquaria]

Refer back to this post Bucephalandra Study Group for previous images.

It's been about 6 weeks. The main difference I am seeing is in root growth. Plants on the substrate are showing better root growth than those on the eggcrate.

Interesting, and it seems you managed to avoid any fungus or mold growth with the lava stone and soil combo. I am curious if the RO water you used for the eggcrate samples, was it remineralized prior to adding the APT3? I ask for two reasons. The first being that we know that aquasoils are typically rich in minerals, and I do recall reading that 2HR always uses APT SKY when growing buces, to raise GH of the water to approx 5dGH. If your RO was not remineralized, I am just wondering if that may account for some of the differences in initial root growth between the soil vs. RO setup?

 

[gnatster]

I am curious if the RO water you used for the eggcrate samples, was it remineralized prior to adding the APT3?

I did not remineralize the RO water in the eggcrate sample. I didn't think of that.

it seems you managed to avoid any fungus or mold growth with the lava stone and soil combo

So far. I have another container started back in July that has been a slimy mess. I need to try to clean it up yet again. The odd bit has been that the 2 rows on the right side were horrible-looking, melty bits of rhizome I took a gamble on. They've come back; the others in the box have not fared as well.

Far Right - Green Godzilla x3
Next row in - Brownie Blue x4



Edit: Add image

 

[snowballs99]

Interesting, and it seems you managed to avoid any fungus or mold growth with the lava stone and soil combo. I am curious if the RO water you used for the eggcrate samples, was it remineralized prior to adding the APT3? I ask for two reasons. The first being that we know that aquasoils are typically rich in minerals, and I do recall reading that 2HR always uses APT SKY when growing buces, to raise GH of the water to approx 5dGH. If your RO was not remineralized, I am just wondering if that may account for some of the differences in initial root growth between the soil vs. RO setup?

Mold is only prevelent in warmer temps and strong lighting (which also raises temp).

Adaptation Stress on the plant seems to be a big factor on if it gets fungus/mold too.

 

[gnatster]

Update since March 23 Post

The container with lava rock, aquasoil, and root tabs is doing much better.

 

[JayP]

Update since March 23 Post

The container with lava rock, aquasoil, and root tabs is doing much better.

View attachment 15867View attachment 15868

Note to self: Buce do not like eggcrate.

 

[snowballs99]

Note to self: Buce do not like eggcrate.

look fairly similar to me.
Egg-crate probably started off less grown in buce.

Some discoloring on leaves, but newer leaves look correct. So most likely just adaptation.
I really don't like growing them hydroponically though, being completely dependent on you fertilizing every week doesn't end well long term.

 

[Capraquaria]

Update since March 23 Post

The container with lava rock, aquasoil, and root tabs is doing much better.

That does make me wonder if the water/egg-crate method might be relatively nutrient-limiting? Did you start your soil/lava rock one with brand new soil? Part of why I chose the hydroponic method initially was out of concern for new aquasoils tending to produce excess ammonia at the start (I had that thought with the one you posted previously with the slimy issue), potentially contributing to initial melt. I suppose 'used aquasoil' with root tabs would also be an option to get around that, though.

 

[Art]

Update on my setup - it is no more. I can confirm the ebb and flow hydroponics is not good for Buce or Crypts.

I've pivoted to the old way of substrate planted in pots. I'll post a picture when I can.

While it seems the plastic bin method is more common now-a-days, I really like to see my plants easily so I use an aquarium with a lid. The pots allow me to control things better, IMO, and I can change the water and control the nutrients easier.

Yes, I am a control freak.