Photo: Drawing: Josef Seboth (1814-1883). Litography: O. Sommer (unknown) / Public domain

Bucephalandra Care

Bucephalandra motleyana · Araceae

🐾 Pet-safe 🎯 Moderate ☀️ Low light 💧 Every 7 days

🕮 5 min read 🕓 Last reviewed: 2026-08-23

Care at a glance

Light

Low light

Temperature

22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Soil

a nutrient-rich aquarium substrate (or attached to wood/rock)

Difficulty

Moderate

Mature size

5–15 cm (2–6 in)

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Care effort High

The short version

A little attention keeps it happy.
Give it Low light.
Water every 7–7 days.
Safe around cats and dogs.

The Bucephalandra (Bucephalandra motleyana) is an aquatic plant grown submerged in freshwater aquariums. It comes from Borneo and is rated Moderate to keep, reaching 5–15 cm. Here is how to grow it underwater — lighting, substrate, CO₂, placement and propagation.

Also known asBucephalandra motleyanaブセファランドラ辣椒榕

📋Quick facts

Growth rate	Slow
Mature size	5–15 cm (2–6 in)
Native region	Borneo
Plant family	Araceae
Toxicity	Non-toxic
Air-purifying	No
Ideal for	homes with pets, low-light rooms

⚖️Pros & cons

Pros

Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Tolerates low light
Compact — fits a desk or shelf

Cons

Needs high humidity to look its best
Slow grower — patience required

🐟Growing it in an aquarium

Keep the water at 22–28 °C. Stable, gently moving water and regular partial water changes keep it healthy; sudden swings in temperature or chemistry cause melting.

Light

Give it Low light-equivalent aquarium lighting. Low-tech tanks suit undemanding species; brighter light (and often CO₂) brings out the best colour and compact growth but also feeds algae, so balance it carefully.

Soil

Plant it in a nutrient-rich aquarium substrate (or attached to wood/rock). Rooted species are hungry feeders — use root tabs or a liquid aquarium fertiliser (and CO₂ for demanding types). Epiphytes like Anubias, Java fern and Bucephalandra must NOT be buried: tie or glue their rhizome to wood or rock, or they rot.

Its size and habit suit a spot in the foreground, midground or background depending on how tall it grows; trim and replant tops to keep it dense.

✂️How to propagate, step by step

Spring and early summer, during active growth, give the best success. Here is how to do it, step by step:

division at repotting

Water the plant the day before to reduce stress on the roots.
Slide it out of its pot and gently shake off the loose soil.
Tease the root ball into sections, each with healthy roots and a few shoots.
Pot each section into fresh mix at its original depth.
Water them in and keep out of direct sun for a week while they recover.

🔬Classification

Plant type	Aquatic plant
Genus	Bucephalandra
Family	Araceae · Araceae
Native to	Borneo

🩺Common problems

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
Melting or dissolving leaves	Shock from a new tank (common when settling in)	Be patient — trim mushy leaves; new submerged growth usually follows.
Algae on leaves or glass	Too much light or excess nutrients in the water	Cut the lighting period, reduce feeding, and add algae-eating clean-up crew.
Brown spots on leaves	Inconsistent watering, cold draughts, or fungal issues	Water evenly, keep it warm, and remove badly affected leaves.

🩺 Plant Doctor →

🐛Pests & prevention

The usual indoor pests are spider mites (fine webbing, speckled leaves), mealybugs (white cotton-wool tufts), scale (small brown bumps), and fungus gnats (tiny flies from soggy soil). Inspect any new plant before it joins the others, wipe the leaves now and then, and let the topsoil dry to keep gnats away. At the first sign, isolate the plant, wipe or rinse off what you can, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil every week until it is clear.

🐾Is it safe for pets?

Good news for pet owners: the Bucephalandra is considered non-toxic to both cats and dogs by the ASPCA. It is one of the safer choices for homes with animals, though eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

Toxicity information is a general guide based on ASPCA data. If your pet or child may have eaten any part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control right away.