Bucephalandra Giant Motleyana

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Buce Motleyana; Giant Motleyana Buce

Synonyms

Bucephalandra 'Giant Motleyana'

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Indonesia (Borneo)

Habitat

Rheophyte clinging to rocks and driftwood along fast-flowing, shaded forest streams and waterfalls in Borneo; grows emersed in the dry season and submersed when water levels rise.

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Rhizome

Max height

2 – 4 in (5.1 – 10 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Foreground, Midground

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

2 – 12 dGH

dKH

1 – 5 dKH

PAR

20 – 50 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Not needed

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Low

Colors

Green, Blue, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Rhizome division

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Care guide

Overview

Growing larger than most Bucephalandra cultivars, Giant Motleyana produces elongated dark olive leaves on a creeping rhizome that spreads slowly across hardscape. Under moderate light the foliage takes on a metallic blue cast, forming a dense architectural clump rather than a low carpet. Best fixed to wood or rock above the substrate, it suits patient keepers over fast results.

Care

Bucephalandra Giant Motleyana adapts well to a range of light levels but colors up best under moderate lighting, developing a metallic blue sheen on its dark olive leaves as it matures. Growth is very slow, so algae control and stable water conditions matter more than routine trimming. It tolerates both submersed and emersed setups and does well in shaded corners of a tank where faster-growing plants might struggle.

Planting & trimming

Attach the rhizome to driftwood or rock using thread, fishing line, or cyanoacrylate gel, keeping the rhizome itself above the substrate at all times since burial causes rot. Roots can be tucked into crevices or allowed to grip the hardscape naturally as the plant establishes. Trimming is rarely needed given the slow growth rate; simply remove any melted or decaying leaves as they appear.

Fertilizing

Nutrients are absorbed mostly through the leaves and roots directly from the water column rather than from substrate, so a steady dose of liquid all-in-one fertilizer supports healthy growth. No root tabs or nutrient-rich substrate are required since the rhizome is never buried. Added CO2 is not mandatory but noticeably speeds growth and intensifies leaf coloration.

Propagation

Propagate by cutting or snapping the creeping rhizome into sections with a sharp, sterile blade, ensuring each piece retains a few healthy leaves and some roots. Anchor the new sections to separate pieces of hardscape and allow them to reattach before disturbing further.

Problems

New specimens, especially those grown emersed before purchase, often drop a few leaves after submersion in a process known as buce melt, but the rhizome typically pushes new growth if it stays firm and undamaged. The main long-term risk is rhizome rot from burial in substrate or abrupt shifts in water chemistry. Slow leaf turnover also makes older foliage susceptible to black beard algae and green spot algae if light or flow is excessive.

Sources

1. Bucephalandra motleyana care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
2. Buce Motleyana (Bucephalandra motleyana) Care Guide & Plant Profile | Guidarium
3. Bucephalandra motleyana Care Guide & Tank Setup | Atlarium
4. Bucephalandra Giant Motleyana - Aquascaping Plant

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