Fenestratarum Mulyadii

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Fenestratarum Mulyadi

Synonyms

Fenestratarum mulayadii

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Indonesia (East Kalimantan, Borneo)

Habitat

Grows on rocks and wood along the banks of fast-flowing, shaded tropical streams and near waterfalls in Bornean rainforest, often emersed in splash zones.

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Rhizome

Max height

2 – 6 in (5.1 – 15 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Foreground, Midground

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

5.5 – 7.5

GH

3 – 8 dGH

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Not needed

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Low

Colors

Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Rhizome division

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Care guide

Overview

Leaves reach 2 to 6 inches on a thick creeping rhizome, forming dense tufts of slender, leathery foliage with ruffled margins. Growth is slow and best under low to medium light with gentle flow, mounted to wood or rock rather than buried. Stable water chemistry and modest fertilizing keep leaves clean and rot at bay.

Care

This rare Bornean aroid grows slowly from a thick creeping rhizome, producing slender, leathery, ruffled leaves in dense tufts. It does best under low to medium light with gentle to moderate flow, mimicking the shaded streams it comes from in the wild. Stable water parameters are important, as sudden shifts in temperature or chemistry tend to trigger leaf melt and rhizome rot, so it suits keepers already experienced with Bucephalandra or Anubias.

Planting & trimming

Attach the rhizome to driftwood or rock using thread, fishing line, or cyanoacrylate glue rather than planting it in substrate, since a buried rhizome will rot. Remove any rockwool or pot material from the roots before mounting. It can be grown fully submerged or emersed in high-humidity paludariums and vivariums.

Fertilizing

A complete liquid fertilizer with trace elements, including iron, magnesium and calcium, supports steady leaf production, since deficiencies can cause pale or distorted new growth. Root tabs are not needed since the plant is epiphytic and absorbs nutrients through its leaves and rhizome rather than roots buried in substrate. CO2 injection is optional but tends to speed up otherwise very slow growth.

Propagation

New plants are produced by dividing the rhizome once it has grown large enough, cutting it into sections with a few leaves and healthy roots on each piece using sharp, clean scissors or a blade. Divisions can then be reattached to hardscape and left undisturbed to re-establish.

Problems

Because growth is so slow, leaves can quickly become coated in algae if lighting or nutrient balance is off, so placement in lower-flow, shadier spots away from intense light helps keep them clean. Melt and rhizome rot most often follow burial of the rhizome or abrupt changes in water chemistry. Older leaves naturally yellow and should be trimmed away at the base to keep the plant tidy.

Sources

1. Fenestratarum Mulyadii
2. Fenestratarum mulayadii
3. Fenestratarum Mulyadii - Freshwater Aquascaping Plant
4. Fenestratum "Mulyadi" - PremiumBuces

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