I am a bucephalandra addict. It started with a couple of buces I received in a plant package about 2 years ago and now in 2015 alone I've spent about $500 on buces so far. I do not have collectoritis (I don't even keep very good IDs on most of them) but I do love many things about them, specifically:
1. Their colors -- Whites, pinks, every shade of green, blues (!!), greyish tones, browns, and so forth.
2. Their flowers -- Many flower regularly and in my main buce tank I have usually around 2-3 flowering at a time.
3. Their unique leaf structures and types -- Big types (check out Dark Achilles, cascade king, gaja mada, pink lady), small types (super mini catharine, pygmea, arrogant blue mini)... sizes and shapes for days!
4. Their requirements -- Pressurized CO2 definitely helps with growth (and algae prevention) but is certainly not required. Low tech friendly (just watch out for algae growth as they are not fast growers)!
5. Their versatility -- The sheer variety of them allow for some incredible 'scaping possibilities, particularly in Nature-Style aquariums.
Things I do not like about them:
1. Their cost -- Expect to pay $5-$10 for very small plantlets and $10-$30 for older specimens. Some of the rarer types easily go for $100+.
So get on the buce bandwagon, AA! Let's get some trading going on and drive down total costs! I'll post some pics of mine later, anyone else who has them post pictures too!
Here are some informative resources for those new to buces:
Bucephalandra - all in one - Plant Physiology & Emersed Culture - Aquatic Plant Central
Lets Talk Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra Blog
Bucephalandra Species | Bucephalandra
1. Their colors -- Whites, pinks, every shade of green, blues (!!), greyish tones, browns, and so forth.
2. Their flowers -- Many flower regularly and in my main buce tank I have usually around 2-3 flowering at a time.
3. Their unique leaf structures and types -- Big types (check out Dark Achilles, cascade king, gaja mada, pink lady), small types (super mini catharine, pygmea, arrogant blue mini)... sizes and shapes for days!
4. Their requirements -- Pressurized CO2 definitely helps with growth (and algae prevention) but is certainly not required. Low tech friendly (just watch out for algae growth as they are not fast growers)!
5. Their versatility -- The sheer variety of them allow for some incredible 'scaping possibilities, particularly in Nature-Style aquariums.
Things I do not like about them:
1. Their cost -- Expect to pay $5-$10 for very small plantlets and $10-$30 for older specimens. Some of the rarer types easily go for $100+.
So get on the buce bandwagon, AA! Let's get some trading going on and drive down total costs! I'll post some pics of mine later, anyone else who has them post pictures too!
Here are some informative resources for those new to buces:
Bucephalandra - all in one - Plant Physiology & Emersed Culture - Aquatic Plant Central
Lets Talk Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra Blog
Bucephalandra Species | Bucephalandra