Borneo (trade clone, species and collection site unknown)
Overview
Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow is a tiny, slender-leaved Buce that stays about 2.5 to 5 cm tall. It is easy to keep and tucks into crevices and gaps between stones.
Did you know
Boyan Mini Narrow is small enough to work as a carpet. Buce Plant suggests a row of these 5 cm plants across the immediate foreground to form a low cover.
Caring for Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow
Anchor Boyan Mini Narrow to hardscape with glue or thread so the rhizome stays out of the substrate. A buried rhizome rots.
Its slow growth makes it prone to algae under bright light, so a partly shaded spot is easier to keep clean. Good LED light and steady nutrients can give the green leaves a metallic sheen. Injected CO2 is not required, though it deepens the color and speeds growth. It takes nutrients through its roots and from the water, so dose a liquid fertilizer, and keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).
Prune old, holed or decaying leaves to make room for new ones. Divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each to make new plants.
Good to know
Boyan Mini Narrow shares the family Araceae with Anubias and Cryptocoryne. Buce Plant says "Mini Narrow" in the clone's name refers to its petite size and thin leaves. The slender leaves are deep green, with a prominent pale midrib and hints of purple. Mini Coin, the other tiny Buce, has round leaves. A plant sold as plain "Boyan" at Aquatic Motiv is a different clone, with broad, glossy leaves.
In the wild
Boyan Mini Narrow is a trade clone of unknown species. Its name matches Boyan Tanjung, a district of Kapuas Hulu Regency in West Kalimantan, but no seller says it was collected there. Bucephalandra are rheophytes, plants adapted to fast water, rooting on rocks in the rivers of Borneo's lowland rainforest. Many spend dry months above the waterline and return to submersed growth when the rivers rise.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.
Does Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow need?
Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.
How do you propagate Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow?
Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.
How tall does Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow grow?
Bucephalandra Boyan Mini Narrow grows to about 2 in (5 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)