Bucephalandra Brownie Jade has medium, rounded leaves and stands about 3.5 to 7.5 cm tall. Use it as foreground detail in a nano tank or as a midground accent in a larger one.
Did you know
The bright white specks on Brownie Jade's leaves are stomata, the tiny pores in the leaf surface. Many Bucephalandra carry them, and they show up best on dark, glossy leaves like these.
Caring for Bucephalandra Brownie Jade
Tie or glue the rhizome to stone or wood and leave it uncovered, since a buried rhizome tends to rot. Keep the water stable while the plant settles.
Low light and shade suit Brownie Jade, and a good LED shows off the gloss and the hint of blue on new leaves. It takes nutrients through its roots and from the water. CO2 and liquid fertilizer speed up its slow growth. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).
It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming. Split the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each to propagate it.
Good to know
Brownie Jade belongs to Bucephalandra, a genus of the arum family, Araceae. Wong and Boyce (2014) list the Brownie names among undetermined plants of the B. motleyana complex, so it carries no species name. Its leaves are rounded, smooth and glossy, jade to deep green, with a strong midrib and red stalks. It is greener and rounder-leaved than Brownie Blue or Brownie Ghost. The "Green Jade" and "Sanggau Green Jade" some shops sell are different plants.
In the wild
Brownie Jade is a trade clone, and none of the shops that sell it names a collection site. Its genus grows wild only on Borneo, where the roots grip rocks and boulders in fast, clear forest streams. The plants spend the wet season underwater and the dry season emersed in spray and humid air along the banks.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Brownie Jade need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Brownie Jade 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 Brownie Jade need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Brownie Jade can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Brownie Jade need?
Bucephalandra Brownie Jade is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Brownie Jade need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Brownie Jade 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 Brownie Jade?
Bucephalandra Brownie Jade propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.
How tall does Bucephalandra Brownie Jade grow?
Bucephalandra Brownie Jade grows to about 3.1 in (8 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.
Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Low lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)