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Bucephalandra Dark Velvet

Bucephalandra sp. 'Dark Velvet'

One of 17 forms of Bucephalandra sp. · See all forms →

Also known as Buce Dark Velvet, Bucephalandra sp. 'Velvet' 'Dark', Bucephalandra Velvet Dark

FreshwaterRhizomeRhizome division

Forms · Bucephalandra sp.

See all 17 →

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
Temperature
70–82°F (21–28°C)
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
4–12 dGH
Max height
3.1 in (8 cm)
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Origin
Borneo (Indonesia)
Family
Araceae

Overview

Glue or thread the rhizome onto rock or wood and never bury it, or it rots. It is content under low light, where the leaves stay darkest and cleanest; more light plus CO2 brings out the iridescence and a few extra leaves, but also invites algae on foliage this slow, so keep the balance conservative. Stability matters more than any target number, since a sharp swing in temperature or pH can melt a whole clump. Divide the rhizome to propagate.

In the wild

Dark Velvet is a trade variety of Bucephalandra from Borneo, where the genus grows as rheophytes gripping rock in fast, clean forest streams, fully submersed in the wet season and emersed along the banks as levels drop. Hobby stock is farmed or tissue cultured rather than wild collected.

Good to know

Bucephalandra (family Araceae, tribe Schismatoglottideae) is a Bornean genus whose trade names rarely map onto described species, and Dark Velvet is a commercial name, not a taxon. It is sold as the darker end of the Velvet line, with slender, slightly wavy leaves in deep green to near black that flash blue, purple and bronze iridescence under aquarium light.

Did you know

Dark Velvet works backwards from red stem plants: the near-black look is deepest under modest light, and cranking the light mostly earns you algae on leaves that grow a few millimetres a month.

Appears in

Low-light plants · Epiphytes · Beginner plants

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