Bucephalandra Godzilla is a slow, shade-loving epiphyte that lives on wood and stone rather than in the substrate. It is rated medium difficulty.
Did you know
Godzilla is one of the pricier Bucephalandra forms in the hobby. Its shimmering blue-green glow is not a pigment at all but light bouncing off microscopic structures in the leaf surface.
Caring for Bucephalandra Godzilla
Glue or tie the rhizome to rock or wood and leave it exposed. A buried rhizome rots, so keep it above the substrate even where the roots reach down.
Bucephalandra Godzilla grows in low light and needs no injected CO2. CO2 and gentle liquid dosing are not required, but they bring out the iridescence and firm up the leaves. It feeds from the water column as well as through its roots, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better than root tabs.
Growth is slow, and the plant rarely needs trimming. To propagate, divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, or cut off a side shoot once it has a few leaves.
Slow leaves collect algae, so give it partial shade and steady conditions. Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and match the temperature on water changes. Sudden swings, rather than warmth, are the usual trigger for melt.
Good to know
Bucephalandra Godzilla is an undescribed trade form in Araceae, the same family as Anubias, and it shares their rhizomatous epiphyte habit. The trade often links it to the Kedagang collections. Collectors named it Godzilla for its larger, bold, heavily ruffled leaves. Under good conditions the dark green leaves take on an iridescent bluish sheen, set off by pinkish-orange stems.
In the wild
Bucephalandra Godzilla is endemic to Borneo. It was collected from rocky, fast-flowing streams in Kalimantan, where it grows on stone in shade. Like its relatives, it grows emersed above the waterline in the dry season and submersed when rivers rise.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Godzilla need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Godzilla 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 Godzilla need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Godzilla can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Godzilla need?
Bucephalandra Godzilla is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Godzilla need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Godzilla 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 Godzilla?
Bucephalandra Godzilla propagates by rhizome division and side shoots. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and tie it down on its own.
How tall does Bucephalandra Godzilla grow?
Bucephalandra Godzilla grows to about 3.9 in (10 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)