TankBud

Bucephalandra goliath

Also known as Buce Goliath, Bucephalandra 'Goliathe', Bucephalandra 'Jupiter'

FreshwaterRhizomeRhizome division

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
7.9 in (20 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Borneo (Nanga Pinoh and Nanga Taman area, West Kalimantan, Indonesia)

Overview

Bucephalandra goliath is one of the few Buce big enough for the background of a tank. It is easy to keep, though it grows slowly.

Did you know

Old Goliath stems keep branching in the wild and hang off the waterfall rock as curtains more than 1 m long.

Caring for Bucephalandra goliath

Mount the thick rhizome high on driftwood or stone, well above the substrate, with room for the long leaves. Glue or tie it in place, since a buried rhizome rots.

Bucephalandra goliath needs only low to medium light, and it grows without added CO2. Injected CO2 speeds up its slow growth. It takes nutrients from the water as well as through its roots, so liquid fertilizer does more for it than root tabs. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).

Large shop plants stand 15 to 30 cm tall. Over the years the stem climbs and turns bare, leaving a tuft of leaves at the top. Cut a leafy tip from an old stem to start a new plant, or divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each.

Good to know

Bucephalandra goliath is an aroid (Araceae) that S.Y. Wong and P.C. Boyce described in 2014 in Willdenowia volume 44. They named it after Goliath of Gath, the Philistine giant, for its large and robust build. Their paper gives Goliath, Goliathe and Jupiter as its trade names. The thick, leathery leaves are narrow ellipses 10 to 15 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide. Each sits on a stalk 5 to 6 cm long and has a red midrib underneath. Godzilla, another big Buce, has broader leaves with ruffled edges.

In the wild

Bucephalandra goliath is known only from around Nanga Pinoh in Melawi Regency and Nanga Taman in Sekadau Regency, in West Kalimantan on Borneo. The type specimen came from granite waterfalls south of Nanga Pinoh, at about 250 m under humid lower hill forest. Its wild colonies are scattered and very local.

Common questions

Does Bucephalandra goliath need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Bucephalandra goliath 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 goliath need CO2?

No, but it helps. Bucephalandra goliath can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Bucephalandra goliath need?

Bucephalandra goliath is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does Bucephalandra goliath need root tabs?

No. Bucephalandra goliath 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 goliath?

Bucephalandra goliath propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Bucephalandra goliath grow?

Bucephalandra goliath grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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