Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble is a small, curly-leaved Buce to tuck into stone crevices or the foreground, where its leaves show up close. It is easy to keep and slow-growing.
Did you know
Rainbow Marble is sold by APF on a color range, and the shop warns that no plant will match its photo exactly. Two rhizomes from one batch can carry different mottling.
Caring for Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble
Glue or tie the rhizome in place and leave it uncovered. A buried rhizome rots.
Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble grows in low light, but moderate light shows the most color. Bright light lets algae settle on the slow leaves. CO2 is optional and speeds growth. It feeds from the water column as well as its roots, so use a liquid fertilizer rather than root tabs.
Plants may arrive with dark leaves and little pattern, since the marbling is unstable. Growth is slow, and trimming is rarely needed. Divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each to propagate.
Steady temperature and pH limit melt after planting. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).
Good to know
Rainbow Marble belongs to Bucephalandra, a Bornean genus of aroids in the family Araceae. Its small, elongated leaves have wavy, curling edges and run dark green to bronze. Patches of pink-red, purple or pale yellow mottle the surface, and the pattern changes from leaf to leaf. Variegated Marble is a separate plant, a Green Wavy sport with cream marbling on green leaves.
In the wild
Rainbow Marble has no published collection site, and its species is unknown. Wet Spot Tropical Fish sells it as Bucephalandra sp. nov., marking it as a new, undescribed species. The genus is native only to Borneo, where wild plants cling to boulders in rainforest streams. Shop stock of Rainbow Marble is farmed and sold potted or bare-root.
Common questions
Does Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble 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 Rainbow Marble need CO2?
No, but it helps. Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble need?
Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble need root tabs?
No. Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble 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 Rainbow Marble?
Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.
How tall does Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble grow?
Bucephalandra Rainbow Marble 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)