Overview: Coming from the Bucephalandra genus, ‘Pygmy’ is a beautiful plant that you can grow in tanks and terrariums. It is native to Borneo, one of the largest islands in the world, where this plant can be seen growing in and around the fast-flowing water (rivers and streams). The small size and ability to grow well in a wide range of water and high humid conditions make Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ one of the most favourable plants for hobbyists. It thrives perfectly when attached to hardscape elements in the tanks and terrariums. In this way, it increases the look of your setup– be it an aquarium or terrarium. One can grow Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ as a foreground or midground plant in the tank due to its small size. The growth of this plant is also slow, which is again an ideal condition for beginners.
Appearance: Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ is a compact plant. The leaves are small and elongated. You can see slight waviness as well in the leaves, making them more attractive. The leaves emerge from a thick rhizome. While the leaves are deep green, hints of blue, purple, and metallic tones make the plant aesthetically appealing. It also adds colors to the setup to some extent. The leaves' surface is glossy, which adds to giving the entire plant a premium and elegant look. Under proper conditions, Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ forms dense clusters, and this feature can be utilized by the hobbyists to enhance the depth of the aquascape and terrariums.
Hard/soft plant: Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ is a hardy plant with slow growth. It takes some time to acclimate to the new environment be it water or a new soil. However, once acclimatized, it can withstand a wide range of water and environmental conditions and survive even under minor fluctuations. Even though Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ is a delicate plant, it barely melts under water; therefore, kept under hardy plants. Still, you need to avoid sudden fluctuations in water parameters to avoid putting it under stress when grown in water. Likewise, when grown in terrarium, you should maintain proper humidity to ensure its survival.
Ideal temperature and humidity: Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ prefers temperatures between 22°C and 28°C. Keeping the temperature mostly low within this range will ensure healthier leaf structure and long-term stability of the plant. If the temperature goes beyond 28°C for a long duration, the growth will stunt and algae growth will also emerge on the leaves when grown in water. Similarly, when grown in terrarium, higher temperature will reduce humidity and this will affect plant’s health.
To ensure that Bucephalandra 'Pygmy' stays healthy, you need to maintain high humidity conditions inside the terrarium. Maintaining 70–90% humidity is the right decision as it will mimic the natural habitat (rainforest) for this plant. It will ensure that leaves stay healthy and do not curl. Closed or partially closed terrariums are ideal for maintaining stable moisture levels.
Lighting conditions: Low to medium light is considered the best for Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’. While extremely strong light will welcome algae growth, low light will also kill the plant when grown in aquarium. Maintain moderate lighting so that the plant develops rich color and compact growth. In terrarium, the light should be indirect or diffused as it will encourage leaf growth and better coloration. In direct light, the leaves will burn due to moisture loss.
Substrate requirements: For terrariums, make sure the soil or substrate is well-draining and rich in nutrients. You may try adding coco peat mix to create proper drainage in the soil. Another important thing is growing the plant by keeping the rhizome above the soil. When buried, the rhizome rots and the plant damages. The soil should never be water logged but moist in terrariums. However, when you are growing it in an aquarium, attaching to a hardscape is the best way to help it thrive.
Watering (terrarium): Water the plant in moderation. Avoid standing water for too long, as it will lead to root rot. Mist the terrarium once or twice a day to maintain moisture and keep the leaves appearing fresh and healthy. Avoid overwatering and ensure proper water drainage.
Air circulation (terrarium): Besides humidity, gentle air circulation is equally important for Bucephalandra 'Pygmy'. It will prevent fungal growth, which is a common problem in terrarium plants. Occasional ventilation by opening the terrarium or using small vents helps maintain fresh air exchange.
Trimming: Since Bucephalandra 'Pygmy' grows slowly, there is hardly any need to trim. However, you must remove the yellow, dead, and damaged leaves with the help of scissors to maintain a clean look. This will encourage airflow and a compact appearance of the plant.
Ideal water pH level (aquarium): pH should remain between 6 and 7.5 as it mimics the natural habitat of the water for Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’. When the water is slightly acidic, it helps plants to absorb nutrients better and thus promotes healthier leaves. It also encourages tints of various colors on the leaves.
Propagation: You can propagate Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ through rhizome division. Cut the rhizome carefully into smaller sections, making sure that each section has at least 3-4 healthy leaves. Now, tie or glue the new plantlets to the hardscape. After sometime, the plantlets will develop into healthy plants.
Other requirements:
For aquarium: Bucephalandra ‘Pygmy’ grows best when attached to any hardscape like driftwood, rock, etc. If you bury the rhizome, rotting will occur. Keep the water flow gentle as the plant is delicate. There is no need to add extra carbon dioxide, but supplementation will only help to enhance leaf color.
For terrarium: When grown in a terrarium, Bucephalandra 'Pygmy' prefers to stay at one location. Changing location frequently may put the plant under stress. You can give more natural look to the terrarium using Bucephalandra 'Pygmy' as it can grow attached to rocks or wood.
