Piptospatha sp.Kalimantan

Hello again everyone!
Sorry for such a long delay between posts, but after summer vacation was over, lots of work ensued! Nonetheless here is a post on a relatively new Aroid called Piptospatha sp.”Kalimantan”.

It has been around for quite some time, but again relatively newly introduced to the hobby. It isn’t the most flashy or interesting Aroid around, but it is interesting in it’s own way with a bright red petiole and spade-shaped leaves with finely serrated edging. This plant does get a little on the large side reaching heights of about 12 inches, and the leaves get to about 4 inches from top to bottom and 3 inches in width.

In terms of care, it thrives in a moderate amount of light, soft and acidic water. As with many if not all Aroids you will want to make sure not to bury the rhizome under the soil as it will rot and the plant will die. As opposed to some Aroids, this particular one cannot be attached onto wood or rock, it simply won’t take and will eventually die, it must be planted in a soil-like media. This is quite a tough and hardy Aroid, it can take a beating and is lenient to changes in it’s environment, also it does not have a “die-back” or melt period like with some other Aroids.

All in all this is an easy Aroid to grow, give it a shot if you have a chance to get it!
I hope you enjoyed this short post on the Piptospatha sp.”Kalimantan”
If you like what you are seeing please feel free to leave a comment!
Have a good one guys!
Inspire91

Anubias “Coin leaf”

I’m back from summer vacation!
Sorry for the long break between posts, but here I am again with a new and interesting plant! Today’s post will be on a new Anubias variety called “Coin leaf”.

I just recently found out about this variety from a good friend of mine. Like Anubias “Stardust”, this variety can at times be quite difficult to obtain, and comes from a source which can at times be quite “stingy” with their supply. Due to that circumstance getting your hands on this plant is quite a challenge.

This is the most popular of Anubias varieities here in Japan at this time. What makes this plant special is clear by the name given to it. The leaves are almost perfect circles, shaped just like coins. Even I must admit that the shape of the leaves have a unique allure to them.

This plant is easy to grow, not anymore demanding than the typical Anubias. The leaves get to a max diameter of about 2 inches. From the side this plant isn’t the prettiest, but when viewed from the top, a large mass of this Anubias is quite a sight!

I hope you enjoyed this short post on the Anubias “Coin leaf”.
If you like what you are seeing please feel free to leave a comment!
Have a good one guys!
Inspire91

Bucephelandra “Sekadau 1”

Hello all!
I’m here to present to you another Bucephelandra! This one is actually one of my top 3 favorites at the moment, and it goes by the name of B.”Sekadau 1″ I will be skipping the general information on the genus Bucephlandra. If you are interested in that information then you can find it in my first posts on Bucephelandra.

This particular variety actually is the 1st of (at this time) 3 different varieties of B.”Sekadau”. There is also #2 and #3, but today I will just be covering #1. It was collected by a shop here in Japan by the name of “Team Borneo”. In Japan their reputation is basically that they are well known for collecting a plethora of rare, unusual, and new freshwater plants and fish. They collected this one in Western Kalimantan in an area named “Sekadau”.

The defining characteristics of this variety which sets it apart from all the rest, in my opinion are the following:
1. First of all the leaf shape is very pleasing to the eye, slender and long. (approx. 2.5 inches in length max)
2. This characteristic goes hand in hand with #1, in that the long and slender leaves along with the very ruffled edges are so very eye-catching!
3. There is blue metallic sheen on the leaves
4. This variety doesn’t grow vertically very much, it’s more of a lateral-grower. It spreads out, more than it grows upward.

This like all other Bucephelandra can be grown in either soil or on top of a piece of wood or
rock. As pictured below, it is growing on a piece of wood.

A short, but concise write up on this beautiful Bucephelandra for all of you!
My next few posts will most likely be on a variety of aquatic plants, I’d like to get a post or 2 out within the next 2 weeks.
If you like what you are seeing please feel free to leave a comment!
Have a good one guys!
Inspire91

Bucephelandra sp. “Kualakuayan”#2

Hello again!
I hope all of you have been enjoying this series of posts so far! We’ve so far covered the varieties: Kuala Kayan#1, Kayu Lapis, and Kudakan (refer to my older posts for the write up on these). This is part 3 of my Bucephelandra series of posts, and today we will be covering Buceph. “Kualakuayan”#2.

As with many other Bucephelandra this variety can be grown on either wood/rock or planted in the soil. It is relatively easy to grow, but slow and I mean that in terms of Bucephelandra “slow”. It is easy to grow, but slow, it prefers soft (2-3 degrees) and acidic (6pH) water. It can easily be grown in a terrarium setting, as that is how it is found growing in the wild.

At first glance this particular variety may not seem very unique or special, but look closer and you will find characteristics of this variety that make it a special part of any Buceph. collection. If you’re having a difficult time finding those characteristics, let me make a small list of them for you:

1. The leaves get to a max length of about 2in. and ½ in. wide.
2. The leaves aren’t very long and slender, this particular variety has short “stubby” leaves, and the tip is blunt and rounded.
3. There is very slight ribbing/ruffling around the edge of the leaves, it is not as drastically ribbed like particular other varieties.
4. Although the shade of color can vary slightly, predominately this variety has a medium shade of green for the older leaves, and the newer leaves are light green.
5. This variety grows loosely (definitely not as tight as “Kuala Kayan”#1) and it grows in a vertical direction.
6. As small a detail as this may be, you’ll notice that the leaves of this variety lay flat (parallel with the ground) as opposed to “Kualakuayan”#1 where it’s leaves point upward.

It was named “Kualakuayan” because it was found near that town, it is a small town in Borneo’s Kalimantan Tengah region.

I hope you enjoyed this 4th installment of my Bucephelandra series! Keep checking back for the 5th installment of this series. I can tell you folks now that it will either be on Buceph. “Brown” from West Kalimantan, or Buceph. “Sintang”.
Please leave a comment if you like what you are reading/seeing, it would be much appreciated!
Take care all!
Inspire91

Buchephelandra sp. “Kedagang” (Corrected)

Hello again!
(I must note that the original post had the wrong plant pictured, so I have updated this post to show the correct plant as well as information regarding it)
I hope all of you have been enjoying this series of posts so far! We’ve so far covered the varieties: Kuala Kayan#1 and Kayu Lapis (refer to my older posts for the write up on these). This is part 3 of my Bucephelandra series of posts, and today we will be covering by far one of the more colorful of its genus, Buceph. “Kedagang”.

As with many other Bucephelandra this variety can be grown on either wood/rock or planted in the soil. It is relatively easy to grow, but slow, and I mean that in terms of Bucephelandra “slow”. Here is a quick gauge of growth speed in terms of Bucephelandra, B. “Kayu Lapis” is slow, and B. “Brown” (from West Kalimantan, this is the most common variety in the hobby at the moment) is fast. Prefers soft (2-3 degrees) and acidic (6-7pH) water. This along with others of its genus can easily be grown in a terrarium setting, as this is how it is typically found growing in the wild.

If there is one thing I must say, is that this particular variety, in my opinion is one of the most colorful! Along with it’s strong rufffled-egdes, it has a very attractive combination of color and form. Here is a small list of what makes this one unique among its kind:
1. The leaves get to a max length of about 3in. and 1/2 to 3/4in. wide.
2. There is very pronounced ruffling around the edge of the leaves, they are also blunt/rounded at the tip
3. The most unique characteristic is it’s color, it has a dark green base leaf color with a very attractive shiny “sheen” of blue over it.
4. The stem of this variety is quite reddish in hue (more so than other varieties I have seen), making for a nice contrast to the blue and green of the leaves.
5. This variety grows loosely and vertically, it also does not creep/send runners in a horizontal fashion.

At the moment I am currently still looking for the specific origin of this variety, but one can infer that it comes from a place/town called “Kedgagang”. If I get any updates or find it’s specific whereabouts, I will edit this post.

I hope you enjoyed this 3rd installment of my Bucephelandra series! Keep checking back for the 4th and final (for now) installment of this series. I can tell you folks now that it will be on Buceph. “Kualakuayan”#2
Please leave a comment if you like what you are reading/seeing, it would be much appreciated! 🙂
Take care all!
Inspire91

Bucephelandra sp.”Kayu Lapis”

Hello again!
This is the 2nd installment of my series on a variety of different Bucephelandra! The variety I will be covering today is one of my favorites, B.”Kayu Lapis”, and boy is it a BEAUTY!

This like most Bucephelandra is not difficult to keep and slow-growing, but this particular one is even slower growing than the Buceph. in my previous post (“Kualakuayan”#1) which was already quite a slow-growing variety. For the reason previously stated, this one tends to demand a higher price, for it’s unique characteristics, and it’s very slow-growing nature. Whereas B.”Kualakuayan”#1 grows/spreads horizontally, this variety grows more vertically than in any other direction.

As the name implies, it comes from the town of “Kayu Lapis” in the Kalimantan Barat region of Borneo. I am currently trying to find the specific whereabouts of this variety, although once can assume it comes from a town nearby called “Kayu Lapis”.

The unique characteristics of this variety is as follows:
1. One of the smaller varieties of Bucephelandra
2. Very narrow leaves, maybe 1/3 in. wide max, and a leaf length of about 2 in.
3. There is a significant amount of tight ruffling around the edges of the whole leaf.
4. A vertical growing Buceph. variety

Well I hope you enjoyed this 2nd installment of my Bucephelandra series!
Keep checking back for the next installment!
Thank you for taking the time to check my blog out, if you feel compelled to, please leave a comment! They’re much appreciated and really help to let me know what you folks think about the content I post here! 🙂
Inspire91

Bucephelandra sp. “Kualakuayan”#1

Yes, yes, yes, It has been forever since my last post, and I hope I haven’t lost all of what few readers I had! Priorities get in the way and such, you all know how life goes! Well without further A due let’s get to what all of you came for!

Today I will be starting a series on about 6 different varieties of Bucephelandra. Although these plants have been in the hands of a relatively small number of hobbyists for about 5 years now, they are only now making their way to the US, and as such they are beginning to catch the attention of the masses as the “new hotness”! I hope to educate you about this plant and bring to light the subtle, yet beautiful different characteristics of all the different varieties.

Just a quick rundown on just what Bucephelandra are (without getting too scientific) they are of the Araceae family, commonly known as Aroids, which include such plants as Anubias. Bucephelandra can be grown submersed as well as immersed, although in the wild they are most commonly found emerged.

Bucephelandra are found in or around streams in Borneo only. They are more specifically found growing on top of, or in the crevices of rocks. The below photo is a photo of B. “Sintang” in it’s natural habitat. This is not the one we will be going over today, but just a visual aid to give you an idea of where these plants can be found in the wild.

Photo credit goes to Team Borneo.

The variety we will be covering today is Bucephelandra sp.”Kualakuayan”#1. Whereas most Bucephelandra grow in a vertical direction, this variety creeps and sends runners!

Here is is growing on soil (notice the creeping ability).

Here it is growing on wood (still grows noticeably tightly, even on wood)

It was named “Kualakuayan” because it was found near that town, it is a small town in Borneo’s Kalimantan Tengah region. This variety is easy to grow, but slow, and prefers soft (2-3 degrees) and acidic (around 6pH) water. It can easily be grown in a terrarium setting, as this is how it is usually found growing in the wild.

The unique characteristics of this variety is that:
1. Grows very tightly packed together, even on wood.
2. Lighter green color
3. Little to no ribbing/waving on the edges of the leaves
4. Leaves grow to a max length of about 1 1/2 in. and 1/2 in. wide
5. This variety is a creeping one, it will grow a bit vertically if put in certain conditions (usually when put onto wood/ if lighting is low) but as a whole this plant will typically send runners, by far the most unique characteristic of this variety.

Photo credit goes to Heatwave

I hope you enjoyed this article! More to come in the following weeks so check back often 🙂
Take care all!
Inspire91