🌿 Bucephalandra sp. ‘Mini Coin’

🔹 Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae

• Order: Arales

• Family: Araceae

• Genus: Bucephalandra

• Species: Undescribed (Bucephalandra sp.)

• Variety/Trade Name: ‘Mini Coin’

🔹 Origin

• Native to Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia).

• Found growing on rocks and driftwood along fast-flowing rivers and streams (rheophytic habit).

• Can grow both submerged and emersed, making it highly adaptable.

🔹 Appearance

• Leaf Shape: Tiny, round to oval, coin-like leaves (hence the name).

• Leaf Size: ~0.5–1.5 cm in diameter.

• Color: Dark green, sometimes with bluish or metallic sheen under aquarium lighting.

• Growth Form: Extremely compact clumps, forming dense bushes when mature.

• Flowers: Typical Bucephalandra spathe (small, white-pinkish), more common in emersed setups.

🔹 Aquarium Care

• Placement: Foreground, nano tanks, and midground accents.

• Lighting: Low to medium. Too much light may cause algae issues.

• Substrate: Attach to rocks, driftwood, or aquarium decor – do not bury rhizome.

• CO₂: Not required, but CO₂ injection enhances growth and coloration.

• Fertilization: Benefits from liquid fertilizers (especially micronutrients & iron). Root feeding not necessary.

🔹 Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–28°C

• pH: 6.0–7.2 (slightly acidic ideal)

• Hardness: Soft to medium-hard water

• Flow: Prefers moderate current (mimics natural habitat).

🔹 Growth Rate

• Very slow (like all Bucephalandras).

• Produces 1–2 leaves per month under good conditions.

• Once adapted, very hardy and long-living.

🔹 Propagation

• By rhizome division – cut a healthy rhizome with at least 4–5 leaves and reattach to hardscape.

• Over time, forms dense carpets of tiny leaves.

🔹 Aquascaping Use

• Excellent for nano aquariums and detail work in larger tanks.

• Works as:

  • Foreground carpeting plant (miniature bush effect)

  • Attached to driftwood/rocks in nature aquariums

  • Shrimp/fry shelter due to dense growth

• Provides a unique “mini jungle” look.

🔹 Difficulty Level

• Easy to Moderate – hardy once settled.

• Algae risk due to slow growth – best kept in lower light aquariums with algae control.

🔹 Special Notes

• Very popular among collectors and aquascapers due to its tiny size and ornamental look.

• Works perfectly in nano scapes, where normal Bucephalandras may appear too large.

• ‘Mini Coin’ is often grown in tissue culture cups for safe, pest-free introduction.

✅ Summary:
Bucephalandra sp. ‘Mini Coin’ is a tiny, slow-growing rhizome plant with small, round leaves resembling coins. Perfect for nano aquariums and fine aquascaping details, it thrives when attached to rocks/wood under low–medium light. Very hardy once established, though slow-growing and algae-prone. An ideal plant for aquascaping enthusiasts who want a compact, decorative foreground plant.