{"product_id":"bucephalandra-sp-skeleton-king","title":"Bucephalandra sp. Skeleton King","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBucephalandra ‘Skeleton King’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBucephalandra ‘Skeleton King’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an impressive and highly sought-after Bucephalandra variety, instantly recognisable by its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elarge, elongated leaves and striking, deeply defined venation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Unlike many of the smaller-leaved Buce varieties, Skeleton King develops a much bolder presence and can become a true feature plant in an aquascape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe leaves range from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003erich green to deep olive and darker green tones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with prominent veins creating the distinctive skeletal appearance that gives this variety its name. New leaves may emerge lighter before gradually developing their deeper mature colour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkeleton King is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eepiphytic plant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, growing from a rhizome that should be attached to driftwood or rock rather than buried in the substrate. Although slow growing, established plants can develop into substantial specimens and work particularly well where a larger Bucephalandra is required to create contrast against finer-leaved plants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlant Information\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Bucephalandra sp. ‘Skeleton King’\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFamily:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Araceae\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Borneo\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Slow\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Easy to moderate\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlacement:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Midground \/ hardscape feature\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Low to medium\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCO₂:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Not essential, but recommended for optimal growth\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approx. 20–28°C\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePropagation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rhizome division\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAttachment:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Driftwood, rock or other hardscape\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAquascaping use:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Feature plant, hardscape planting, nature-style and detailed aquascapes\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy we love it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere many Bucephalandra varieties are valued for their small leaves and subtle colour, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkeleton King makes a statement through size, structure and texture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Its broad, strongly veined foliage gives an aquascape a mature, almost prehistoric character and makes it particularly effective as a focal plant on prominent pieces of wood or stone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImportant:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Never bury the rhizome in the substrate, as this may cause it to rot. Attach the plant to hardscape and allow its roots to establish naturally.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArt of Aqua Tip:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Give Skeleton King a little room to develop. Rather than hiding it amongst smaller Buce, position it where its distinctive leaf shape and venation can become part of the hardscape design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdriaan's new photo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, I would specifically ask him to clean the plant carefully, remove obviously damaged old leaves if appropriate, rinse off debris\/snails, and photograph it \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the same wood\/neutral background. Most importantly, he should angle it so we see the face of several leaves at once—the veins are the feature that needs to jump out immediately.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Epic Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40392626438277,"sku":"BUC-SK","price":290.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.artofaqua.com\/products\/bucephalandra-sp-skeleton-king","provider":"Art of Aqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}