Anubias Nana Leaves Curling – Your 5-Step Diagnostic & Revival Guide

Written ByHoward Parker

There are few things more rewarding than seeing the deep green, hardy leaves of an Anubias Nana thriving in your aquarium. It’s the trusty workhorse of the planted tank world—a plant so tough you almost expect it to survive anything. So, when you notice its sturdy leaves starting to twist and curl, it can be both confusing and frustrating.

I get it. You chose this plant because it was supposed to be easy! You’ve followed the rules, but something is still off. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and the solution is often much simpler than you think.

This is a clear sign your plant is trying to tell you something. In this complete anubias nana leaves curling guide, I’m going to translate what your plant is saying. We’ll walk through the common causes, I’ll give you a step-by-step revival plan, and we’ll cover the best practices to ensure you see nothing but beautiful, flat leaves from now on.

Why Your Anubias Nana is a Tank Superhero (And Why Curling is its Cry for Help)

Before we dive into the problems, let’s take a moment to appreciate the Anubias Nana. This plant is a true champion. It’s a slow-grower that hails from West Africa, perfectly adapted to a low-light, stable environment. It doesn’t ask for much—no fancy substrate, no high-tech CO2 system, and it can handle a wide range of water parameters.

Its toughness is exactly why any change, like leaf curling, is such a significant signal. Unlike more sensitive stem plants that might melt at the slightest change, an Anubias will hold on and try to adapt. Curling leaves are its early warning system, a visual cue that something in its environment isn’t quite right.

Think of it not as a failure, but as a conversation. Your plant is giving you feedback. Our job as aquarists is to listen, diagnose, and respond. Let’s learn its language.

Decoding the Curl: The Top 5 Reasons for Anubias Nana Leaves Curling

When you’re facing anubias nana leaves curling, it’s usually down to one of a few key stressors. Let’s work through them like a checklist. More often than not, you’ll find the culprit right here. These are the most common problems with anubias nana leaves curling that I see in my own tanks and hear about from fellow hobbyists.

Reason 1: Nutrient Deficiency (The Usual Suspect)

While Anubias are light feeders, they aren’t “no-feeders.” They pull most of their nutrients directly from the water column. A lack of key mobile or immobile nutrients is the number one cause of new leaves growing in twisted or curled.

  • Calcium (Ca) Deficiency: This is a big one. A lack of calcium often results in new growth that is stunted, twisted, or curled. The new leaves look deformed right as they emerge.
  • Potassium (K) Deficiency: You might see tiny pinholes in older leaves alongside the curling. Potassium is vital for overall plant health and regulation.

If your tank has very soft water or you aren’t dosing any fertilizers, a nutrient issue is a highly likely cause.

Reason 2: Lighting Issues (Too Much of a Good Thing)

We often think “more light = more growth,” but that’s not true for Anubias. These are low-light plants. They have evolved under the canopy of larger plants and trees, receiving only dappled sunlight.

When exposed to intense, direct lighting, their leaves can curl downwards, almost as if trying to shield themselves from the brightness. This light stress not only causes curling but also makes them a prime target for stubborn algae like Green Spot Algae (GSA).

Reason 3: Improper Planting (The #1 Beginner Mistake)

This is perhaps the most critical piece of advice in any anubias nana leaves curling care guide. Anubias plants have a thick, horizontal stem called a rhizome. This is the life force of the plant, where leaves and roots sprout from.

Never, ever bury the rhizome in the substrate.

Burying it will cause the rhizome to rot, suffocating the plant slowly. One of the first signs of this fatal mistake is unhealthy, stunted, and curling leaves as the plant struggles for survival. The plant must be attached to driftwood, rock, or placed on top of the substrate with the rhizome fully exposed.

Reason 4: Water Parameter Swings

Consistency is key in an aquarium. While Anubias are adaptable, they don’t appreciate rapid changes in their environment. Sudden shifts in pH, hardness (GH/KH), or temperature can shock the plant and trigger a stress response, which can manifest as leaf curl.

This is most common when a new plant is added to a tank, or after a very large water change with water that has drastically different parameters than the tank itself.

Reason 5: New Plant Acclimation Stress

Sometimes, the issue isn’t your tank at all! Plants grown commercially are often raised emersed (out of water) in high-humidity environments. When you submerge them in your aquarium, they have to transition, shedding their emersed-grown leaves and growing new, submerged-adapted ones.

This transition period can cause some initial weird growth, including curling, as the plant puts all its energy into adapting to its new underwater life. Give it time!

Your Step-by-Step Anubias Nana Revival Plan: A Care Guide

Okay, we’ve identified the likely culprits. Now for the good part: the fix. Here are the actionable anubias nana leaves curling tips to get your plant back on track. Follow these steps methodically to diagnose and treat the issue.

  1. Step 1: Check the Rhizome Immediately. This is non-negotiable. Gently inspect your Anubias. Can you see the thick, green rhizome sitting clearly above the substrate or attached to a hard surface? If it’s buried even slightly, carefully lift it out. This single action solves the problem for a huge number of aquarists.
  2. Step 2: Evaluate Your Lighting. Where is the plant located? Is it directly under your high-output LED? If so, move it. The best practice is to tuck your Anubias into a shadier spot—under a larger plant, behind a piece of driftwood, or in a corner of the tank.
  3. Step 3: Begin a Fertilization Routine. Don’t guess with nutrients. Start dosing a comprehensive liquid fertilizer. Look for one that contains both macronutrients (NPK) and, crucially, micronutrients like Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium. A small, once-a-week dose is often enough to correct deficiencies.
  4. Step 4: Prune Damaged Leaves. If a leaf is severely curled, covered in algae, or turning yellow, it won’t recover. It’s better for the plant if you prune it. Use sharp aquascaping scissors and snip the leaf stem as close to the rhizome as possible. This allows the plant to redirect energy to new, healthy growth.
  5. Step 5: Be Patient and Consistent. Anubias are slow. They live life in the chill lane. After you make these changes, don’t expect an overnight miracle. It may take several weeks or even a month to see healthy, new, flat leaves begin to emerge. Consistency with water changes and fertilizing is your best friend here.

Best Practices for Lush, Unfurled Leaves: Proactive Prevention

Fixing a problem is great, but preventing it is even better. Adopting a few anubias nana leaves curling best practices will not only keep your Anubias happy but also contribute to a more stable and healthy aquarium overall.

Embrace Stability Over Intensity

Your goal should be to create a stable environment. Avoid chasing “perfect” numbers and instead focus on keeping your parameters consistent. Regular, moderate water changes (25-30% weekly) are far better than infrequent, massive ones. This approach is the cornerstone of sustainable anubias nana leaves curling prevention.

Attach, Don’t Plant

Get creative with your Anubias placement! Use super glue gel (aquarium safe, of course) or fishing line to attach your plant to rocks or driftwood. This guarantees the rhizome is safe and allows the roots to anchor themselves naturally over time, which is a more eco-friendly anubias nana leaves curling solution than using plastic plant weights.

Feed the Water, Not the Soil

Since Anubias are water column feeders, a nutrient-rich substrate does very little for them. Focus your efforts on the water itself. A lean-dosing approach with a comprehensive liquid fertilizer is all they need to thrive. This prevents an excess of nutrients in the tank, which can lead to algae outbreaks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anubias Nana Leaves Curling

Can curled Anubias leaves recover and uncurl?

Unfortunately, no. Once an Anubias leaf has grown in a curled or deformed way, it will not straighten out later. The fix is to correct the underlying issue so that all new leaves grow in flat and healthy. You can then prune the old, curled leaves if you wish.

Should I cut off the curling leaves on my Anubias?

It depends on the severity. If the leaf is only slightly curled but otherwise green and healthy, you can leave it. It’s still photosynthesizing and helping the plant. If the leaf is heavily deformed, yellowing, or covered in algae, it’s best to prune it off close to the rhizome to conserve the plant’s energy.

Is CO2 injection necessary to fix curling Anubias leaves?

Absolutely not. While CO2 can boost growth, Anubias Nana thrives beautifully in low-tech tanks without any CO2 injection. Curling is almost always a nutrient, lighting, or planting issue, not a lack of carbon dioxide.

Why are my brand new Anubias leaves the ones that are curling?

This points strongly to either an immobile nutrient deficiency (like Calcium) or acclimation stress. Immobile nutrients are needed for new growth, so a lack of them shows up in the newest leaves first. If the plant is very new to your tank, it could also just be adjusting to its new submerged life.

From Curled to Thriving: Your Anubias Journey

Seeing your anubias nana leaves curling can be disheartening, but it’s a fantastic learning opportunity. It’s your aquarium’s way of communicating with you, and now you know how to listen and respond. By checking your planting technique, assessing your light, and providing gentle, consistent nutrition, you are giving your plant everything it needs.

Remember the golden rules: keep the rhizome free, provide gentle light, and aim for stability. Be patient, and soon you’ll be rewarded with the lush, deep green, and beautifully unfurled leaves that make Anubias Nana a true favorite for aquarists everywhere.

You’ve got this. Happy scaping!

Howard Parker
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