How To Grow Anubias Plants – The Ultimate Guide For A Thriving,
Ever look at a breathtakingly lush, green aquarium and think, “That’s beautiful, but it must be so much work”? It’s a common feeling, and the world of planted tanks can seem intimidating from the outside.
I’m here to let you in on a little secret. You absolutely can create that stunning underwater garden, and the journey is easier than you think. The key is starting with the right plant, and my friend, that plant is the Anubias.
This guide promises to show you exactly how to grow Anubias plants with confidence, turning your tank into a vibrant, low-maintenance paradise. We’ll walk through everything from choosing the perfect variety to the single most important planting rule that many beginners get wrong.
Get ready to unlock the secrets to a thriving, beautiful aquarium. Let’s dive in!
Why Anubias is the Perfect Plant for Your Aquarium
Before we get into the “how-to,” let’s talk about the “why.” What makes this plant family so beloved in the aquarium hobby? The benefits of how to grow Anubias plants are numerous, making them a true superstar for beginners and experts alike.
Think of Anubias as the trusty, reliable friend of the plant world. It doesn’t demand much, but it gives back so much in beauty and stability. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Incredibly Hardy: Anubias is tough! It can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, making it very forgiving if your tank conditions aren’t perfectly stable yet.
- Low Light Champion: Unlike many demanding plants, Anubias thrives in low to moderate light. This means you don’t need expensive, high-tech lighting to succeed.
- Slow and Steady Growth: Its slow growth rate means less trimming and maintenance for you. It won’t take over your tank overnight, allowing your aquascape to mature gracefully.
- Versatile Placement: Because it grows attached to surfaces rather than in the substrate, you can place it almost anywhere! It’s perfect for adding green to driftwood, rocks, and other decorations.
- Fish-Proof Leaves: The leaves are thick, tough, and a bit waxy. This makes them unappealing to most plant-eating fish like goldfish and many cichlids. A true win-win!
Choosing Your Anubias: A Tour of Popular Varieties
Saying you want an “Anubias” is like saying you want a “dog”—there are many wonderful varieties to choose from! Each has a unique size and leaf shape, allowing you to pick the perfect one for your aquascape vision. This is one of the most enjoyable how to grow anubias plants tips: pick the one you love the look of!
Anubias barteri var. ‘nana’ (Dwarf Anubias)
This is the most popular and widely available variety, and for good reason. Anubias nana stays small and compact, with beautiful, deep green, almond-shaped leaves. It’s the perfect foreground or midground plant and looks fantastic attached to small pieces of driftwood.
Anubias ‘nana petite’
If you thought ‘nana’ was small, meet its tiny cousin! ‘Nana petite’ has leaves about the size of your thumbnail. It’s a fantastic choice for nano tanks or for creating fine details in a larger aquascape.
Anubias barteri (Broad Leaf Anubias)
The standard Anubias barteri is the larger version of ‘nana’. Its leaves are bigger and broader, making it a great choice for filling in space in the midground or background of larger tanks. It provides excellent shelter for shy fish.
Anubias coffeefolia
This is a truly unique variety. The new leaves emerge with a reddish-brown, coffee-like color before turning green. The leaves also have a distinct, heavily ridged texture that adds incredible visual interest to any setup.
The Golden Rule: How to Grow Anubias Plants by Planting Them Correctly
Alright, lean in close because this is the most important part of this entire guide. If you remember only one thing, make it this: Do not bury the rhizome!
This is the number one mistake beginners make, and it’s the fastest way to kill your beautiful new plant. Following these how to grow anubias plants best practices is non-negotiable for success.
What is the Rhizome?
The rhizome is the thick, horizontal stem from which the leaves grow upwards and the roots grow downwards. Think of it as the plant’s central artery. If you bury it under your gravel or sand, it will be deprived of oxygen and nutrients from the water, causing it to rot and the entire plant to die.
So, how do you plant it? You attach it to something!
Step-by-Step Attachment Guide
- Prepare Your Plant: Gently remove the plant from its pot and discard the rock wool surrounding the roots. Rinse the plant in some old tank water (or dechlorinated tap water) to remove any debris.
- Choose Your Hardscape: Pick a piece of driftwood, a porous rock (like lava rock), or any other aquarium decoration where you’d like your Anubias to grow.
- Attach Securely: You have a few great options here.
- Super Glue: The easiest method! Use a gel-type super glue containing cyanoacrylate (like Loctite Gel Control). It’s completely aquarium-safe. Just dab a few spots of glue on the rhizome, press it firmly onto your dry hardscape for 30 seconds, and you’re done!
- Fishing Line or Thread: You can also tie the rhizome to the hardscape using fishing line or cotton thread. The roots will eventually grow and anchor the plant themselves. Cotton thread will dissolve over time, while fishing line may need to be removed manually later.
- Place in Your Tank: Carefully place your newly-mounted Anubias into your aquarium. The roots can be left to dangle in the water or can be gently tucked into the substrate, but remember to keep the rhizome itself fully exposed above the gravel or sand.
Creating the Ideal Environment: An Anubias Care Guide
The great news is that Anubias isn’t fussy. Once you’ve planted it correctly, this plant is remarkably self-sufficient. This complete how to grow anubias plants care guide focuses on just a few key areas to ensure your plant thrives for years to come.
Lighting: Less is More
Anubias evolved under the canopy of dense forests, receiving only dappled sunlight. We want to replicate this in our aquariums. They require low to moderate lighting.
If you blast them with intense, direct light, two things will happen. First, the leaves might turn a pale, sickly yellow. Second, and more commonly, you’ll invite a stubborn type of algae called Green Spot Algae (GSA) to grow on its slow-growing leaves. Keep the light gentle for a happy, algae-free plant.
Water Parameters
Anubias is incredibly adaptable. It will do well in a wide range of conditions, but here are the ideal targets:
- Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Don’t stress about hitting these numbers perfectly. Stability is more important than chasing a specific number. As long as your water is suitable for your fish, your Anubias will almost certainly be happy.
Fertilization and CO2
Anubias are light feeders. They absorb most of their nutrients directly from the water column through their leaves and roots. Because of this, root tabs are not very effective.
A good quality, comprehensive liquid fertilizer dosed once or twice a week is more than enough to provide all the necessary nutrients. And what about CO2? It’s not required at all! This is a huge part of what makes it a perfect low-tech plant. While adding CO2 will encourage slightly faster, more robust growth, it is completely optional.
Propagation and Sustainable Growth: Making More Anubias!
One of the most rewarding parts of plant ownership is creating new plants from your original one. This is a fantastic way to practice sustainable how to grow anubias plants techniques, filling your tank or sharing with friends without buying more.
Propagating Anubias is surprisingly simple. You just need to divide the rhizome.
- Wait until your plant’s rhizome is long and has at least 6-8 healthy leaves.
- Carefully remove the plant from the tank.
- Using a sharp, clean razor blade or scissors, make a clean cut through the rhizome.
- Ensure each new piece has at least 3-4 healthy leaves. This gives the new plant enough energy to establish itself.
- That’s it! You now have two separate Anubias plants. You can attach them to new surfaces and watch them grow. This is an excellent, eco-friendly how to grow anubias plants method.
Troubleshooting Common Problems with How to Grow Anubias Plants
Even the toughest plants can run into issues. Fortunately, the common problems with how to grow Anubias plants are usually easy to diagnose and fix.
Help! My Anubias is Covered in Algae!
This is, by far, the most common issue. Because Anubias leaves grow so slowly, they provide a perfect, stable surface for algae to colonize, especially under high light. The fix is simple: reduce your lighting. Either decrease the intensity or shorten the duration your light is on each day (aim for 6-8 hours).
The Rhizome is Mushy and Brown!
This is rhizome rot. It’s almost always caused by the rhizome being buried in the substrate. If you catch it early, you may be able to save the plant. Trim away any soft, mushy parts with a clean blade and re-attach the healthy portion to a rock or piece of wood, ensuring it’s fully exposed to the water.
Why are the Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellowing leaves (chlorosis) typically point to a nutrient deficiency. If new leaves are yellow, it could be a lack of iron. If older leaves are yellowing, it might be a nitrogen or magnesium deficiency. The easiest solution is to start using a comprehensive liquid fertilizer that contains a full range of micro and macronutrients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Anubias
Can you plant Anubias in gravel or sand?
You can, but with a major warning! You can gently place the fine, hair-like roots into the substrate to help anchor it, but you must never bury the thick, green rhizome. The rhizome must always be above the substrate, exposed to the open water.
How fast does Anubias grow?
Very, very slowly. You might only see one new leaf every month or so. This is completely normal! Patience is key with this plant. Its slow growth is a feature, not a bug, as it means far less maintenance for you.
Do I need to add CO2 for Anubias?
Absolutely not. Anubias is a fantastic low-tech plant that does not require any supplemental CO2 injection to thrive. It gets all the carbon it needs from the natural processes within your aquarium.
Why are there holes in my Anubias leaves?
Small pinholes in older leaves can sometimes be a sign of a potassium deficiency. If you aren’t already, using a well-rounded liquid fertilizer should solve this problem over time as new, healthy leaves grow in.
Conclusion: Your Journey to a Lush Anubias Paradise
You now have a complete how to grow anubias plants guide packed with all the knowledge you need to succeed. We’ve covered everything from picking the right variety to the golden rule of planting and how to keep your plant healthy for the long haul.
Remember the simple keys to success: never bury the rhizome, provide low to moderate light, and have a little patience. That’s truly all it takes.
Anubias isn’t just a plant; it’s a stepping stone to building confidence in your aquascaping abilities. It proves that a beautiful, thriving planted aquarium is within everyone’s reach. So go ahead, pick out your favorite Anubias, and get ready to watch your underwater world transform.
Happy planting!
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