How To Plant Anubias Aquarium – The Ultimate Guide To Avoiding Rhizome
Have you ever bought a stunning Anubias plant, carefully buried its roots in your substrate, only to watch it slowly turn to mush? It’s a frustratingly common story in the aquarium hobby, and it discourages so many people.
If this has happened to you, please know: it’s not your fault! It’s all about the technique, and you’ve stumbled upon the one plant that breaks the “put plant in gravel” rule.
I promise, there’s a simple, can’t-miss secret to making Anubias thrive. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll solve that mystery for good. We’ll cover everything from the plant’s unique anatomy to step-by-step instructions for attaching it to wood and rock. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to plant anubias aquarium plants like a seasoned aquascaper.
Why Anubias is an Aquarist’s Best Friend
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” There’s a reason you see Anubias in so many beautiful tanks, from beginner setups to professional aquascapes. Understanding the benefits of how to plant anubias aquarium style will make you love this plant even more.
It’s one of the hardiest, most forgiving plants you can find. Don’t worry—these plants are perfect for beginners!
- Incredibly Hardy: Anubias can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, temperatures, and lighting conditions. They are tough to kill… unless you plant them incorrectly!
- Low Light Champion: Unlike many demanding plants, Anubias doesn’t require high-intensity lighting or CO2 injection. It thrives in the gentle, low-tech environment many beginners start with.
- Slow and Steady: Its slow growth means less trimming and maintenance for you. This also makes it a great choice for a sustainable how to plant anubias aquarium setup, as it won’t constantly need replacing or aggressive pruning.
- Fish Friendly: The leaves are thick, waxy, and tough, making them resistant to nibbling from herbivorous fish like goldfish or some cichlids.
The Most Important Thing to Know: Anubias Anatomy 101
Okay, lean in close. This is the single most important piece of information in this entire article. Understanding this one thing will guarantee your success.
An Anubias plant has three main parts: the leaves, the roots, and the rhizome.
The rhizome is the thick, horizontal green stem from which both the leaves (growing up) and the roots (growing down) emerge. Think of it as the plant’s central artery. It’s the key to everything.
Here’s the secret: The rhizome must never be buried under your substrate.
Burying the rhizome is like trying to breathe with a pillow over your face. It suffocates the plant, cutting off its ability to exchange gases and absorb nutrients, which leads to the dreaded “rhizome rot.” This is when it turns brown, soft, and dies, taking the rest of the plant with it.
The Golden Rule: How to Plant Anubias Aquarium Without Killing It
Now that you know about the all-important rhizome, the method for how to plant anubias aquarium plants becomes crystal clear. This is one of the most critical how to plant anubias aquarium best practices you will ever learn.
The goal is to anchor the plant in your aquarium without burying the rhizome. This means you won’t be planting Anubias in your substrate, but rather on your hardscape—things like driftwood, dragon stone, or lava rock.
The thin, dangly roots can touch or even grow down into the substrate, which is perfectly fine. But that thick, green rhizome must always be exposed to the open water. This allows it to thrive and sprout new, healthy growth for years to come.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Attaching Anubias
Ready to get your hands wet? Let’s walk through the process. This practical how to plant anubias aquarium guide will give you a few different methods, so you can choose what works best for your setup.
Step 1: Preparing Your Anubias Plant
Most Anubias you buy from a store comes in a small plastic pot filled with rock wool. Your first step is to free it.
- Gently pull the plant out of the plastic pot.
- Painstakingly remove as much of the fuzzy rock wool from the roots as you can. A toothpick or tweezers can help get the stubborn bits.
- Rinse the roots and rhizome under lukewarm tap water to wash away any remaining debris.
- Inspect the plant. Use sharp aquascaping scissors to trim off any yellowed or damaged leaves and any mushy or dead-looking roots. A clean plant is a healthy plant.
Step 2: Choose Your Anchoring Method
You have a few excellent, aquarist-approved options for securing your Anubias to a piece of decor. All of them work great!
Method 1: The Super Glue Method (The Aquascaper’s Secret)
This is the fastest and cleanest method. Don’t worry, it’s completely safe for your fish as long as you use the right glue!
- Get the Right Glue: You MUST use a gel-type super glue containing cyanoacrylate. Regular super glue is too runny and makes a mess. The gel type is thick and easy to control.
- Dry the Surfaces: Briefly pat a spot on your driftwood or rock dry with a paper towel. Also, gently pat the bottom of the Anubias rhizome dry. The glue bonds much faster on dry surfaces.
- Apply and Hold: Place a few small dabs of gel super glue onto the rock or wood. Immediately press the rhizome onto the glue and hold it firmly in place for about 30-60 seconds.
- Place in Tank: Once it feels secure, you can place the entire piece back into your aquarium. The glue cures instantly underwater and is 100% inert and safe.
Method 2: The Fishing Line or Thread Method (The Classic Approach)
This method takes a bit more dexterity but is a tried-and-true classic.
- Choose Your Material: You can use dark green or black 100% cotton thread, which will dissolve and rot away on its own after a few months. By then, the Anubias roots will have grabbed onto the decor. Alternatively, you can use thin fishing line, which is permanent but virtually invisible underwater.
- Tie it Down: Place the Anubias on your decor where you want it to live. Carefully wrap the thread or line around the rhizome and the piece of decor several times.
- Secure with a Knot: Tie a secure knot. Be careful not to tie it so tightly that you crush or damage the rhizome. You just want it snug enough so it doesn’t float away.
Method 3: The “Wedge” Method (For Natural Crevices)
Sometimes, your hardscape does the work for you! This is a fantastic, tool-free option.
Look for natural cracks, crevices, or holes in your driftwood or rocks. You can often gently wedge the rhizome of the Anubias into one of these spots. The pressure from the crevice will hold it in place until its roots can take hold and anchor it permanently.
Beyond the Basics: Aquascaping and Placement Tips
Knowing how to plant is one thing; knowing where to plant is what turns a good tank into a great one. Here are a few how to plant anubias aquarium tips for beautiful placement.
Anubias varieties come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Anubias Nana ‘Petite’ to the larger Anubias Barteri. Use their size to your advantage.
- Foreground/Midground Focus: Smaller varieties like Nana Petite and Nana are perfect for adding detail to the foreground and midground. Attach them to small stones or the base of larger driftwood pieces.
- Create Depth: Attach Anubias to different levels of your hardscape. Placing a plant higher up on a branch of driftwood draws the eye upward and creates a sense of scale and depth.
- Soften Transitions: Use Anubias to soften the hard lines where a piece of wood meets the substrate or where two rocks join. It creates a more natural, aged look.
Anubias Care Guide: Keeping Your Plant Healthy Long-Term
Your job isn’t over once the plant is in the tank! Luckily, this how to plant anubias aquarium care guide is refreshingly simple. Anubias is a low-maintenance friend.
Lighting: Keep the lighting in the low to moderate range. If the light is too intense, the slow-growing leaves of the Anubias become a prime target for stubborn algae growth, especially Black Beard Algae. Placing them under shady overhangs can help.
Fertilization: Anubias are “water column feeders.” This means they pull most of their nutrients directly from the water through their leaves and roots, not from the substrate. Dosing a comprehensive liquid fertilizer once or twice a week will provide all the nutrition they need to stay green and healthy.
Water Flow: Gentle water flow is beneficial. It keeps debris from settling on the broad leaves and ensures nutrients are constantly delivered to the plant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Anubias
Why is my Anubias rhizome turning brown and mushy?
This is the classic sign of rhizome rot, and it’s one of the most common problems with how to plant anubias aquarium setups. It is almost always caused by the rhizome being buried under the substrate (gravel or sand) or being wedged so tightly that it gets damaged and suffocated. If you catch it early, you may be able to save the plant by trimming off the mushy parts and re-attaching it correctly.
Can I plant Anubias in sand or gravel?
You can, but with a major warning! You cannot bury the thick, green rhizome. You can, however, place the plant on top of the substrate and allow just the thin, stringy roots to dig down into the sand or gravel. You might need a plant weight or to gently anchor it with a small stone on top of the roots (not the rhizome!) until it establishes itself.
Do I need CO2 for Anubias?
Absolutely not! While Anubias will certainly benefit from the addition of CO2, it is not required at all. This makes it a perfect plant for low-tech, beginner-friendly aquariums where the focus is on simplicity and creating an eco-friendly how to plant anubias aquarium environment.
How can I propagate or split my Anubias?
Once your Anubias has grown a long, healthy rhizome with at least 6-8 leaves, you can easily propagate it. Simply take a sharp, clean blade or scissors and cut the rhizome into two or more pieces. Make sure each new piece has at least 3-4 healthy leaves and some roots. That’s it! You now have new plants to attach elsewhere in your tank.
Your Journey to a Lush Aquarium Starts Now
You’ve done it! You now possess the single most important piece of knowledge for growing Anubias successfully. The mystery is solved, and the path to a thriving, beautiful plant is clear.
Remember the golden rule: Never, ever bury the rhizome. Whether you choose to glue it, tie it, or wedge it, keeping that rhizome up in the water column is your ticket to success.
Now you have the expert knowledge and confidence you need. Go pick out that perfect piece of driftwood, select a beautiful Anubias, and start creating the lush, green aquarium you’ve always imagined. Happy scaping!
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