Anubias care guide

Plant type

Slow-growing rhizome plant

Placement

Attached to wood, rock or decor; roots may reach substrate

Light

Low to moderate

Growth

Slow

Propagation

Divide a healthy rhizome

Keep the rhizome exposed

The thick horizontal rhizome is the plant’s central structure. Do not bury it under gravel or sand, where it may rot. Attach the plant to aquarium-safe wood or rock with thread, a plant-safe adhesive method or a secure gap that does not crush it.

Avoid excessive light

Because Anubias grows slowly, older leaves remain exposed for a long time and can collect algae. Place it in lower or shaded areas when the main light is strong. Increasing light rarely forces a slow plant to become fast enough to escape algae.

Judge new growth, not cosmetic perfection

Older leaves may show transport damage, algae or physical wear. Healthy new leaves and a firm rhizome are more useful indicators than one damaged old leaf. Remove leaves that are collapsing, but do not strip the plant of every imperfect leaf at once.

Provide stable nutrients

Anubias can use nutrients from the water column and through its roots. It does not need aggressive dosing, but it also cannot grow from nothing. Use a balanced fertilisation plan suited to the entire aquarium rather than dosing a single nutrient based on leaf-colour charts alone.

Divide carefully

Once the rhizome is long and healthy, cut it with a clean tool so each section retains several healthy leaves and roots. Reattach both pieces where water can move around them. Avoid repeatedly dividing small plants before they establish.

Common mistakes

• Burying the rhizome.
• Placing the plant directly under intense light.
• Assuming slow growth means the plant is dead.
• Scrubbing leaves so hard that healthy tissue is damaged.
• Using livestock as an algae cure instead of correcting conditions.