The short answer
Keep the rhizome, the thick horizontal stem, uncovered. Tropica, a plant grower: “If planted on the bottom the rhizome must not be covered because it tends to rot.” Tropica favors stone or root; Aquarium Co-Op, a retailer, glues the roots, wedges it into rock, or presses it into gravel and pulls the rhizome back up, roots left in.
Our beginner plants guide compares anubias nana with other easy species; our guides to planting java fern and attaching java moss use the same thread and glue methods. These steps are for freshwater tanks.
Keep the rhizome uncovered
- Tropica, a Danish aquarium-plant grower: “If planted on the bottom the rhizome must not be covered because it tends to rot.”
- Aquarium Co-Op, an aquarium retailer: “If you want to plant it in gravel instead, don’t cover the rhizome.”
- Buce Plant, an aquarium-plant retailer: “Never bury the rhizome under substrate, as covering it will cause the plant to rot and die.” Its anubias guide: “Anubias is an epiphyte plant, meaning it should not be buried in substrate like other plants.”
Planting methods, by source
| Method | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tie to stone, root or wood | Tropica, Buce Plant; Co-Op lists thread but says ties “aren’t ideal” | Tropica: “until it gains a hold” |
| Glue the roots | Co-Op, Buce Plant | Roots, “not rhizomes!” (Buce) |
| Wedge in a crack | Tropica, Co-Op, Buce Plant | Tropica: “squeezed between stones or roots” |
| Roots in substrate, rhizome on top | Co-Op, Modern Aquarium (a retailer) | Two ways (steps below) |
| Plant weights | Buce Plant, its own | Not “too tight” (Buce) |
Pot or tissue culture
Tropica sells Anubias nana as a “Live aquatic plant in pot” and as a 1-2-Grow! “tissue culture in closed cup”.
- From a pot. Tropica, for rhizome plants: “If necessary, cut off the overgrown roots so that you can remove the pot and mineral wool.”
- From a 1-2-Grow! cup. Tropica’s 1-2-Grow! steps: “Carefully take the plant out of the cup and rinse off the growing media under the tap.” “Split the plant in 6-8 portions using your fingers or sharp scissors (for small foreground plants).” “Plant portions into the substrate using tweezers.” Tropica’s 1-2-Grow! steps do not mention anubias or say whether they apply to its anubias cup; our reading is that the anubias cup page’s own advice applies: “The best result is achieved by planting on a stone or tree root.” “If planted on the bottom the rhizome must not be covered because it tends to rot.”
Anubias nana vs barteri, per the grower
| Tropica plant | Height, per Tropica | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Anubias barteri var. nana | “will reach 5-10 cm height” (about 2-4 in) | Info box “Height: 5 – 15+”; help text: “Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.” (about 2-6+ in, our conversion) |
| Anubias barteri var. barteri | “From 25-45 cm tall” (about 10-18 in) | Info box “Height: 20 – 30+”; help text: “Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.” (about 8-12+ in, our conversion) |
Inch conversions are ours; Tropica’s two height wordings are quoted as written. Tropica: var. barteri “grows somewhat larger than Anubias barteri var. nana but is grown in the same conditions”.
What you need
- The plant, out of its pot or cup.
- Driftwood or rock. Co-Op’s gluing guide uses “any aquarium rock with structure”; our driftwood roundup compares woods by type, with soaking directions where sellers give them.
- Cotton thread or fishing line, or a super glue gel. Co-Op: “You want to use original super glue, not another type of glue. Make sure it has cyanoacrylate, which is a liquid acrylic and the key ingredient.” Buce Plant differs: “any super glue is OK- gel is the easiest to use”.
- Sharp scissors and a paper towel.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 2 Malaysian Driftwood Pieces for Aquarium Natural Wood…Driftwood (roundup: attaching plants) | $25.98 | Check on Amazon |
Marcus Fish Tanks Malaysian Driftwood (wood for anchoring in steps 3-6 below): the driftwood roundup lists it for “Keepers attaching moss or plants.” Its caveats there: “Two sinking statements on one listing” and “Ships from Marcus Fish Tanks, not Amazon”. The roundup gives both: the listing says “Malaysian Driftwood sinks instantly”, while its description hedges: “Malaysian driftwood sinks immediately most of the time”; if not, “it will soak up the water then sink to the bottom after 1-2 days or you can boil the wood”.
How to attach anubias to wood or rock
Unplug before your hands go in
Fluval’s AquaClear filter manual: “Always unplug or disconnect all appliances in the aquarium from electricity supply before placing hands in water, before putting on or taking off parts and while the equipment is being installed, maintained or handled.” Lift out the wood or rock if it is already in the tank. Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.
Find a spot for the roots
Co-Op: “A natural crevice or dip works well.”
Tie it on
Tropica: “Fishing line can be used to attach the plant until it gains a hold.” Buce Plant: “Rhizomes can be tied onto different surfaces using cotton string, fishing line, zip ties, or yarn.” Eugene Zagnitko, in a 2002 article on the site of TopTropicals, a Florida plant nursery and retailer, prefers cotton: “You’re better off using cotton thread than nylon line.” “With time cotton thread will rot away but the plant will be already fixed in its position. The nylon line can cut in growing plant rhizome.” Co-Op’s FAQ says to “mount them to driftwood using super glue gel or sewing thread”, but its gluing guide says of thread, fishing line or a rubber band: “These aren’t ideal. The best thing is to use super glue gel, found at a hardware store.”
Or glue the roots, not the rhizome
Seachem, an aquarium products maker, warns on its Flourish Glue page: “WARNING: Cyanoacrylate. Danger. Bonds skin and eyes in seconds. Keep out of the reach of children. Eye and skin irritant. If eye contact occurs, rinse with water for 5-10 minutes.” That is Seachem’s own glue; with another glue, follow the warnings on its label, which is the final word. Co-Op’s directions for the super glue gel it sells: “Protect clothing and work surfaces, and use in a well-ventilated area. Keep out of reach of children.” “Point the tube away from your face and body. Do not squeeze the tube while puncturing. To puncture, screw the nozzle and cap assembly onto the tube completely.” “Remove the outer cap.” “Apply the glue sparingly (one drop per squre [sic] inch) to one surface only.” “Press the pieces together for 30 seconds or until set. We recommend gluing the plant’s roots if possible (rather than the rhizome), since too much glue on the rhizome can cause the plant to suffer. Also, use the outer cap to press the plant to the hardscape, since the glue does not stick to the cap.” “Clean the applicator tip and replace the outer cap after use.” Co-Op’s gluing guide welcomes gloves “to prevent your hands from sticking together.” Its steps: “Dry the plant roots by dabbing them on a paper towel or hand towel.” “Spread a thin layer of glue on the rock the length of the rhizome and slightly thick.” “Use the cap of the super glue to firmly press the plant’s roots into the glue on the rock, and hold them together for about a minute or two. (Do not cover the rhizome in super glue or the plant may suffer.)” When gluing several plants, Co-Op: “Try to do these within about 10-15 minutes because these are water plants that dry out quickly.” Amounts and hold times differ; follow your glue’s label.
Set it in the tank
Unplug every appliance in the tank first. For glued plants, Co-Op: “When they’re all dry, place them in your tank.” With your hands out of the water, plug every appliance you unplugged back in.
Or wedge it in place inside the tank
Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op’s anubias page: “Insert each plant clump between a crack in a rock or more firmly attach them to decor using super glue gel. Be careful not to bury the rhizome or the plant may suffer.” Tropica: “The plant can be tied on or squeezed between stones or roots.” Once your hands are out, plug every appliance you unplugged back in.
Our aquascaping for beginners guide covers building the hardscape before you plant.
Planting anubias in gravel or sand with the rhizome exposed
Set the roots in, rhizome on top
Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op: “Press the entire rhizome and all the roots deeply into the substrate. Then grab the leaves and stems, and gently pull the rhizome out until it is resting on top of the substrate while the roots are still inside the substrate.” Modern Aquarium, a plant and aquarium retailer: “You’ll need to dig a shallow hole for the plant. Place the Anubias in the hole and fill the substrate around it, ensuring the rhizome is exposed to prevent it from rotting.” Once the rhizome rests on top and your hands are out, plug every appliance you unplugged back in.
Or weigh it down, or drop it in potted
Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Buce Plant sells its own plant weights, which it says “can be cut down into small thin strips and tied around the roots or rhizome”, and warns: “Keep in mind to not wrap the metal weights too tight as that can restrict plant growth or even suffocate sections of the plant”. Buce: “Commonly known as ‘Lead Weights’, these plant weights are actually not made out of Lead anymore.” Buce describes only its own weights. Co-Op, which sells the Easy Planter decoration: “A even easier way to plant your rhizome plant is to leave it in the plastic basket and rock wool and drop the pot into an Easy Planter decoration.” Once your hands are out, plug every appliance you unplugged back in.
Our planted substrate roundup compares soils, gravels and laterite.
Light need and growth rate, by source
| Source | Light | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tropica (Anubias nana pages) | Low; “will thrive in shady places” | Slow |
| Aquarium Co-Op (Anubias Nana) | “Low Light 10-20 PAR” (page names no depth) | “rather slow growing” |
| Buce Plant (Anubias Nana page) | Low to Moderate | “1 leaf every 2-4 weeks” |
| Buce Plant (anubias guide) | “low to medium light” | “4-6 weeks for a new leaf” |
Buce’s two pages differ. Dustin’s Fishtanks, an aquarium-plant retailer, differs from the rows above: “Most Anubias will thrive and grow more quickly in moderate to high light, but they can look just as good in low-light, low-tech tanks. They just might grow a little slower. Just watch out for algae growth in higher light since these plants naturally often grow slowly in the shade.” Our planted aquarium light roundup compares eight lights by tank length.
Plant care and troubleshooting
Feed it through the water only if needed, by the label
Sources differ on whether it is needed. Buce Plant: “Injecting CO2 and dosing fertilizers are not typically required when growing Anubias, but they will still greatly benefit.” Dustin’s Fishtanks: “It will do great with ferts and CO2 supplements, but usually, it’ll grow without them.” Modern Aquarium: “While Anubias can thrive without additional fertilization, Anubias care should include liquid fertilizers rich in essential nutrients like potassium and iron, which can enhance their growth.” Co-Op: “Rhizome plants absorb nutrients primarily from the water column, so feed them an all-in-one liquid fertilizer as needed.” Follow your fertilizer’s label. Our plant fertilizer roundup compares what each maker says its fertilizer supplies. If fish look unwell after a dosing change, test the water and contact an aquatic veterinarian.
Keep algae off the slow leaves
Tropica, of var. barteri: “Like other Anubias-species, it is best planted in a shady spot to minimize algae growth on the leaves.” Co-Op: “Too much light may cause excess algae growth, so if you are using a brighter light, consider placing the anubias further away from the light or under the shade of taller or floating plants.” Buce Plant: “Avoid intense light and ensure good water flow to prevent spot algae on slow-growing leaves.” Unplug every appliance in the tank before you move the plant, and plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.
Check brown or yellow leaves
Co-Op: “Why is my anubias turning yellow or brown? It may be a nutrient deficiency, so measure the nitrate level using a multi-test strip.” It then gives dosing for its own fertilizers; follow your product’s label. If the rhizome is mushy, see step 4. Unplug every appliance in the tank first if you trim. Co-Op: “If the anubias has dying or melting leaves, trim them off at the base of the leaf without damaging the rhizome.” Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.
Watch the rhizome for rot
Modern Aquarium: “Nearly every issue with rotting Anubias begins at the rhizome. Regularly check that the rhizomes of your Anubias are not covered by substrate, moss, or other plant matter.” Dustin’s Fishtanks: “It’s easy to tell when Anubias gets a rotten rhizome: it loses leaves and changes from thick, firm, sturdy, and green to brown/yellow/black and mushy (sometimes it even smells bad). Rot is contagious to other Anubias in the tank, so if you see one plant with it, be careful about the others. Cut off as much of the infection as you can, and quickly discard plants that can’t be saved to prevent spread. Be sure to sterilize your scissors/knife if you use it for other plants.” Unplug every appliance in the tank before you cut, and plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out. See our beginner plants guide on disposing of unwanted plants and our guide to why aquarium plants die.
Split it when it grows
Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op: “Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the rhizome and split into two plants. Plant the two sections as normal.” Once your hands are out, plug every appliance you unplugged back in.
More setup guides are in our Tank Setup & Care section.
Ready to buy?
Our plant fertilizer roundup compares nine fertilizers, and our Substrate, Plants & Decor section gathers plants, substrates and planted-tank gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will anubias attach itself to rocks?
Co-Op says so: “Eventually, the plant’s roots will grow and wrap around the hardscape so that it becomes difficult to remove.”
Q. Do anubias need to be fully submerged?
Not always. Tropica says var. barteri “is also suitable for terrariums and paludariums”, and Buce Plant says anubias grows emersed “as long as they stay damp and don’t dry out.”
Q. Can I just leave anubias floating?
Buce Plant lists “leaving them to float at the top of the tank” among its planting options; its Anubias Nana page also says to “Avoid intense light”.
Q. What is the fastest way to grow anubias?
Buce Plant, on its Anubias Nana page: “CO2 is optional but improves growth and leaf density.” Dustin’s Fishtanks says most anubias grow more quickly in moderate to high light (above), with more algae to watch for.
Sources (8)
- Tropica (grower): nana, nana 1-2-Grow!, nana in pot, var. barteri, 1-2-Grow!, Planting
- Aquarium Co-Op (retailer): Planting rhizome plants, Gluing to rocks, Anubias Nana, Super glue gel
- Buce Plant (retailer): Anubias Nana, All about anubias, Planting epiphytes
- Modern Aquarium (retailer blog)
- Dustin’s Fishtanks (retailer blog)
- TopTropicals (nursery and retailer), Eugene Zagnitko
- Seachem (maker), Flourish Glue
- Fluval (maker), AquaClear manual
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