How to Plant Anubias Broad Leaf in an Aquarium

Anubias is a hardy plant that is generally easy to grow in the home aquarium. But like many other aquarium plants, anubias requires some special care and the right planting to thrive and grow its best. If you take the time to get your anubias plants off to a great start, they can grow and fill your tank, creating a natural look and feel for your fish. And since most species of fish do not eat anubias, you do not have to worry about the tank residents eating or otherwise harming the plant.

Things You'll Need

  • Rocks
  • Driftwood
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Lay down a layer of gravel at least 2 to 3 inches deep on the bottom of your tank. Use a deeper layer of gravel if you have cichlids or other species of fish that like to dig and root in the aquarium. Avoid keeping plecos in your tank, at least until the anubias has had time to develop its root system and anchor itself to the gravel, driftwood or rocks. Plecos often knock the anubias loose, requiring careful replanting.

    • 2

      Place the anubias where you want it in the tank and position it so that the rhizome, the horizontal root stock of the plant, remains above the gravel. The anubias will develop an extensive root system that winds its way through the gravel and anchors it in place, but the plant grows better if the rhizome remains above the gravel line.

    • 3

      Tie an anubias plant to a piece of driftwood or a rock, using a rubber band to anchor it in place until the plant's roots have wrapped around the anchor. Anubias readily attaches itself to rocks and wood, and it often grows more readily when it is not rooted in gravel.

    • 4

      Place the top leaves of the anubias just out of the water if the plant is tall enough. Having the top leaves out of the water encourages faster growth in what can be a slow-growing aquarium plant. Anubias grows very quickly in bogs, terrariums and other semisubmerged conditions, but it will grow slowly when completely submerged.