Pruning and Cutting: How to Prune and Cut Anubias Nana

Anubias Nana is celebrated for being an incredibly low-maintenance plant, largely due to its slow growth. However, “low-maintenance” doesn’t mean “no-maintenance.” Over time, you may need to prune your plant to remove old leaves, control its size, or propagate it to create new plants. Cutting an Anubias can be intimidating for beginners who fear harming their beloved plant. This guide will show you the correct, safe techniques for both cosmetic pruning and propagation cutting.

Understanding the Two Types of Cutting

It’s important to distinguish between the two reasons you would cut your Anubias, as the technique is slightly different for each.

1. Pruning: This is cosmetic maintenance. It involves removing individual leaves that are old, yellowing, damaged, or covered in stubborn algae. The goal is to improve the plant’s appearance and health.
2. Propagating (Cutting the Rhizome): This is done to multiply your plant. It involves cutting the main rhizome into separate pieces to create entirely new, independent plants.

Technique 1: How to Prune Anubias Leaves

Pruning old or damaged leaves is a simple and safe process that helps the plant focus its energy on new, healthy growth.

When to Prune a Leaf:

• The leaf is turning yellow or brown.
• It has significant physical damage, like large holes or tears.
• It is covered in algae that cannot be easily cleaned, such as stubborn Green Spot Algae. Our guide on algae removal can help you identify this.
• The leaf is very old and has lost its vibrant color.

The Pruning Process:

1. Use Sharp, Clean Scissors: A pair of long, sharp aquascaping scissors is the ideal tool. Ensure they are clean to prevent introducing any bacteria.
2. Identify the Petiole: The petiole is the thin stem that connects the leaf to the thick, main rhizome.
3. Make the Cut: Follow the petiole down to where it meets the rhizome. Make a single, clean snip as close to the rhizome as possible without cutting into the rhizome itself.
4. Remove the Leaf: Remove the detached leaf from the aquarium to prevent it from decaying and fouling the water.

That’s it! The small remaining part of the petiole will naturally wither away. By removing the dying leaf, you allow the plant to stop wasting energy on it and redirect that energy to producing new, healthy leaves.

Technique 2: How to Cut the Rhizome for Propagation

Cutting the rhizome is how you create new Anubias plants. This is a more significant “surgery” and should only be done on a healthy, mature plant.

When to Cut the Rhizome:

Only propagate a plant that is large and well-established, with a long rhizome and plenty of leaves (at least 8-10 ). For a full breakdown on readiness, see our Ultimate Guide to Propagating Anubias.

The Cutting Process:

1. Use a Razor Blade: For cutting the thick, tough rhizome, a sharp razor blade is better than scissors as it’s less likely to crush the tissue.
2. Plan Your Cut: Remove the plant from the tank and place it on a clean surface. The most important rule is that your new cutting must have at least 3-4 leaves to be viable. Plan your cut to ensure both the mother plant and the new piece are large enough to survive.
3. Make a Decisive Cut: Press the razor blade firmly down through the rhizome to make a clean separation in one motion. Avoid sawing back and forth.
4. Re-attach Both Pieces: You now have two separate plants. Using your preferred method (super glue gel or fishing line ), attach both pieces back onto your hardscape. Make sure the cut ends are exposed to the water. Our guide on how to plant Anubias covers these attachment methods in detail.

Important “Don’ts” of Anubias Cutting

• DON’T use dull or dirty tools.
• DON’T prune more than a few leaves at a time. Removing too much will stress the plant.
• DON’T cut a rhizome into pieces with fewer than 3 leaves. These “micro-cuttings” rarely have enough stored energy to survive.
• DON’T be afraid. Anubias is an incredibly tough plant. As long as you follow these simple rules, it will recover easily from both pruning and propagation.

Proper pruning and cutting are essential skills for any Anubias owner. Regular pruning keeps your plant looking clean and healthy, while propagation allows you to expand your collection and create lush, dense clumps. By learning to do both correctly, you can ensure your Anubias remains a beautiful and thriving part of your aquascape for many years.