Why is My Anubias Nana White Turning Green? (And How to Fix It)

You’ve invested in one of the rarest and most beautiful plants in the aquarium hobby: the Anubias Nana White. You admire its ghostly, milky-white leaves, but then, over a few weeks, you notice something alarming—patches of green are appearing. Soon, entire new leaves are coming in with a distinct green tint. This is, without a doubt, the most common and frustrating issue for owners of this plant. But don’t panic. Your plant isn’t necessarily dying; it’s trying to survive.

In this guide, we will explain exactly why your Anubias Nana White is turning green and provide a clear, step-by-step plan to fix it and restore its stunning white coloration.

The Science Behind the Green: A Survival Instinct

The core reason your Anubias Nana White is turning green is simple: it’s a survival mechanism in response to insufficient light. The white leaves are the result of a genetic mutation (variegation) that causes an almost complete lack of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that plants use to absorb light and perform photosynthesis to create energy.

When the plant detects that it is not receiving enough light energy to sustain itself, its survival instincts kick in. It overrides its own genetic programming and begins producing chlorophyll in its leaves to capture as much light as possible. The green you see is the physical evidence of this process. For a more detailed explanation of this fascinating biological process, you can read our article on the science of plant variegation.

Essentially, the plant is sacrificing its unique beauty to stay alive. Our job as aquarists is to provide it with an environment so perfect that it doesn’t feel the need to resort to this drastic measure.

The “White Balance”: Finding the Perfect Light

The solution lies in finding the “sweet spot” of lighting. This is a delicate balance, as the needs of Anubias Nana White are contradictory to most plants.

• Too Little Light: The plant turns green (the problem we are fixing ).
• Too Much Light: The delicate white leaves, lacking the protective pigment of chlorophyll, will burn or become a magnet for stubborn algae.

You need to provide just enough light to prevent the greening response, but not so much that it causes algae or burns. This is why our specialized lighting guide for Anubias Nana White is a crucial read. The goal is to provide gentle, diffused, but consistent illumination.

How to Fix a Greening Anubias Nana White: A 3-Step Plan

If your plant has already started to turn green, here is how you can course-correct. Remember to make changes slowly, one at a time, and observe the plant for a week or two between each change.

Step 1: Slowly Increase Light Intensity or Duration

This is the primary solution. You need to give the plant more energy. You can do this in two ways:

• Increase Duration: If your light is on for 6 hours a day, try increasing it to 7 hours. This is often the safest first step.
• Increase Intensity: If your light has a dimmer, increase the power by 5-10%. Alternatively, you can try moving the plant slightly out of a heavily shaded area into a spot that receives more indirect light. Do not move it into a direct, harsh spotlight.

Observe carefully. Watch for any signs of new algae growth on the leaves. If you see algae, you have increased the light too much or too quickly. The goal is to find the maximum amount of light the plant can handle without promoting algae.

Step 2: Ensure Consistent CO2 and Nutrients

Light is only one part of the energy equation. The plant also needs carbon (from CO2 ) and other nutrients to function. If these are lacking, the plant will remain stressed even if you fix the lighting.

• Check Your CO2: Ensure your CO2 injection is stable and consistent throughout the photoperiod. A drop checker should be a lime-green color.
• Fertilize Regularly: Dose a comprehensive liquid fertilizer that contains both macro and micronutrients. A stressed plant is a hungry plant. Providing ample nutrients reduces overall stress and helps it cope with the lighting changes.

For a full breakdown of its needs, refer to our Ultimate Care Guide for Anubias Nana White.

Step 3: Be Patient and Prune Strategically

This is the hardest part. Reversing the greening process is slow. Leaves that have already turned significantly green will likely never turn back to pure white. The goal is to ensure that all new leaves grow in white.

• Do Not Give Up: It can take several weeks, or even a couple of months, for the plant to respond to the new conditions and start producing white leaves again.
• Strategic Pruning: Once you see healthy new white growth, you can consider pruning one or two of the most heavily greened older leaves. This can encourage the plant to direct its energy towards new growth. However, do not remove too many leaves at once, as each leaf is a small power station for the plant.

By carefully adjusting your lighting and ensuring your nutrient and CO2 levels are optimal, you can stop the greening process and encourage your Anubias Nana White to once again produce the stunning, ethereal white leaves that make it a true collector’s prize. It’s a challenge, but one that is immensely rewarding.