Anubias is famous for being almost impossible to kill, and just as famous for being slow. If you have been staring at your plant waiting for a new leaf, this guide explains how fast Anubias really grows, how the popular varieties compare, and what you can do to speed things up without inviting algae.
Quick answer: Anubias is a very slow-growing plant. In a typical low-tech tank with no CO2, most varieties produce roughly one new leaf every 2–3 weeks, and the rhizome lengthens only a few centimetres a year. With good light, weekly liquid fertiliser and CO2, growth can improve to about one leaf a week. Miniature and variegated types such as Nana Petite, Nana White and Marble grow slowest of all.
How fast does Anubias grow?
Expect about one new leaf every two to three weeks in a normal home aquarium. Anubias is a rhizome plant from shaded African riverbanks, adapted to low light and slow, steady growth. Its thick, waxy leaves are built to last many months, so the plant invests energy in a small number of tough leaves rather than a lot of fast growth. That is why an Anubias can look almost unchanged for weeks, and also why it stays neat with very little trimming.
After shipping or replanting, many Anubias pause for 2–4 weeks while they grow new roots and adjust to your water. This pause is normal and is not a sign that the plant is dying, as long as the rhizome stays firm and green.
Growth rate by Anubias variety
| Variety | Typical height | Leaf size | Relative growth speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anubias Barteri var. glabra | 20–40 cm | Large | Fastest of the common types |
| Anubias Coffeefolia | 15–25 cm | Medium, textured | Slow |
| Anubias Nana | 5–10 cm | 4–6 cm | Slow |
| Anubias Nana Gold | 5–10 cm | 4–6 cm, golden | Slower than green Nana |
| Anubias Nana Petite | 3–6 cm | 1–2 cm | Very slow |
| Anubias Dragon Claw | 10–20 cm | Twisted, medium | Slow |
| Variegated types (Nana White, Marble, Pinto, Stardust) | 5–15 cm | Patterned | Very slow |
Variegated and golden Anubias grow more slowly because the white, cream or yellow parts of their leaves contain less chlorophyll, so the plant has less capacity to make energy from light. Compare every variety in our Anubias plant types guide.
What controls Anubias growth speed?
- Light: low light keeps Anubias alive; medium light grows it faster. Very strong light mostly feeds algae on its slow leaves.
- Nutrients: tanks with few fish and no fertiliser often show pale leaves and pinholes. A weekly all-in-one liquid fertiliser makes a clear difference.
- CO2: not required, but CO2 injection can roughly double the rate of new leaves in well-lit tanks.
- Temperature: 22–28 °C is ideal. Growth slows in cold North Indian winters and during very hot summer spells above 30 °C.
- Placement: a buried rhizome rots and stops growing. Attached to wood or rock with good water flow, it grows steadily.
- Plant size: larger plants and clumps with more growing points add leaves faster than a single small cutting.
How to make Anubias grow faster
- Attach it to driftwood or rock and keep the rhizome above the substrate (see how to attach Anubias).
- Give it medium light for 7–8 hours a day on a timer, positioned slightly away from the brightest spot.
- Dose a liquid fertiliser once a week after your water change (see how often to fertilise).
- Make sure gentle water flow passes over the leaves so nutrients reach them.
- Avoid moving the plant once it is settled; every move triggers another adjustment pause.
- Start with a bigger plant or a clump if you want coverage quickly.
Signs your Anubias is healthy but just slow
- The rhizome is firm and green, not soft, brown or smelly.
- White or green roots are gripping the wood or rock.
- Older leaves are dark green and intact.
- A small new leaf is visible, rolled up, at the growing tip of the rhizome.
If leaves are melting, turning yellow or the rhizome is soft, the problem is not slow growth. See why Anubias melts or turns yellow.
Plants in this guide
Price range: ₹ 90 through ₹ 250
Price range: ₹ 90 through ₹ 250
Price range: ₹ 90 through ₹ 250
Price range: ₹ 90 through ₹ 250
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take Anubias to attach to wood?
New roots usually start gripping driftwood or rock within 3–6 weeks. After that, you can remove the thread if you used one.
Does Anubias grow faster out of water?
Yes. Grown emersed in humid conditions, as nurseries do, Anubias grows noticeably faster. Submerged growth is slower but produces the classic aquarium leaf shape.
Why has my Anubias not grown a new leaf in a month?
New or recently moved plants often pause for a few weeks. If a month passes with no new leaf, add weekly fertiliser, check that the rhizome is not buried and give slightly more light.
Is slow growth a problem?
No. It is the reason Anubias needs almost no trimming and suits low-maintenance, betta and shrimp tanks so well. Just keep light moderate so algae does not settle on the long-lived leaves.
Ready to add some easy, slow-growing greenery? Browse our Anubias collection, shipped across India with a live-arrival guarantee, and read the full Anubias care guide.
