Aquarium Plant Sizes Explained: Starter Cutting to Mother Plant
Our plants come in four graded sizes — S, M, L, and XL — priced ₹90 to ₹250. Each tier is a real grading standard based on leaf count and rhizome maturity, not a marketing label. S is a fresh starter cutting; XL is a full, established mother plant ready to be your tank’s centerpiece from day one.
Size Comparison at a Glance
| S · Starter | M · Grower | L · Clump | XL · Mother | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | up to 5 | 6–10 | 12–18 | 20+ |
| Rhizomes / growth points | 1 | 1 (established) | 2+ | multiple, mature |
| Best for | nano tanks, budget builds | fast settling | instant midground, splitting | centerpiece, instant scape |
| Can be split into more plants | – | – | ✔ 2–3 plants | ✔ 3–5 plants |
| Price | ₹90 | ₹120 | ₹200 | ₹250 |
Not sure? Start with S — every anubias we sell grows into an XL eventually. In a hurry to finish a scape? L and XL give you the ‘grown-in’ look on day one.
What Do You Get With the S — Starter Cutting (₹90)?
The S is one healthy rhizome cutting with up to 5 leaves — a young, intact plant, not a fragment. It’s the classic way to start an anubias: tie or glue the rhizome to driftwood or rock and it grows into a full centerpiece over months. Best for nano tanks, tight budgets, and hands-on aquascapers.
Settling notes: fresh cuttings have no roots yet — that’s completely normal. Never bury the rhizome in substrate; it will rot. Tie or glue it to hardscape with the rhizome exposed, keep it in low-to-moderate flow, and expect new roots to appear within 2–3 weeks.
What Do You Get With the M — Grower (₹120)?
The M is a single established rhizome with 6–10 leaves and active root growth already underway. It has moved past the fragile just-cut stage, so it settles into a new tank noticeably faster than a starter cutting. For ₹30 more than the S, you get roughly double the plant — the sweet spot for most buyers.
Settling notes: because roots are already active, you’ll usually see new leaf growth within 3–4 weeks of a stable setup. Still attach the rhizome to hardscape rather than burying it.
What Do You Get With the L — Advanced Clump (₹200)?
The L is a dense clump with at least two growing points and 12–18 leaves — effectively “instant midground” from day one. Because it already has multiple rhizome points, many customers split it into 2–3 separate plants after it settles, making it a value multi-pack as much as a single specimen.
Settling notes: established clumps show little to no transplant shock — expect continued growth within days of placement. If you plan to split it, wait 2–3 weeks after arrival so it recovers from shipping first.
What Do You Get With the XL — Mother Plant (₹250)?
The XL is our showpiece grade: a true mother plant with 20+ leaves and multiple mature rhizomes — the same grade we’d normally keep for our own propagation. It’s full, established, and ready to be the focal point of an aquascape the moment it enters the water. We only release a few at a time.
Settling notes: the largest specimens can show mild yellowing on one or two of the oldest leaves after transit — trim those and the rest of the plant is unaffected. Moderate light is enough to keep it thriving.
How Do Sizes Work for Other Plant Types?
The S–M–L–XL system extends across our catalog, but what each letter means depends on plant form: rhizome plants are graded by leaf count, mosses by portion size, rosette plants by plantlet count, stem plants by stem count, and floaters by plant count. Details for each type are below.
| Plant type | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucephalandra | 1 rhizome, 3–5 leaves | 1 rhizome, 6–10 leaves | clump, 2+ rhizomes | mature mother clump |
| Mosses | 5×5 cm portion | 10×10 cm portion | 15×15 cm portion | breeder portion (~3x standard) |
| Cryptocoryne / rosettes | 1 plantlet | 3–5 plantlets | full pot | jumbo pot |
| Stem plants | 5 stems | 10 stems | 20 stems | 50 stems |
| Floaters | 10 plants | 25 plants | 50 plants | 100 plants |
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly do I get with the Small size?
One healthy anubias rhizome cutting with up to 5 leaves, roots trimmed and ready to attach. It’s a young plant, not a fragment — the rhizome is always intact.
Is the XL really worth ₹250?
The XL is a mother plant with 20+ leaves that took months to raise. Bought as separate cuttings, the same plant mass would cost ₹400–₹500. If you want instant impact or plan to propagate, it’s our best value.
Will the Small grow as big as the XL?
Yes. Same species, same genetics — the XL is just further along. With stable water and moderate light, an S typically reaches M size in 3–6 months (anubias is a slow, steady grower).
Can I split the L or XL into multiple plants?
Yes. Both have multiple rhizome growing points. Cut the rhizome between growth points with clean scissors and each piece grows independently — it’s how we propagate them ourselves.
How do you make sure I get the size I paid for?
Every order is graded against a leaf-count checklist at packing and photographed before it ships. If your plant arrives below the promised grade, send us the unboxing photo and we replace or refund it — same as our live-arrival guarantee.
Shop by Size
Ready to pick your size? Browse the full Anubias collection, or start with three customer favorites: Anubias Nana, Anubias Nana Gold, and Anubias Dragon Claw — all available in S through XL.