Aquarium Plant Sizes Explained: Starter Cutting to Mother Plant
Five of our Anubias (Nana, Nana Petite, Nana Gold, Dragon Claw and Barteri var. glabra) come in four graded sizes — S, M, L and XL — priced ₹90 to ₹250. Every other plant we sell has one price per unit (see below). 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 graded anubias 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.
Which Plants Come in S, M, L and XL?
Only five plants are sold in these four sizes, all of them Anubias: Anubias Nana, Nana Petite, Nana Gold, Dragon Claw and Barteri var. glabra. Every other plant we sell, including our other Anubias, mosses, Cryptocoryne, stem plants, carpeting plants and floating plants, has one price per unit and no S, M, L or XL option. What one unit is differs from product to product, so check the product page before you order.
| Plant | How it is sold | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Anubias Nana, Nana Petite, Nana Gold, Dragon Claw, Barteri var. glabra | S, M, L or XL, graded by leaf count | ₹90 (S) to ₹250 (XL) |
| Other Anubias, including rare and variegated types | one price per unit; see each product page | shown on each product page |
| Java fern and Bucephalandra | one fixed price per variety; see the next section | ₹175 (Java fern); ₹299–₹649 (Bucephalandra) |
| Red Tiger Lotus | supplied as a bulb, not a potted plant | ₹250 |
| Mosses, Cryptocoryne, stem, carpeting, floating and other plants | one price per unit; see each product page | from ₹60 |
How Are Java Fern and Bucephalandra Sold?
Neither comes in S, M, L or XL. Each variety has its own product page with one fixed price, so you choose how many you want, not a size.
| Plant type | What one unit is | Price | How it is ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java fern | 1 plant of the variety you choose: classic, Philippine, Wrinkled Leaf or Dwarf | ₹175 each | regular order |
| Bucephalandra | the named cultivar (Wavy Green, Brownie Ghost, Kedagang, Catherinae, Godzilla or Skeleton King) at one fixed price; see each product page | ₹299–₹649, depending on cultivar | pre-order: imported to order, typically arrives in around 15 days |
With Java fern, the varieties differ in leaf shape and final height, not in what you receive; compare them in our Java fern types guide or browse all Java fern varieties. With Bucephalandra, the price changes with the cultivar, not the size; see the Bucephalandra price guide, the Bucephalandra collection, and our shipping page for pre-order timing.
Settling notes: both are rhizome plants, like Anubias. Tie or glue them to wood or rock and never bury the rhizome. Java fern grows small plantlets on its leaves that you can detach and replant, so one plant multiplies over time. Bucephalandra often loses a few leaves in the first weeks (“buce melt”) while it adjusts to your water; new growth follows as long as the rhizome stays healthy.
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 graded Anubias is checked against a leaf-count checklist at packing. If your plant arrives below the promised grade, send us one continuous unboxing video within 4 hours of delivery (photos alone are not accepted) and we replace or refund it — the same video rule as our live-arrival guarantee.
Do Java fern and Bucephalandra come in S, M, L and XL sizes?
No. Each Java fern variety is sold as one plant for ₹175, and each Bucephalandra cultivar at its own fixed price (₹299–₹649). Bucephalandra is on pre-order: we import it to order and it typically arrives in around 15 days.
Shop by Size
Ready to pick your size? S through XL is available on five Anubias. Start with three customer favorites, Anubias Nana, Anubias Nana Gold and Anubias Dragon Claw, or choose Nana Petite or Barteri var. glabra. The rest of the Anubias collection is sold at a single price shown on each product page.
