Congo Anubias (Variable-leaf Anubias) care

Light

If you have a corner where every other plant turned leggy and died, try congo anubias. Performs well in low to moderate lighting (10-30 PAR). Excess light causes persistent algae films on the large leaf surface. Placing it in shaded spots in the tank suits its natural understorey habitat. The catch: when a low-light plant does fail, it's almost always because someone watered it on the same schedule as their brighter plants. Less light = less water, every time.

Watering

Watering congo anubias: submerged aquatic — 20-30% weekly water changes are standard.. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Highly adaptable to varying water hardness and pH (6.0-8.0). Stable parameters are more important than specific values. Warm tropical temperatures suit it best.

Soil and pot

Congo Anubias grows best in rhizome attached to driftwood or rock — not planted in substrate. Secure the rhizome to hardscape with cotton thread, fishing line, or aquarium-safe cyanoacrylate glue. The rhizome must remain exposed; burying it leads to rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Congo Anubias sits happiest at around N/A (submerged aquatic) humidity and 22-30°C (72-86°F). Grown submerged in freshwater aquariums. Tolerates emersed culture in very high-humidity paludariums. If you keep the room above 22 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed congo anubias sparingly. Supplement with a balanced liquid fertiliser weekly; iron is especially important for deep green leaf colouration. CO2 injection is beneficial but not required. Root tabs in nearby substrate have limited benefit for rhizome-attached plants. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on congo anubias in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Algae colonisation — The broad, slow-growing leaves are prime surfaces for algae. Reduce light duration and intensity; introduce algae-grazing fish or snails.
• Rhizome rot — Invariably caused by burying the rhizome. Keep it fully exposed and attached to hardscape.
• Brown leaf tips — May indicate water quality issues or mechanical damage. Ensure ammonia and nitrite levels are undetectable.
• Very slow growth — Normal; one new leaf every 3-5 weeks is typical. Patience is required. CO2 and good nutrition help modestly.

Companion plants

Congo Anubias pairs well with Anubias coffeifolia, Cryptocoryne usteriana, and Bolbitis heudelotii. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide mature rhizomes with a sterile, sharp blade ensuring each piece has at least 3 leaves. Re-attach sections to hardscape. New leaves appear slowly over several weeks. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Congo Anubias is toxic to pets. Anubias heterophylla is an Araceae member. The ASPCA lists Anubias as toxic to cats and dogs due to insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, and gastrointestinal distress if chewed or ingested. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Congo Anubias deep-dive guides

Every aspect of congo anubias care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common congo anubias problems & fixes
• Congo Anubias watering schedule
• Congo Anubias light requirements
• Best soil mix for congo anubias
• Congo Anubias fertilizing guide
• When to repot congo anubias
• How to propagate congo anubias
• How to prune congo anubias
• What's eating my congo anubias?
• Congo Anubias growth rate & size
• Congo Anubias cold hardiness
• Congo Anubias temperature & humidity
• Is congo anubias toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is congo anubias toxic to cats?
• Is congo anubias toxic to dogs?
• All 13 Anubias varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

Congo Anubias qualifies for 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Congo Anubias is also commonly called Variable-leaf Anubias or African Water Fern Anubias.

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• All 11687 plant care guides in the Growli library