Repotting guide

When & how to repot Dwarf Anubias (Anubias nana)

Also called Dwarf Anubias, Anubias Nana, Nana Anubias.

More about dwarf anubias

About Dwarf Anubias

Anubias nana · also called Dwarf Anubias, Anubias Nana · houseplant

Dwarf Anubias is the most popular aquarium plant globally, prized for its compact size, deep-green rounded leaves, and extreme adaptability to low light and a wide range of water parameters. A West African native, it grows on rocks and wood in shaded streams. Virtually indestructible in freshwater aquariums, paludariums, and terrariums.

Mature size: Leaves 3–7 cm long; plant typically 5–15 cm tall and 10–20 cm wide; slower-growing and more compact than Anubias barteri

Watch for — Green spot algae on leaves: Hard green spots on the slow-growing leaves are caused by excess light or phosphate imbalance. Reduce lighting duration, add nerite snails (effective grazers of this algae type), and ensure phosphate levels are balanced relative to nitrate.

How to tell dwarf anubias needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For dwarf anubias, watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for dwarf anubias) flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot dwarf anubias

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Dwarf Anubias is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Compact, slow-growing rhizomatous aquatic herb. Leaves are ovate to broadly elliptic, dark green, leathery, 3–7 cm long, held on short petioles. Rhizome is creeping and branching. Produces small white spathes occasionally, particularly in emersed growth..

What size pot to step dwarf anubias up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Dwarf Anubias positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping dwarf anubias into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot dwarf anubias

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for dwarf anubias. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting dwarf anubias

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide dwarf anubias out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip dwarf anubias out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh hardscape attachment — driftwood, rock, or lava stone; rhizome must not be buried, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water dwarf anubias again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for dwarf anubias

Dwarf Anubias wants hardscape attachment — driftwood, rock, or lava stone; rhizome must not be buried. Tie to driftwood or rock with cotton thread or use aquarium-safe superglue gel. Only the thread-like roots should contact substrate or hardscape surface. Burying the rhizome is the most common fatal mistake. Fine roots will anchor themselves naturally over time. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting dwarf anubias — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot dwarf anubias?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for dwarf anubias. Only repot dwarf anubias every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using hardscape attachment — driftwood, rock, or lava stone; rhizome must not be buried. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does dwarf anubias need?

When is the best time of year to repot dwarf anubias?

Does dwarf anubias like to be root-bound?

Yes — dwarf anubias genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise dwarf anubias after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting dwarf anubias. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.