Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Congo Anubias (Anubias heterophylla)
Also called Variable-leaf Anubias, African Water Fern Anubias.
More about congo anubias
About Congo Anubias
Anubias heterophylla · also called Variable-leaf Anubias, African Water Fern Anubias · tropical
One of the largest Anubias species, native to central Africa, producing broad, lance-shaped dark green leaves that can reach 35 cm in length. It makes a dramatic background or midground statement in large aquariums. Like all Anubias it demands rhizome attachment to hardscape, not substrate burial. Slow-growing and exceptionally hardy. As an aroid it is toxic to pets.
Preferred mix: Rhizome attached to driftwood or rock — not planted in substrate
Why congo anubias needs this mix
Congo Anubias is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Congo Anubias is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons congo anubias struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates congo anubias's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for congo anubias.
pH — does it matter for congo anubias?
Congo Anubias is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for congo anubias as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all congo anubias needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh congo anubias's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for congo anubias covers the timing and technique step by step.
Congo Anubias soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for congo anubias?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Congo Anubias is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for congo anubias?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates congo anubias's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for congo anubias as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does congo anubias need a special pH?
Congo Anubias is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for congo anubias?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for congo anubias as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for congo anubias?
Refresh congo anubias's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all congo anubias needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Congo Anubias care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water congo anubias — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting congo anubias — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
- Best soil for neoregelia 'painted lady'
- Best soil for aechmea blanchetiana
- Best soil for aechmea gamosepala
- All 11687 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library