Soil & potting mix
Best soil for 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.
Preferred mix: Hardscape attachment — driftwood, rock, or lava stone; rhizome must not be buried
Why dwarf anubias needs this mix
Dwarf Anubias is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf anubias.
pH — does it matter for dwarf anubias?
Dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf anubias needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh dwarf 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 dwarf anubias covers the timing and technique step by step.
Dwarf Anubias soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for dwarf anubias?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Dwarf 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 dwarf anubias?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates dwarf anubias's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for dwarf 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 dwarf anubias need a special pH?
Dwarf 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 dwarf anubias?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for dwarf 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 dwarf anubias?
Refresh dwarf 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 dwarf anubias needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Dwarf Anubias care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water dwarf anubias — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting dwarf 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 peperomia 'napoli nights' (dark form)
- Best soil for peperomia floribunda
- Best soil for peperomia elongata
- All 8452 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library