Watering schedule

How often to water Anubias barteri var. nana (Anubias barteri var. nana) — the schedule

Also called dwarf Anubias, petite Anubias.

More about anubias barteri var. nana

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	Submerged full-time; change 20-30% of tank water weekly
Spring / summer	Spring and summer: water when the top of the soil is dry to roughly a knuckle deep — typically when the soil tells you it is time.
Autumn	Autumn: growth slows, so stretch the interval and let it dry a little more between waterings.
Winter	Winter: water noticeably less — often half as often — because low light and dormancy slow water use right down.
Light	Low light (north window or shaded room)

About Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias barteri var. nana · also called dwarf Anubias, petite Anubias · tropical

Anubias barteri var. nana is the compact, hardy dwarf form of barteri, a staple of low-tech aquascapes. Its small leathery leaves grow on a creeping rhizome attached to wood or rock, feeding from the water column under low light. Forgiving and nearly indestructible, it tolerates herbivorous fish and shrimp tanks alike.

Ideal humidity: 90-100%

Watch for — Algae buildup: Its slow, long-lived leaves accumulate green-spot and black-beard algae under strong light. Lower light and add gentle water movement.

The watering schedule, season by season

Anubias barteri var. nana likes a soak-then-partly-dry rhythm — let the top of the soil dry before watering again, and never leave it standing in water. The base rhythm for anubias barteri var. nana is submerged full-time; change 20-30% of tank water weekly, but the real interval moves with the season, the light and the pot — so treat the figures below as a starting point and always confirm with the plant itself.

Spring & summer (active growth): Spring and summer: water when the top of the soil is dry to roughly a knuckle deep — typically when the soil tells you it is time.
Autumn (slowing down): Autumn: growth slows, so stretch the interval and let it dry a little more between waterings.
Winter (rest / dormancy): Winter: water noticeably less — often half as often — because low light and dormancy slow water use right down.

Kept permanently underwater in the aquarium, or in saturated substrate at near-100% humidity if grown emersed. Tolerates soft to hard water, pH 6.0-7.8, and a wide temperature band, making it ideal for beginners.

Want this turned into a live reminder that adjusts to your home and the weather? The Growli watering calculator takes your pot size, light and season and returns a starting interval for anubias barteri var. nana in seconds.

How to tell anubias barteri var. nana needs water

A calendar is the worst way to water anubias barteri var. nana. Check the plant and the soil instead — for this species, look for these signals in order:

The top 2-3 cm of soil is dry to the touch (or a knuckle-deep finger test comes back dry).
Lifting the pot, it feels distinctly light.
Leaves droop slightly or lose a little of their gloss just before they truly need water.

The most reliable single check is the first one on that list. When two signals agree, water; when they disagree, wait a day and look again — under-watering anubias barteri var. nana for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.

Overwatering vs underwatering anubias barteri var. nana

The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For anubias barteri var. nana specifically:

Signs you are overwatering

Yellowing lower leaves and a pot that stays wet and heavy for days.
Soft, brown, mushy stems or a sour soil smell — root rot.
Fungus gnats breeding in permanently damp soil.

Signs you are underwatering

Drooping, curling leaves with crispy brown edges that perk up after watering.
The rootball shrinks away from the pot and water runs straight down the sides.
Slow growth and a generally tired, washed-out look.

Watering anubias barteri var. nana on a fixed weekly calendar regardless of season is the most common mistake — in dim winter light the same routine drowns it. Check the soil, not the date.

Water quality notes

Tap water is generally fine for anubias barteri var. nana. If your water is very hard and you see brown leaf tips, switch to filtered or rainwater.

Seasonal and environmental adjusters

Every figure above shifts with the conditions in your home. For anubias barteri var. nana, the levers that matter most are:

In the low light this plant tolerates, the soil dries slowly — wait noticeably longer between waterings than the figures suggest.
Pot size and material matter — small terracotta pots dry far faster than large glazed or plastic ones.
Lifting the pot to feel its weight is more reliable than any calendar for judging when to water.

Pot choice is part of this too — work out the right size with the pot size calculator, since a pot that is too big stays wet long enough to rot the roots of anubias barteri var. nana.

Anubias barteri var. nana watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water anubias barteri var. nana?

Water anubias barteri var. nana submerged full-time; change 20-30% of tank water weekly. Spring and summer: water when the top of the soil is dry to roughly a knuckle deep — typically when the soil tells you it is time. Winter: water noticeably less — often half as often — because low light and dormancy slow water use right down.

How do I know when anubias barteri var. nana needs water?

The top 2-3 cm of soil is dry to the touch (or a knuckle-deep finger test comes back dry). Lifting the pot, it feels distinctly light. Leaves droop slightly or lose a little of their gloss just before they truly need water. The single most reliable test for anubias barteri var. nana is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.

What does an overwatered anubias barteri var. nana look like?

Yellowing lower leaves and a pot that stays wet and heavy for days. Soft, brown, mushy stems or a sour soil smell — root rot. Fungus gnats breeding in permanently damp soil. Watering anubias barteri var. nana on a fixed weekly calendar regardless of season is the most common mistake — in dim winter light the same routine drowns it. Check the soil, not the date.

What are the signs of an underwatered anubias barteri var. nana?

Drooping, curling leaves with crispy brown edges that perk up after watering. The rootball shrinks away from the pot and water runs straight down the sides. Slow growth and a generally tired, washed-out look.

Can I use tap water on anubias barteri var. nana?