Watering schedule

How often to water Broad-leaved Anubias (Anubias barteri) — the schedule

Also called Broad-leaved Anubias, Anubias Barteri.

More about broad-leaved anubias

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	Aquatic or emersed; submersed specimens require stable aquarium water; emersed plants need consistently moist conditions
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 Broad-leaved Anubias

Anubias barteri · also called Broad-leaved Anubias, Anubias Barteri · houseplant

Broad-leaved Anubias is a slow-growing West African aquatic or semi-aquatic herb widely used in freshwater aquariums and paludariums. Its thick, dark-green, broadly ovate leaves are extremely hardy and shade-tolerant. Rhizomes must never be buried in substrate — attach to rocks or driftwood for best results.

Ideal humidity: 70–100% for emersed; fully submerged in aquarium

Watch for — Algae on leaves: The slow growth rate makes leaves susceptible to algae colonisation, especially green spot algae. Reduce lighting duration or intensity, introduce algae-eating fish (Otocinclus, nerite snails), and avoid excess nutrients in the water column.

The watering schedule, season by season

Broad-leaved Anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias is aquatic or emersed; submersed specimens require stable aquarium water; emersed plants need consistently moist conditions, 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.

Grows fully submerged in freshwater aquariums or emersed in paludariums and terrariums with high humidity. Prefers soft to moderately hard water (pH 6.0–8.0), temperature 20–28°C. Water changes of 25–30% weekly maintain water quality for submerged cultivation.

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 broad-leaved anubias in seconds.

How to tell broad-leaved anubias needs water

A calendar is the worst way to water broad-leaved anubias. 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 broad-leaved anubias for a day is almost always safer than over-watering it.

Overwatering vs underwatering broad-leaved anubias

The two failure modes can look alike at a glance, so check the soil weight and wetness before you decide. For broad-leaved anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias. 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 broad-leaved anubias, 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 broad-leaved anubias.

Broad-leaved Anubias watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water broad-leaved anubias?

Water broad-leaved anubias aquatic or emersed; submersed specimens require stable aquarium water; emersed plants need consistently moist conditions. 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 broad-leaved anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias is the first signal on that list — checking the soil or the plant directly always beats watering by the calendar.

What does an overwatered broad-leaved anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias 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 broad-leaved anubias?

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 broad-leaved anubias?