Watering schedule

How often to water Dwarf Anubias (Anubias nana) — the schedule

Also called Dwarf Anubias, Anubias Nana, Nana Anubias.

More about dwarf anubias

Watering at a glance

Base rhythm	Permanently aquatic or emersed in high-humidity environments; stable water conditions maintained with regular partial water changes
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 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.

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

The watering schedule, season by season

Dwarf 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 dwarf anubias is permanently aquatic or emersed in high-humidity environments; stable water conditions maintained with regular partial water changes, 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.

Tolerates a broad range of water chemistry: pH 6.0–8.5, hardness 2–15 dGH, temperature 20–28°C. Weekly 25–30% water changes maintain quality. More forgiving than almost any other aquatic plant, surviving brief temperature swings and varied water chemistry.

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 dwarf anubias in seconds.

How to tell dwarf anubias needs water

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

Overwatering vs underwatering dwarf anubias

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

Dwarf Anubias watering — frequently asked questions

How often should I water dwarf anubias?

Water dwarf anubias permanently aquatic or emersed in high-humidity environments; stable water conditions maintained with regular partial water changes. 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 dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf 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 dwarf anubias?