Anubias congensis

Overview

Anubias congensis (often sold under Anubias heterophylla) is one of the larger, more upright members of the genus, with long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves carried well above the rhizome. That height makes it unusually useful as a background or tall-midground Anubias, while keeping all the toughness the genus is famous for: no CO2, low light, ignored by most fish, and near-impossible to kill as long as you keep the rhizome exposed.

Planting & placement

Anubias congensis is an epiphyte. Tie or glue the horizontal rhizome to wood or rock, leaving the rhizome above the substrate and letting only the roots anchor down — the technique is covered in our how to plant aquarium plants guide. Its height suits the midground to background, where it forms a leafy backdrop. It combines well with lower Anubias nana, Java fern and Bucephalandra on shared hardscape in a natural aquascape.

Light, CO2 & ferts

Give it low to medium light; as a shade plant it gains nothing from intense lighting except algae on its long-lived leaves. It needs no CO2. Feeding is mostly through the leaves, so a modest weekly liquid water-column fertilizer keeps the foliage rich green — our best aquarium plant fertilizer guide covers a simple routine.

Propagation & problems

Propagate by rhizome division: cut a section carrying several leaves and its own roots and attach it elsewhere. Growth is slow, so give divisions months to fill out. Typical problems are algae on old leaves under strong light and rhizome rot from burial or damage — cut any soft, mushy sections back to firm white tissue. Trimming is rarely needed given the slow growth, but you can remove tatty old leaves at the base to keep the clump tidy. It suits almost any community and tolerates a wide range of hardness and pH. Kept in shade with stable water and a light fert routine, Anubias congensis is a long-lived, low-maintenance plant that gives real vertical presence where few other Anubias can reach.