How do I plant my anubias, java fern, or other rhizome plant?

The most popular types of rhizome plants include anubias, java fern, and bolbitis. They all have a rhizome, which is like a thick, horizontal stem or trunk. All the leaves and stems grow upwards out of the rhizome, while the roots grow downwards from the rhizome. The great thing about rhizome plants is that you don’t need any substrate to grow them. You can wedge them between cracks in rocks or mount them to driftwood using super glue gel or sewing thread. (For more details on how to use super glue gel in aquariums, read this article.) Eventually, the plant’s roots will grow and wrap around the hardscape so that it becomes difficult to remove.

If you do wish to plant your rhizome plant in the substrate, the trick is to make sure the rhizome doesn't get buried in the ground or else the plant may suffer. Press the entire rhizome and all the roots deeply into the substrate. Then grab the leaves and stems, and gently pull the rhizome out until it is resting on top of the substrate while the roots are still inside the substrate. 

A even easier way to plant your rhizome plant is to leave it in the plastic basket and rock wool and drop the pot into an Easy Planter decoration. Rhizome plants absorb nutrients primarily from the water column, so feed them an all-in-one liquid fertilizer as needed. 

 
Place your anubias or java fern with its plastic pot into an Easy Planter to prevent fish from uprooting it.

For more information, read our quick guide on how to plant live aquarium plants.