Anubias Marble Tissue Culture (Aquascaping Essentials)

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Marble', usually just called Anubias 'Marble', is a compact variegated Anubias with tough, slow-growing leaves marbled in green and creamy white. It is an epiphyte with a horizontal rhizome, so it sits low on hardscape rather than in the substrate, ideal for shaded corners and nano scapes where you want a boutique look without much fuss.

The pale sectors of each leaf hold less chlorophyll, so growth is slow and steady, which keeps it neat in layouts you do not want overrun. Keep lighting modest to moderate to limit algae on the leaves; brighter light emphasises the variegation but watch the leaves for algae. Do not bury the rhizome. Attach small portions to driftwood or rock with glue or thread and let the roots grip over time, which is standard Anubias care and prevents rhizome rot. Aquasoil helps but is not mandatory. Variegation is completely random, so no two leaves match.

It is grown in sterile tissue culture in a densely packed cup, free of snails, algae, pests and disease, so you start clean.

Care at a glance

• Placement: Attached to wood or rock, midground
• Lighting: Medium
• CO2: Low, not required
• Growth rate: Slow
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Colour: White

How to plant your tissue culture Anubias

1. Rinse the clear nutrient gel from the base of the plant.
2. Divide it into small portions.
3. Attach each portion to driftwood or rock with glue or thread, keeping the rhizome above the substrate and never buried.
4. Leave the roots undisturbed while it settles and grips on.