Silly anubias question

[MikeM]

I got some anubias barteri the other day and planted it by burying the rock wool in the substrate.  I was just browsing plantgeek.net, having discovered it on BigDaddy's recommendations in another thread.  (Thanks!  I'm terrible with plant ID.)  It says "Do not put the rhizome in the substrate when planting."  I am assuming the rhizome is the horizontal green stem-like base of the plant, which of course, I buried in the substrate.  So I extracted the plant, and tried to replant it, just burying the roots in the substrate.  It was floating moments later.  Can this be anchored to driftwood?  Otherwise, how do you get it to stay in the substrate?  My substrate is smooth geosystem gravel of around 1 or 2 mm.  The fish do occasionally yank on the plants, I've caught the angelfish uprooting my hornwort by yanking from the top.

I've been having all kinds of tank issues lately, from dead filters to new fish needing drip acclimating, and everybody's so quick to help.  Thanks again!

[Quatro]

I think anubias looks best when tied to driftwood.  Just use thread or fishing line (because its transparent) to secure it.  After a few months the roots should have attached to the driftwood.  You can use a rock as well but not as nice. 

I may be wrong but I think I heard that anubias likes to be in flowing water.  Try putting it near the output of the filter.

[dan2x38]

I love that plant. Tease the rock wool off. I used fishing line to tie it to some driftwood and it is growing so much better. I did to try to place it in the subtrate keeping the rhizone above but it grew very slow. When I tied it above the substare it took off. Mine even flowers now.

[MikeM]

Thank you!  I have a piece of driftwood it would look perfect on.  That will move it up a bit and should put it in the filter outflow.  I should clean the glass and take some pictures, the tank is finally really coming together.

[succinctfish]

It's great tied to driftwood, bear in mind that if it gets too much direct light, that it oftens gets covered in algae, and is no longer so pretty.  It's better in the shadow of other plants, or on the shady side of your driftwood.  I have some that got completely covered in java moss, and when I moved the java moss out of the way, the anubias was perfect.  I've wedged it into the crook of a piece of driftwood in the past and it grew there quite happily without having to tie it on, it depends on the shape of your driftwood.  Good luck with it.