How to Grow and Care for Nerve Plant (Fittonia)

Normally grown as a potted houseplant, nerve plant (Fittonia spp.) is a spreading evergreen perennial with delicately veined, deep-green, ovate leaves. Although the most popular vein color is silvery-white, you can also readily find varieties with veins in red, pink, white, and green. Fittonia typically grows to a height of 3 to 6 inches with a trailing spread of 12 to 18 inches. Although the slow-growing plant rarely flowers when grown as an indoor houseplant, it does occasionally bloom with insignificant reddish or yellowish-white spikes. In the right zone, the plant is sometimes grown as a creeping ground cover in filtered sun locations.

Nerve Plant Care

As beautiful as it is, Fittonia is somewhat temperamental and tricky to grow as a houseplant. It requires very high, constant humidity, such as is found in a terrarium, and cannot tolerate stagnant conditions. Nerve plant is also sensitive to strong, direct sunlight and will quickly suffer from leaf burn.

When grown indoors, pot a nerve plant in a peaty commercial potting mix. The plant needs to be kept constantly moist with a high level of ambient humidity provided by frequent misting or by placing the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water. 

Light

As a tropical plant that naturally grows in the humid, bright shade of tropical forests, this plant prefers similar conditions when grown as a houseplant. It dislikes full sunlight, preferring bright, indirect sun, such as that offered by north-facing windows. You should keep a nerve plant under fluorescent lights or near diffused light coming in from a sheer curtain. You can also keep a nerve plant in the bathroom even if there's low lighting.

Soil

Fittonia grows well in standard potting soil with a peat moss base. It prefers a slightly acidic soil pH (6.5). The soil should retain some moisture but should also drain well.

Water

Keeping the plant appropriately moist can be a challenge. Nerve plant is prone to collapse if it's allowed to dry out. Although it will recover quickly if thoroughly watered, repeated fainting spells will eventually take their toll on the plant. At the other extreme, Fittonia plants that are allowed to stagnate in water will develop yellowed, limp leaves. 

Temperature and Humidity

Nerve plant thrives at temperatures around 70 F but will tolerate a range from the low 60s F to low 80s F. These plants prefer humid conditions similar to those found in rainforests. Regular misting will keep the plants from drying out. In arid climates or during the dry months of winter, using a room humidifier may be helpful. Most growers find it's easiest to grow these lovely but temperamental plants in terrariums, bottle gardens, or covered gardens where they can get the high humidity and diffuse light they love so much. They also do well in steamy bathrooms.

Fertilizer

During its growing season, feed plants weekly with a weak dose of liquid fertilizer formulated for tropical plants. A balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer diluted to half strength is a good formulation. 

Types of Nerve Plant

• 'Argyroneura': Deep-green leaves with silver-white veins
• 'Pearcei': Deep-green leaves and reddish veins
• 'Frankie': Light pink and green leaves
• 'Fortissimo': Green foliage and red and pink veins
• 'Red Star': Boasts bright and cheery pink-red veined leaves

Pruning

Nerve plant grows quickly in the right conditions, and if the stems grow leggy, pinching off the tips will keep the growth full and bushy. Because the flowers are insignificant and boring, pinching off the buds will also help keep the foliage full.

Propagating Nerve Plant

Nerve plants propagate readily from stem-tip cuttings, taken in late spring or early summer, at the same time you repot the plant. (Taking stem-tip cuttings is the best way to propagate nerve plants; planting its seeds isn't as effective.)

1. Using clean, sharp garden shears, make stem-tip cuttings at an angle. Make sure to include at least two growing nodes on the bottom of the cutting to obtain the best results.
2. Bury the bottom of the cutting in a pot filled with a peat-based soil mix. Use of a rooting hormone is not usually necessary, but if your conditions are less than ideal (too dry or too cool), rooting hormone might increase your chances of success.
3. Once you've potted up the cutting, keep the soil moist but not wet. You can expect roots to sprout within two to three weeks.
   

Potting and Repotting Nerve Plant

Any conventional potting soil mix and standard houseplant pot with bottom drainage holes will work for Fittonia. Repot annually in spring or early summer, always using fresh potting soil to prevent soil compaction and waterlogging.

Common Pests

Insect problems include fungus gnats, mealy bugs, or aphids. Infestations should be treated immediately—an insecticidal oil, like neem oil, works well—and keep affected plants isolated to prevent the bugs from spreading to other indoor plants.

Common Problems with Nerve Plant

Many of the problems associated with Fittonia are the same ones that can affect other tropical houseplants. Nerve plants can appear to be dying but tweaking their environment can save your plants.

Leaves Turning Yellow 

When leaves turn yellow it's the result of too much water. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.

Leaf Drop

Leaf drop is usually the result of cold temperatures or drafts. Try to mimic the tropical conditions where this species naturally grows. 

Dry, Shriveled Leaves 

This usually indicates that the plants are not receiving enough humidity, or are receiving too much direct sun. Use a room humidifier in winter when humidity levels can drop significantly. Keep your nerve plant out of direct sunlight.