The Nerve Plant (Fittonia Albivenis) is typically cultivated as a potted houseplant. It is an evergreen perennial that spreads and has oval, deep-green leaves with delicate veining. A member of the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family, Fittonia is a plant commonly found in tropical regions with eye-catching leaves that are pink and green, white and green, or green and red.
Olive green colour dominates the leaves, with a different colour appearing in the veining. Despite silvery-white being the most common vein colour, you may quickly find variations with red, pink, white, and green veins.
Spreading 12 to 18 inches, Fittonia typically attains a height of 3 to 6 inches. The slow-growing plant sometimes blooms with little reddish or yellowish-white spikes, even though it rarely flowers when cultivated as an indoor houseplant.
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Nerve plant: Important facts
| Botanical name | Fittonia albivenis |
| Also known as | Nerve plant, mosaic plant |
| Type | Perennial |
| Native | South America |
| Flower | White, red |
| Height | 3–6 in. tall, 12-18 in. spread |
| Season | Summer |
| Sun exposure | Partial |
| Ideal temperature | Around 70°F |
| Soil type | Moist but well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Ideal season to grow | Summer |
| Maintenance | Medium |
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See also: Garden roses: Facts and tips to grow
Nerve plant: How to grow?
Fittonia is a stunning plant, but it may be temperamental and challenging to grow indoors.
Propagating nerve plants is best accomplished by taking stem-tip cuttings; seeding is less successful.
- Making stem-tip trims at an elevation requires using clean, pointed pruning shears. To get the most significant results, ensure the cutting has at least two growth nodes on the bottom.
- Insert the cutting’s base into a pot with a peat-based soil mixture. Although using a rooting hormone is not ordinarily necessary, this could enhance your chances of success if environmental circumstances are less than perfect (too dry or too chilly).
- The soil should remain damp but not wet once the cutting has been potted up. Roots should start to develop in two to three weeks.
Nerve plant: Maintenance tips
In the right circumstances, the nerve plant can develop swiftly. If the stems start to get lanky, nipping off the ends will maintain the development thick and vigorous. Squeezing off the blossoms will also aid in keeping the foliage full because the blooms are unimportant and uninteresting.
Light
This plant loves comparable circumstances when cultivated inside because it is a tropical species that thrive in the warm, damp shadow of tropical woods. It prefers strong, oblique sunlight, like that provided by north-facing windows, and dislikes direct sunlight. The plants soon develop leaf burn if left under intense, direct sunshine.
A nerve plant should be kept close to diffused light through a sheer curtain or beneath fluorescent lights. You can also keep the nerve plant in the restroom with a little illumination.
Soil
In a typical potting mix with a peat moss basis, Fittonia thrives. When cultivated indoors, a nerve plant should be planted in a medium-bodied commercialised potting mixture. It favours a pH of slightly acidic soil (6.5). Although it should drain effectively, the soil should be able to hold some moisture.
Water
Maintaining the plant at the proper moisture level might be difficult. If left to dry out, the nerve plant is susceptible to collapsing. On the other hand, Fittonia plants will grow limp, brightly coloured leaves if water is allowed to stand still.
Thermodynamics and Humidity
Although it can survive in a spectrum from the low 60s to the low 80s °F, the nerve plant does best at temps around 70 F. These plants prefer the damp surroundings typical of rainforests.
Frequently spraying the plants will prevent them from drying out. And using a room humidifier could be advantageous in dry locations or during dry winter months.
In enclosures, bottled gardens, or enclosed gardens, where they may enjoy the humid climate and diffused light they adore, most growers think it’s simplest to nurture these gorgeous but fickle plants. They flourish in humid bathrooms as well.
Fertiliser
Feed plants each week with a little liquid fertiliser explicitly made for tropical plants during the growing period. A good recipe is a balanced 5-5-5 fertiliser diluted to 50% intensity.
Nerve plant potting and repotting
Fittonia can be grown in any regular houseplant pot with drainage holes and any standard potting soil mix. To avoid soil compaction and waterlogging, repot once a year in the spring or early summer.
Nerve plant: What are some common problems associated with the plant?
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Fittonia brown tips:
One may observe the plant’s dry tips, which are typically brought on by the dryness of the ground and the atmosphere. They experience these problems as a result of their unique environmental requirements.
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Problems with insects:
Specific insects, such as aphids, mealy bugs, and fungus gnats, are more likely to attack the plant. Treating the insects to stop them from harming other plants is crucial.
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Dry leaves:
A shortage of humidity or excessive exposure to direct sunlight may make dry leaves frequent. To maintain sufficient moisture around the plant, use a humidifier in the room.
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Yellow leaves:
The main problem with yellow leaves is too much water. Utilise soil with holes drilled instead of soggy earth, which won’t hold onto water.
Nerve plant: Benefits
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Air purification –
Fittonia plants, also known as nerve plants, cleanse the atmosphere by reducing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, increasing humidity, and boosting air quality. Additionally, it aids in lowering environmental levels of benzene and nitrogen dioxide.
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Decoration purpose –
The shrub is also a common indoor plant due to its ornamental qualities. Visitors to your home will notice the plant’s beautiful foliage, which may be hanging or placed wherever in the room.
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Treatment of Numerous Issues –
Some tribes in the Ecuadorian Amazon used this plant to alleviate headaches and musculoskeletal pain in the past. The stems were used as a tea component and a remedy for toothaches.
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Good for Gifting–
Because this plant is compact and portable, you may also use it as an option for gifting. This plant can be potted in a Fittonia terrarium, which will undoubtedly enhance the beauty of its leaves.
See also: What is Hibiscus and how to grow it in your home?
FAQs
Is a nerve plant easy to care for?
Although nerve plants are not challenging to care for, they can be fickle because they require a lot of humidity and a tropical environment. Keep yours above 70 degrees, away from draughts, and frequently mist. Always keep the soil moist but not soggy.
How do you take care of a nerve plant?
To sustain humid-like circumstances, misting can be necessary. Fittonia nerve plant prefers damp, well-drained soil that is not very wet. Allow developing nerve plants to dry out among the watering and just mildly water them. To prevent shock, provide the plant with water at ambient temperature.
Does the nerve plant need sunlight?
It prefers strong, indirect sunlight, like that offered by north-facing windows, and hates the direct sun. A nerve plant should be kept close to diffused light through a sheer curtain or beneath fluorescent lights.
Is the nerve plant poisonous?
No, the nerve plant is not toxic to humans.
