Fittonia - growing, care and maintenance for the nerve leaf plant (2024)

FAQs

Fittonia - growing, care and maintenance for the nerve leaf plant? ›

Nerve plants aren't difficult to care for, but they can be temperamental since they need loads of humidity and a tropical climate. Keep yours over 70 F, away from drafts, and mist often. Soil should always be moist but not waterlogged.

How to Care for Fittonia. Fittonia need to have just a hint of moisture in the soil at all times (in other words: not too dry, not too wet). It's best to keep your fittonia plant in indirect (but bright) sunlight and keep it away from a drafty door or window. Fittonia prefer temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F.

Encouraging New Growth

To get that bushy, lush look, you've got to be a bit of a plant barber. Trim just above a leaf node to encourage new branches. Think of it as telling the plant, "Hey, sprout some new stuff here!"

Temperature And Humidity

Humidity is essential for these plants to thrive, so misting plants will help retain moisture. Nerve plants do well in bathrooms with showers because of the steam, in terrariums, or a room with a humidifier during the winter.

In the growing season you should water your Fittonia every 3-4 days, but let the soil dry out between each watering. In the Winter, once a fortnight should be enough. Nerve Plants don't like having wet feet so avoid letting them sit in water for prolonged periods of time.

The shriveling of entire leaves is often a sign of dehydration from either too much light or not enough water. If accompanied by major wilting and any softness, this is more likely a sign of not enough light or too much water.

Leaf drop is often the result of cold temperatures. The nerve Plant likes it consistently warm, so be sure it is out the reach of any cool drafts or open windows, which can lead to temperature fluctuations. Yellowing foliage: The most common cause of yellowing leaves on your Fittonia is often due to overwatering.

Potting and Repotting Nerve Plant

If your plant is outgrowing its pot, choose a container one size larger. To retain its full look, you can also start by rooting several cuttings and potting them up together to make a new plant.

Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 1-2” of soil are dry. If you accidentally let your Fittonia's soil dry out completely, you may see fronds droop, crisp up, and leaves fall. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a good soak is in order.

Remedial Actions for Nerve Plant Leaf Drooping

Check soil moisture before watering—calendar-based routines won't cut it. Nerve plants are drama queens; they'll droop if they're too thirsty or waterlogged. Aim for consistently moist soil, not a swamp for your plant to wade through.

What does an overwatered nerve plant look like? ›

Watering is a crucial aspect of fittonia care. The key is to maintain a balance - the soil should be consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Yellowing leaves often indicate overwatering, while wilting leaves signal the need for watering.

To do this, just cut back any stems that are too long with clean, sharp pruning shears, making clean cuts just above a healthy leaf node. This will make the plant grow more branches and make it grow fuller. Nerve plants also need to be repotted and fertilized from time to time to stay healthy and strong.

Your Fittonia prefers bright, indirect light. Lower light can cause it to lose some of its vibrant color and growth will slow. Too much light can burn the leaves. Your Fittonia loves water and to be consistently moist, but not soggy.

The plant has been allowed to dry out, a good watering will perk the plant back up. Do this by bottom watering allowing the plant to absorb all it needed.

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.

Your Fittonia prefers bright, indirect light. Lower light can cause it to lose some of its vibrant color and growth will slow. Too much light can burn the leaves. Your Fittonia loves water and to be consistently moist, but not soggy.

Yellowing leaves often indicate overwatering, while wilting leaves signal the need for watering. Room temperature water is preferable over cold water for watering. When watering your fittonia, it's best to water thoroughly, then allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering again.

Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 1-2” of soil are dry. If you accidentally let your Fittonia's soil dry out completely, you may see fronds droop, crisp up, and leaves fall. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a good soak is in order.

If the soil is very dry, you may need to water it a few times to moisten the potting media sufficiently. In a short time, your plant will recover. If you've determined that your soil moisture is correct (not too wet and not too dry) but your plant is still wilting, you can try misting your Fittonia.