Nerve Plant (Fittonia Varieties) Care Indoors, Common Problems & their Solutions
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Nerve Plants (Fittonia Varieties) prosper in medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Fittonia Varieties also called Net Plant, Lace leaf or Snakeskin are popular plants for the small spaces and are easily recognisable from their leaves which bear a network of white, pink or red veins.
The leaves are about 2 inches long, green colored and are attached to hairy stems. Nerve Plants are small, low-growing reaching a height of about 6 inches only making them perfect for limited spaces.
Nerve Plants are easy to grow under room conditions when given warmth and abundant moisture around the leaves. They are perfect for a bathroom, a laundry area, a closed terrarium, a bottle garden and other humid areas.
Botanical name: Fittonia
Family: Acanthaceae
Common names: Nerve Plant, Net Plant, Lace leaf, Snakeskin
Origin
Fittonia have their origin in the tropical rainforests of South America, specifically Peru where the growing conditions are warm and humid.
Varieties
Several varieties of Fittonia are available. Fittonia argyronuera has white veins and is more distinctive.
The dwarf variety Fittonia argyronuera nana, Dwarf Snakeskin Plant is less demanding and is easy to grow under room conditions. It is just as attractive as its large-leaved parent but it will flourish in dry air away from direct sunlight with ocassional misting of leaves.
The large-leaved Fittonia vershaffeltii has pink veins, hence the common name Painted Net Leaf and many other varieties.
Are Nerve Plants toxic?
No. Nerve Plants are non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. Fittonia are safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add Nerve Plants to your collection, you may obtain these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to care for Nerve Plants indoors
To care for Nerve Plants indoors, provide medium to bright indirect light, warmth of 15-270C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.
In addition, Fittonia Varieties require regular pruning to keep it neat as well as encourage a bushy growth. They do not need frequent repotting as it grows best when pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
How much sun does a Nerve Plant need?
Nerve Plant grows best in a medium to bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunshine to prevent scorching of the leaves.
Can Nerve Plants tolerate low light?
Yes. Nerve Plants can tolerate lower light which places them among plants for the poorly-lit spaces. However, the growth will be much slower in such conditions. Where the natural light is inadequate, you may use full spectrum grow lights to supplement it.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and avoid lopsided growth.
Watering
How often should I water my Nerve Plant?
Do not water on a schedule. Water your Nerve Plant liberally in spring and summer while allowing the soil to top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to avoid rotting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Cut down on watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf fall.
Use water that is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals to prevent browning of leaf tips and edges. Only water with room temperature water to avoid cold shock which can lead to stunted growth and leaf drop.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent sogginess which can result in root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.
To minimze fungal diseases on your plant, avoid wetting the foliage during watering. You may instead water the plant from the bottom.
Temperature & Humidity
Nerve Plant flourishes in a warmth of 15-270C. Keep it away from sources of drafts to avoid temperature flactuations as they can lead to reduced growth, yellowing leaf loss.
Fittonia loves a humid environment; give it a humidity of 60-70%. Too low humidity for this plant will result in brown leaf tips and edges. To upscale humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium, a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home.
Maintain a good air circulation for your plant and avoid misting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases infestations.
Fertilizer
Feed your Nerve Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Stop feeding in the fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is reduced at this time.
Occasionally, flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil. Let the stream run for 5-10 minutes to get rid of most of the salts.
Soil Mix
The best soil mix for a Nerve Plant should be rich, free-draining soil to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. A mix of 2 parts organic potting mix and 1 part perlite (for drainage) is perfect for this plant.
Repotting
Repot your Nerve Plant at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when pot-bound as it grows best when slightly root-bound. Use a free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter and a pot one size larger than the current one.
Confirm sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid root-rot and eventual death of the plant. Take a look at these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Nerve Plant involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations.
Clean the leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.
How to make my Nerve Plant bushier?
To encourage a bushy, compact growth, regularly pinch off the growing tips. As the plant ages, it will become straggly; cutback the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth and extend the lifespan. With good care, a Nerve Plant can live for 3-5 years.
Nerve Plant Propagation
Nerve Plant (Fittonia Varieties) are propagated at the beginning of the growing season in spring to early summer by plant division or from stem-tip cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil.
Read more on Nerve Plant (Fittonia) propagation in 3 easy ways.
Nerve Plant Problems
What problems do Nerve Plants have?
Nerve Plants (Fittonia Varieties) problems are plant dying, leaf drop, leggy growth, brown & shrivelled leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Plant dying
Why is my Nerve Plant dying?
You Nerve Plant may be dying due to too little light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, dry air, nutrients deficiency, salts buildup, lack of pruning, root-rot among others.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents, heat sources among others.
Too little light Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright light or instal a grow light if the natural light is not enough.
Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer in spring and summer but do not feed in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time.
Salts buildup: Regularly, leach out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soilball.
Lack of pruning: Cutback the bare stems to encourage new growth.
Root-rot: Root-rot disease is enhanced by soggy soil and is characterized by wlting, yellowing and browning of the leaves which is rapidly followed by plant collapse.
How to fix it
- Carefully, slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown mushy roots indicate root-rot.
- Cut the brown-black roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
- Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
- Reduce watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time, thus, the plant does not need much water.
Leaf drop
Leaf drop on Nerve Plants is caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, too little light, fertilizer burn or aging.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents, heat sources among others.
Too little light Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright to medium light or instal a grow light if natural light is not adequate.
Fertilizer burn: Feed the plant monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer in spring and summer but do not feed in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time.
Aging: As the plant matures, it losses the lower leaves leaving a bare stems. Cutback the stems to rejuvenate growth.
Leggy growth
Leggy growth on Nerve Plants is due to aging or too little light.
How to fix it
Aging: As the plant ages, it becomes leggy. Cutback the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Too little light: Position the plant in medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Brown & shrivelled leaves
Brown and shrivelled leaves on Nerve Plants are due to too dry air (low humidity) as it requires a humid environment to thrive.
How to fix it
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, laundry area and other moist areas in the home.
Pests
Common pests on Nerve Plants are aphids, mealybugs and fungus gnats.
How to fix it
- Isolate the infested plant to prevent spread to other plants.
- Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap. Ensure to follow the manufacturers' instructions.
- Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Keep the plant properly pruned to reduce the hiding places for these pests.
- To minimize the pests infestations, group the plants together or set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity.
- Maintain good air flow to discourage the pests infestations.
Diseases
Nerve Plants are prone to leaf spot disease and leaf viral diseases. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it appropriately for the disease.
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