Nerve Plant
Fittonia albivenis
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
Watch moisture closely in the heat. It can wilt fast on hot afternoons even on schedule.
🍂 Fall
Stop feeding and move it away from drying heater vents as they switch on.
❄️ Winter
Water a little less but never let it fully dry, and boost humidity. Winter air is its real enemy.
🌱 Spring
Pinch stems back hard for a dense mound and pot up the pinched cuttings right back into the pot.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect; direct sun scorches the thin leaves in minutes
- Ideal PPFD
- 100–250 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 18–24 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Keep evenly moist, watering when the surface just starts to dry. It faints theatrically when thirsty and resurrects within hours of a drink, but don't make a habit of testing it.
- Fertilizer
- Balanced feed at ¼–½ strength, monthly in spring–summer.
Home & habit
- Soil
- Moisture-retentive but airy peat/coco mix; pH 6.0–6.5
- Humidity
- High (60%+); thrives in terrariums, crisps in dry rooms
- Temperature
- 65–80 °F; keep above 60 °F
- Mature size
- 3–6 in tall, trailing to ~12 in
- Repotting
- Every 1–2 yrs; shallow pots suit its shallow roots
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings root readily in water or moist soil; stems also self-layer where they touch soil.
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Yellowing limp leaves, rotting stems, constantly wet soil
- Underwatering signs
- Total dramatic collapse; flat, fainted foliage that revives after watering
- Common pests
- Fungus gnats, aphids, mealybugs
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when Nerve Plant looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Sudden total collapse
Likely cause
It dried out. Fittonias faint theatrically the moment the soil goes dry.
What to do
Water thoroughly — it usually revives within hours. Keep it lightly moist to avoid repeats.
Crispy, browning edges
Likely cause
Dry air. This is a terrarium plant at heart.
What to do
Raise humidity well above 50%, or grow it under a cloche or in a terrarium.
Vein color washing out
Likely cause
Too much direct sun.
What to do
Move it to medium indirect light, out of direct rays.
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