What You Need to Know About Growing Nerve Plants At Home

The Fittonia is also known as the Nerve Plant, is known to be a bit of a drama queen in the indoor plant community. They are a tropical plant, coming from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family. They are compact plants, most distinguishable by their stunning foliage with a vein-like pattern. The color of these patterns and the shape of theirs leaves depends on the variety of their species.

Though the blooms of the nerve plants are rarely seen when grown indoors, these plants do indeed flower. The colors of the blooms can range from reddish to white.

Basic Fittonia Care

As I’ve said before at the beginning of the article, these plants can be quite fussy! However, when you get the basics down, you’ll find that caring for a Fittonia may not be as hard as you may think. To keep you up to speed, here are a few things you needs to know when it comes to caring for a Fittonia.

Lighting Requirements

These plants originated from tropical rainforests in America, mainly in Peru. The canopy trees from the rainforest often block out the sunlight. Because of this, the Fittonia prefers to be kept somewhere with bright filtered light.

We don’t recommend leaving it under the sun as it can burn the leaves. If you find that your window is a bit too sunny, you can remedy this with the use of a curtain to filter the light. You will know that your indoor plant is getting all the light it needs when the color of its pattern doesn’t show any signs of fading.

How Often Do I Need to Water?

If you’ve been caring for plants for a long time, then you know how challenging it is to get the watering just right. This is especially crucial for tropical plants like this stunning beauty. They love water and they prefer their soil to be kept consistently moist. You don’t want to overdo the watering because root rot is still a possibility no matter how much your plant loves water.

Water this plant thoroughly and only give it a drink when the top of the soil feels 25% dry. These plants are very expressive as they’ll limp if you let the soil too much. Don’t worry though, after giving your Fittonia a drink, it will bounce back to life in no time. Avoid giving this plant cold water, doing so may shock their roots.

Temperature and Humidity

With this plant originating from the tropics, the fittonia does well at a consistent 60-70 degree Fahrenheit. Keep them someplace. Since this plant hails from the tropics of Peru, they thrive best in a humid environment under warm temperatures.

One of the best places to keep them is inside a bathroom with enough filtered light seeping through. You can also keep them somewhere by the kitchen with a window. If all else fails, you can also plant them inside a terrarium.

You can also opt to mist them during the early mornings with us or keep them on top of a pebble tray with little water. Getting a humidifier is also a great investment especially when you have a huge collection of tropical plants.

Choice of Pots

Since the Fittonia is a tropical plant with a preference for moist soil, so it’s best to go for a pot that’s a little less porous or non-porous. Some of the best models to choose, are from this collection of desk pots: 

These plants can grow up to 8 inches in height with a trailing spread of up to 18 inches. If you want to keep them at a compact size, keep them in a small, desk pot. Don’t forget to trim them every now and to keep control over their growth.

Varieties of Fittonia

The nerve plant comes in different shapes and forms. Each one is more stunning than the last. Every color of their veins and leaves more vibrant as we explore more different species. There’s a vast number of Fittonia varieties available in the market out there. These are just some of our most favorite picks:

Fittonia ‘Titanic’

Though this plant may not be a “titanic” in size, it certainly is of an aesthetic value! The Fittonia ‘titanic’ is a small variety. It’s well-loved for its variegation of white veins and green windows. Its leaves are slender and narrow, adding to its already charming appeal. They will look great with a simple brown or black pot.

Fittonia ‘Mini Red Vein’

This variegation is an absolute looker with its small and lovely green leaves. The foliage pattern comes in deep red-pink veins. You can add a stark contrast with this plant when you pair it up with a beautiful, simple, white ceramic pot.

Fittonia ‘Red Star’

Another showstopper in this family of Nerve Plants is the Fittonia Red Star. It boasts of its small green leaves, adorned with loud and varying nerve-like foliage patterns in red. This plant is especially perfect for the holiday season as it matches the festive color scheme so perfectly. They will look best with a simple, minimalist pot in the color red or pink to make that red hue pop out. 

Fittonia ‘Red Vein’

The “Red Vein” is a big Fittonia Variety. It was large leaves that comes with a vibrant, red-pink vein-like pattern on its foliage. The deep contrast between the two colors makes it a stunning plant to have in your collection. Strike a balance between these two colors by getting a simple white or dark-colored pot.

Fittonia ‘White Anne’

If you’re looking to brighten up the corners of your room, then the Fittonia ‘white anne’ will do just the trick. Though you can easily mistake this for a Fittonia ‘Titanic,’ the white patterns on its foliage are much more prominent. Its leaves are much rounder as well. Pair this one up with a white iron or ceramic planter to put a brighter tone on this beauty.

Fittonia ‘Frankie’

The Fittonia ‘frankie’ is a uniquely magnificent variety with dark green leaves that shows a more pinkish mauve foliage pattern. This beautiful combination of colors is perfect for adding a touch of color to a monotone home. To make the best out of your plant, pair this with a black ceramic pot to tie in the look.

Ready to take good care of some Fittonias? Order Here: 

Photos by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels