The nerve plant, or Fittonia albivenis (pronounce as: fit-TOH-neeuh al-bih-VEN-iss), is a small, creeping windowsill plant with amazing leaf patterns.
There are many varieties of fittonia plants in different sizes and colors to choose from. Pink nerve plant? Yes, please!
Fair warning though, indoor fittonia plants can be a little difficult to care for. They like moist soil but don’t want to be watered too often or with cold water. They don’t like direct sunlight and do need high humidity all the time.
Want to buy a Nerve plant? Find it for sale on Amazon!
Nerve Plant, Mosaic Plant, or How to Call a Fittonia Albivenis
The botanical name for the nerve plant is Fittonia albivenis. Albivensis literally means “white veins” referring to the lace-like pattern on the leaves.
But the nerve plant has many common names, including the mosaic plant, silver net leaf, silver threads, painted net leaf, and silver fittonia.
The green and white nerve plants are part of the so-called Fittonia argyroneura family. The pink and red veined nerve plants are from the Fittonia verschaffeltii group.
Need a plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Basic Houseplant Care. It will teach you all you need to know about indoor plant care.
How Much Light does a Nerve Plant Need?
Nerve plants are native to the tropical rainforests of South America. There they grow on the ground in the shade of the canopy above, with some indirect sunlight shining through.
Indoors your nerve plant prefers bright, indirect light. It can grow in lower light but its color may fade and growth will slow down.
Direct sun can wilt and burn the leaves, turning them brown and crispy. Make sure to protect your nerve plant from the sun with something like a sheer curtain.
Pink nerve plants are a bit more delicate than the green/white type. The pink fittonias like more light to keep their color bright, but tend to burn quicker in too much sun. They also grow a little slower.
How Often to Water a Nerve Plant?
In the rainforest, the nerve plant is used to grow in a humid environment, on moist soil. So in your home, it will be a thirsty plant.
Water regularly to keep the soil damp, but not waterlogged. If the soil gets too dry, the fittonia leaves droop or dramatically “faint”. Usually, they perk right back up after a good watering.
Do let the soil dry out a little bit between waterings. If it continuously stays wet the root will rot.
Fittonia are sensitive to chlorine in tap water. Use distilled water instead, or let tap water sit overnight before using it.
Use lukewarm water so you don’t shock your plants’ roots with a cold shower.
If you are unsure if you should water or not, you can purchase a moisture meter to help you out and read up on How to water indoor plants for a quick refresher on houseplant watering.
When to Fertilize a Nerve Plant
Give your nerve plants diluted liquid plant food once a month in spring and summer when the plant is actively growing.
Don’t fertilize in winter when the plant is resting and growth slows down.
Also never fertilize your nerve plant if it is having issues. Fertilizer is not a plant medicine. It will only stress out an already stressed-out plant. Analyze, adjust, and when your plant recovers, continue your normal care routine. For more help, check out the care questions down below.
Humidity
Nerve plants like a warm and humid environment. This makes them great to keep in a closed terrarium or miniature greenhouse.
In a closed terrarium, your nerve plant doesn’t need to be watered. Inside there will be enough humidity and moist soil for your plant. You only water a little if you have had the terrarium open for some time.
Read More: Make your own terrarium – Step-by-step guide!
If you have a bathroom with a bright window, your nerve plant could grow very happily there. The steam from the shower will provide your plant with the humidity it loves.
Another option is to get a small humidifier to put near your plant.
When to Repot a Nerve Plant
These plants don’t need to be repotted very often. Repot when roots have filled the pot or growing from the drainage holes on the bottom.
Every two to three years, the soil will have lost all of its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh potting soil, even if it still has room to grow.
Fittonia grow well in shallow plastic pots. Their roots don’t need deep pots and the plastic keeps moisture inside longer than terracotta pots do.
Make sure to pot has drainage holes on the bottom. Otherwise, excess water has no way to get out and this will drown the roots.
How to Prune and Propagate a Nerve Plant
Fittonias need regular trimming and pruning to keep their foliage looking neat. Regularly pinching off new shoots and removing tall, leggy stems, is necessary to keep your plant from growing leggy.
After pruning, your plant will grow more compact and bushy.
You can multiply your nerve plant by propagating the stem cuttings. Nerve plant propagation is really easy and can be done in three ways:
- Propagate stem cuttings in water
- Propagate stem cuttings in soil
- Propagation by division
You can propagate your nerve plant year-round, but it is best done in spring or early summer when your plant is actively growing at the peak of its energy.
Propagate Cuttings in Water
Water propagation is an almost foolproof way to make more plants.
- Take a stem cutting with about 4 sets of leaves. Remove the bottom leaves.
- Place the cutting in a glass vessel with just enough water to cover the bottom part of the cuttings.
- Keep it in bright, indirect light.
- Make sure to change the water regularly.
- Wait for roots to appear.
Let the roots grow to about one to two inches long before you pot them up. Water once, and wait to water again until your see new growth.
Check out my article about water propagation if you want to know even more about growing new plants in water.
Propagate Cuttings in Soil
Another way to propagate nerve plants is to skip the water rooting and propagate in soil.
- Take a stem cutting with at least a few sets of leaves. Remove the bottom leaves.
- Place your cutting in damp potting soil, covering the part of the stem where you have removed the bottom leaves.
- Put a clear plastic bag over the pot to maintain moisture inside and keep the humidity high.
- Place in indirect light and wait for new growth. Then continue with regular care.
To speed up the process, use a rooting hormone on your cuttings. Dip them in water first, then dip the bottom 1/4 inch in rooting powder before your pot the cutting in soil.
Propagation by Division
You can also propagate your nerve plant by dividing the rootball and repotting the parts in separate, smaller containers.
Propagating by division is the quickest way to propagate your nerve plant. You basically start with a complete plant already, whereas with propagating cuttings it may take much longer.
- Carefully remove as much of the old soil as possible without damaging the roots.
- Gently separate the roots and foliage with your hands into two or three parts. Make sure each section has its own roots attached.
- Pot each division in its own planter. Keep them in bright indirect light.
- Water once, and wait to water again until your see new growth.
Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate all your plants.
Common Nerve Plant Problems
Just like with any plant, you can run into some common care problems. Usually, these issues can be easily sorted out by adjusting things like your watering schedule, or by moving your plant to another location with more or less light.
Wilting and Drooping Leaves on a Nerve Plant
Unfortunately, wilting and drooping leaves are a common issues with indoor nerve plants.
Usually, this is a sign that your plant is thirsty and needs to be watered. The plant will look like it’s “fainting”, very drama queen style.
Give it a thorough watering and the leaves will perk right up.
Check the humidity while you’re at it. The air might be too dry around your plant.
Leaves can also wilt if the plant is getting too much direct light. The leaves will start to shrivel and dry up. Move your plant away from the window.
Crispy leaves on a nerve plant, same story. Usually because of underwatering or too much direct sun.
Leggy Nerve Plants
Indoor nerve plants that grow in low light can quickly stretch out towards the light and grow tall and leggy.
Move your plant somewhere with more light and start regular pinching and pruning. New growth will be more compact and busy.
Don’t throw out the pruned stem cuttings. Propagate them!
Nerve Plant Dropping Leaves
It is fairly normal for a nerve plant to drop a few older leaves, especially in winter. These will usually grow back when spring arrives.
If it is more than the occasional leave falling off, it is most likely because of dry air or overwatering. Try to raise the humidity around your plant, or adjust your watering so that the soil doesn’t stay soaking wet.
Are Nerve Plants Toxic to Cats?
Nerve plants are not poisonous to cats and dogs.
Read more on the risks of toxic houseplants around your pets.
More Small Indoor Houseplants
Looking for more small houseplants? Check out these other popular plant articles.
Megan
Monday 6th of March 2023
Where did you get the dimpled pot with a face?
Mod and Mint
Tuesday 21st of March 2023
Hi Megan, I got that pot at a local garden center here in the Netherlands. The bottom is marked KSD (Kaemingk Season Decorations). I checked their website and the pot is not on there. So it most likely is out of their collection already.