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Nerve plant care
Fittonia albivenis · Acanthaceae
Also called Mosaic plant, Silver nerve, Jewel plant.
A low, creeping plant from the rainforest floor of northwestern South America, grown for its olive-green leaves netted with white, pink or red veins. It stays under 20 cm tall and suits small pots and terrariums. It needs moist soil and humid air, and flops dramatically when it dries out.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
Every 2-3 daysDifficulty
MediumPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
0.1-0.2 m
Growth
Slow
TemperatureUnconfirmed
17-27 °C
Not below 15 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
60% - 80%
Likes humid air
Soil pHUnconfirmed
5.5-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Venezuela
Through the year
Keep the soil constantly moist but never waterlogged; small pots can need water twice a week. Plants in a closed terrarium need water far less often.
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Spring
Every 2-3 daysTake cuttings and repot into a slightly larger pot if roots fill the current one.
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Summer
Every 2-3 daysCheck the soil every couple of days and keep it out of hot sun.
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Autumn
WeeklyWater a little less often but do not let it dry out.
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Winter
WeeklyKeep it above 15 °C, away from cold drafts and radiators.
Feeding
Every 2-3 months in spring and summer. General-purpose liquid fertilizer at half strength.
Care tips
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Grow it in a terrarium
Small plants thrive in the steady humidity of a closed glass container.
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Pinch the tips
Pinch stem ends to keep it bushy, and remove flower spikes, which take energy from the leaves.
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Keep it out of sun
Direct sun scorches the thin leaves; a north- or east-facing window is ideal.
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Take 5 cm cuttings
Tip cuttings root quickly in spring and summer if kept warm and humid.
Common problems
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Sudden collapse
What you seeThe whole plant wilts flat within a day.
What to doWater it thoroughly; it usually stands back up within hours. Check the soil more often after that.
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Shrivelled, brown leaves
What you seeLeaves dry out and curl at the edges.
What to doRaise the humidity: move it to a bathroom, onto a wet pebble tray or into a terrarium.
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Yellowing and rot
What you seeLower leaves turn yellow and stems soften at the base.
What to doWater a little less and make sure the pot drains; cut away rotten stems.
Pets
Is nerve plant safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs, under the synonym Fittonia verschaffeltii.
Good to know
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The genus honours Elizabeth and Sarah Mary Fitton, sisters who wrote a popular botany book in 1817.
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Albivenis means white-veined; plants with pink or red veins belong to the Verschaffeltii Group.
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Its stems root wherever they touch the ground, which lets it spread as a ground cover in the tropics.
