How to Care for a Fittonia Nerve Plant
The Fittonia nerve plant loves to grow indoors when provided with some love and care. This plant, when thriving as an indoor plant, requires quality peaty commercial soil mix. It prefers to stay moist with great levels of ambient humidity around constantly. You can provide moisture to this plant by frequently misting it or placing it in a tray containing water and pebbles. Nerve plants love diffused sunlight and good humidity levels, so it is best to grow in covered gardens or terrariums. They can also grow best in steamy bathrooms in your home.
Light
Being a tropical plant that loves to thrive in bright shady, humid conditions, the nerve plant appreciates similar environments when grown indoors. This plant dislikes full shade, preferring bright, indirect sunlight like that provided by a north-facing window. It can also grow well under fluorescent light.
Soil
The nerve plant thrives best in standard potting soil containing a peat moss base. The plant's soil must retain enough moisture but also have good drainage.
Water
Keeping your nerve plant appropriately moist sometimes seems challenging. This plant is susceptible to collapse if it dries out. Although it can recover promptly if sufficiently watered, a repetitive collapsing spell will ultimately take its toll on your plant. At its worst, the nerve plant allowed to rot in water will grow yellow and limp leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
The nerve plant grows well at temperatures about 70°F. However, it can tolerate a temperature range from 60°F to 80°F easily. These beautiful plants love a humid environment similar to that found in tropical rainforests. You can mist your plants often to avoid them drying out. During dry cold months or in arid climates, you can use a humidifier to increase humidity. Naturally humid environments are best suited to these plants, making them great choices as terrarium plants.
Fertiliser
Feed your nerve plant weekly during its thriving season using a liquid fertilizer formulated especially for tropical plants. A 5-5-5 fertilizer that is diluted to its half strength is the best formulation.
Pruning
Nerve plants thrive promptly incorrect conditions. However, if the stem seems to grow leggy, you can punch off its tips to keep its growth complete and bushy. Because its flowers are boring and insignificant, pinching off its buds can keep the plant's foliage full.
Propagating
You can propagate nerve plants by using its leaf-tip cuttings. You should take these cuttings in late spring or early summer while repotting the plant. You need to use clean, sharp shears to make leaf cuttings at the angle to take the cuttings. For best results, use at least two well-growing nodes on the plant's cutting. Once you pot the cuttings in a quality peat-based potting mix, you will notice roots sprouting out in two to three weeks.
Common Pests
Like many other houseplants, Nerve plants face insect problems, including fungus gnats, aphids, or mealy bugs. It's important to treat the infestations as promptly as possible. An insecticidal oil such as neem oil will work best to remove such insects. You can also keep the infested plants away from others to ensure the bugs don’t spread to healthier houseplants.