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Fittonia really has it all! Fuzzy, bright colored, and has an amazing ability to bounce back when forgotten. Compact and easy to care these evergreen nerve plants are so fun to grow! Perfect for beginners and our care guide will have all the tips and tricks to keep yours thriving.
Origin
Fittonia were discovered by the Fitton sisters in the 1860s while they were traveling through the rainforests of South America. These beautiful plants were ground cover and captivated these botanists with their beautiful venation on their foliage.
Watering
Because Fittonia grew on the ground of rainforests they love their water. Water at the bottom of rainforests has been heavily filtered through all the trees and foliage before getting to the groundcover plants. This means that Fittonia will not be able to tolerate over-fertilization and may get crispy tips from hard chemical-filled tap water. If you do use tap water with Fittonia keep an eye out for this sign in the case and just change up your water. If you forget to water for too long Fittonia will wilt and droop. They will look almost too far gone. They will perk right back up after an hour or two soak in some water though.
Lighting
Fittonia is an understory plant and does not need a lot of light. Fittonia prefers bright indirect light though because they come from further south the light is brighter. If Fittonia is in low light they will become stretched out instead of compact and they will lose their coloration becoming mostly green.
Soil
Rainforest mixes are full of broken-down materials, bark, and moss. Moisture retention is the key to any mix for a nerve plant. The simplest and easiest mix a fittonia would like is 75% potting mix and 25% perlite.
Fertilizer
Fittonia is a part of the understory where they are slowly fertilized by leaves and bark breaking down over time. Fittonia is also not heavy feeders so they do not need very much fertilizer. A slow-release fertilizer works very well for Fittonia or a very diluted liquid fertilizer. Use the smallest amount listed on the packaging. Over-fertilizing can lead to crispy tips and fertilizer burn on Fittonia.
Pot
Choosing a pot for Fittonia can be tricky. A wide shot pot works best so they can sprawl out and be a beautiful compact groundcover. Plastic or ceramic pots would be best for moisture retention but terracotta would be better if you prefer to water often. It just depends on your unique environment and habits. Nerve plants are not too particular.
Humidity
Fittonia is used to higher humidity in its natural setting. This makes them great plants for high-humidity homes, bathrooms, over-kitchen sinks, and terrariums. 40% humidity or more to prevent crimping edges. If you need to increase it you can use pebble trays for a slight humidity boost.
Fittonia comes in a variety of colors! You can find them in pinks, reds, greens, and whites. All vibrant, gorgeous, foliage houseplants that can make themselves at home in any of your spaces. Very easy to care for and a perfect plant for plant parents that love to be generous with their watering.
