How to care for a Nerve Plant | Fittonia

The nerve plant is native to the tropical rainforests of South America. They tend to grow very well in humid environments. Because they prefer warm conditions, it is not recommended to put your nerve plant outside.

The nerve plant is not very good at purifying the air. These little guys have other super powers!

The nerve plant, although dangerously striking, is actually non-toxic.

The nerve plant likes to be kept in a slightly moist soil. Once the top soil starts to dry out it is usually time to water. Be careful with root rot and take care of proper drainage though. Too much water typically kills!

The nerve plant or Fittonia is best grown in low to moderate light environments. This makes these plants perfect bedroom or bathroom companions where light is usually filtered or sparsely available. They tend to grow very well in north facing windows, too.

Give the nerve plant some fertilizer once every month.

Repotting is recommended once every two years.

Pruning the nerve plant around the ends of the stem helps with branching. When you see flowering you are also best to cut those because the plant will go into seeding otherwise.

The mealy bug is the nerve plant's most common enemy. Washing away any critters with warm water usually does the job.