Fittonia

( fih - TONE - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Nerve Plant or Mosaic Plant, these evergreen perennials include species which have many cultivars and varieties and are commonly cultivated as houseplants. They have colorful foliage with highlighted veins, and need a lot of water to perform well. They are naturally forest floor-dwelling, low-growing plants with lush but relatively small foliage, and need moist soil and indirect light to perform well indoors.

Fittonia Species and Varietals

The genus Fittonia includes just 2 species, and is a member of the plant family Acanthaceae. Species grow well in USDA hardiness zones 11 and 12, and are commonly kept as houseplants in cooler zones. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Fittonia albivenis (Silver Fittonia, Nerve Plant, Mosaic Plant, Painted Net Leaf Plant, Silver Netleaf)
This species is native to the rainforests of Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, and Brazil. These plants are hardy to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and are commonly grown as greenhouse or indoor plants. Leaves are green, marked with pink to white veining. Flowers are small and white to cream in color. There are two cultivar groups included within this species: Argyroneura (with silver to white veining) and Verschaffeltii (with pink to red leaf veining). Plants in this species generally reach up to 3-8 inches tall and have a spread of 12-18 inches wide.

Fittonia gigantea (Giant Leaved Nerve Plant, Mosaic Plant)
These plants are native to tropical rainforests in South America, namely Peru. They can reach between 1 and 2.5 feet tall at maturity and have distinctly-colored leaf veins. Flowers are small and white to yellow in color. They have two lips and are generally insignificant.

Fittonia spp. Varieties and Cultivars
The following plants are hybrids of the above species, bred to exhibit bright foliage color and defined veining. Most are compact, spreading plants that reach between 4 and 8 inches tall when mature.

'Autumn Flame'

'Daisy'

'Leather Leaf'

'Minima'

'Pink Angel'

'Purple Vein'

'Red Anne'

'Silver Nerve'

Caring for fittonia

Plant Fittonia in an area of the garden that gets partial to dappled sun. Do not attempt to plant these tropical groundcover plants before the last frost of your area has passed by. Soil should be well-draining and relatively rich in nutrients. If local soils are particularly poor or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic material and compost, working it into the soil before installing plants. After planting, apply a thick layer of mulch on top of the soil around the base of plants. This will help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. Water new plantings regularly as they develop a strong root system. Mature plants also appreciate consistently moist soil; irrigate whenever the top inch or two of soil is dry to the touch.

Fertilize these plants yearly with a dressing of organic compost, pulling back mulch to apply before gently working it into the soil, watering, and then replacing the mulch. Prune plants to remove spent flowers and any dead, damaged or diseased foliage. Protect from cool temperatures (anything under 50 degrees Fahrenheit has the potential to damage plants). In cold-winter climates, grow Fittonia as an annual outdoors. These flowers can last for several years to decades in the landscape if cared for properly before needing to be replaced.

Growing Fittonia Indoors
Fittonias are commonly cultivated indoors as houseplants. Plant in rich, well-draining potting mix in a container that has adequate drainage holes. Place the container in a spot in the house that receives indirect light. Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. These plants require high humidity levels, preferring between 50% and 70% to thrive. They are perfect for misty areas of the home, such as bathrooms or terrariums. A sign that plants are suffering from low humidity is wilting, curling leaves or brown tips. They prefer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Propagation

Fittonia plants are best propagated via cutting. To propagate your Fittonia plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Fittonia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances the cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch softwood or semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. It should be kept in warm, sunny conditions in a protected area. Water whenever the soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, the cutting should be rooted. New growth indicates the formation of roots.
Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.