Fittonias (Nerve Plants)

How to choose a fittonia

Every fittonia here is the same size and wants the same care, so choose by colour. Red Flame and Red Cloud have the strongest red veining, almost flooding the leaf in bright light. Pink is softer, with rose veins on mid-green, and Firetail (Fittonia albivenis 'Firetail') adds a pink flush across the whole leaf. White Angel has crisp white veins on dark green, the classic nerve plant look, and Skeleton is the unusual one, a lime-green leaf netted in deep pink. Mixing two or three in one bowl is the usual way to grow them.

Where fittonias work

Bright to medium indirect light with no direct sun, and as much humidity as you can give them. That makes them ideal for a closed or open terrarium, a bathroom or kitchen windowsill facing away from the sun, a shaded shelf, and a glass bowl on a desk. In a dry, air-conditioned room they struggle unless grouped with other plants or stood on a tray of damp pebbles. They are not frost hardy and are grown indoors everywhere in Australia except the shaded, humid gardens of the tropics, where they make a ground cover under trees. Fittonias are non-toxic to cats and dogs, so they belong with our pet-friendly indoor plants and the smaller plants in the indoor plant range.

Potting and terrariums

Use a peat-free indoor mix that holds moisture but drains, in a shallow pot with holes or a terrarium with a layer of gravel and charcoal under the mix. Fittonias have shallow roots, so a 120mm pot is plenty; repot every year or two in spring. In a terrarium, plant them 10cm apart and pinch the tips to keep them low. Our guide to repotting plants covers the handling of small root balls.

Care basics

Keep the mix evenly moist, never soggy and never dry: a fittonia that dries out collapses within hours, and while it recovers once or twice, repeated collapses weaken it. Water with room-temperature water when the surface starts to dry, mist in dry weather or keep a humidity tray, and feed monthly in the warm months with a quarter-strength liquid fertiliser. Pinch out the tips every few weeks to keep the plant dense, and remove the small flower spikes, which take energy from the leaves. Soft brown patches on the leaves come from cold water or cold draughts.

Common questions

My fittonia has collapsed. Is it dead?

Almost certainly not. Water it thoroughly and it should stand back up within an hour or two. It is asking for a more regular watering routine.

Can a fittonia live in a closed terrarium?

Yes, it is one of the best plants for one. The humidity suits it, and the glass keeps the mix moist for weeks. Open the lid for an hour a week to let air move.

Why are the colours fading?

Not enough light. Move it closer to a window, out of direct sun, and the veining comes back on the new leaves.

Are fittonias safe for pets?

Yes. Fittonias are non-toxic to cats and dogs.