Pink Fittonia

Pink Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis 'Pink') is grown entirely for its leaves: deep green ovals threaded with a fine rose pink net, on a creeping plant that holds at 15cm tall and about 30cm across. It brings colour to shade without a single flower, which is useful indoors where flowering plants rarely last. It is also not toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The pink veining runs through every leaf all year, so there is no season where the plant looks plain.
• Built for low light. It comes from the rainforest understorey, so a spot too dim for most colourful foliage suits it.
• Not toxic to pets. Cats and dogs can share a room with it, which narrows the field among indoor plants.
• Compact and easy to multiply. At 15cm tall and 30cm wide one plant fills a small pot for years, and tip cuttings root in water within a fortnight.

Where it works best

Indoors on a desk or shelf. The veining is best appreciated close up, so place it at arm's length rather than across the room. Bright indirect light keeps the pink strong.

Terrariums and bathrooms. High humidity is what this plant is built for. A closed terrarium or a bathroom with a window gives better growth than a dry living room will.

Shaded ground cover in warm gardens. In tropical and subtropical gardens, plant 20cm apart under larger foliage for a soft pink toned carpet. It is frost tender, so this only applies where frost never reaches.

Growing fittonia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or full shade outdoors in frost free tropical and subtropical gardens. Direct sun fades the pink and burns the leaf margins. Keep it away from heating and cooling vents, which dry the air faster than it can cope with.

Soil. A moisture retentive indoor mix opened up with perlite. Drainage holes are not optional, because the plant wants a mix that stays damp between waterings but never sits wet at the base.

Water and feed. Check the mix every few days and water before it dries right through. Standing the pot on a tray of pebbles lifts the humidity around the leaves. A half strength liquid feed monthly from spring to autumn is enough.

Pruning. Pinch the tips out through the growing season to keep it dense, and cut long bare stems back to the base so new growth comes from low down.

What to expect when it arrives

Pink Fittonia is sold as tube stock, a small rooted plant that goes straight into a 100mm to 150mm decorative pot or a terrarium. Growth is slow and steady, and one tube typically fills a 150mm pot over a season.

Thin leaves mean it often arrives looking tired. Water it as soon as you unpack it, keep it out of direct sun for the first week, and it usually firms up within a day. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• White Angel Fittonia, the same plant with white veining
• More pet friendly indoor plants

Common questions

Why are the leaf edges going brown and crisp?

Dry air, or the mix drying out between waterings. Move it away from vents and heaters, group it with other plants, or sit it on a pebble tray to raise the humidity around the foliage.

Is it toxic to cats or dogs?

No. Fittonia is not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it one of the safer options for a household where pets investigate the pot plants.

How much light does it need?

Bright indirect light gives the strongest pink. It will hold on in low light with slower growth and paler veining, but direct sun through glass scorches it within a few days.

Can I propagate it?

Easily. Take a tip cutting of three or four leaves, sit it in water or damp mix, and roots appear within about two weeks.