Skeleton Nerve Plant

Skeleton Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis 'Skeleton') is a low spreading foliage plant grown for the fine silver white veining that runs across every leaf like stitching. It stays around 15cm tall and spreads to about 30cm, which makes it a terrarium and tabletop plant rather than a floor one. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does all the work. Fine pale veins across deep green leaves give it more detail than most indoor plants manage with flowers.
• It suits low, indirect light. A shaded bench, a bathroom or a room set back from the window all work, provided direct sun stays off the leaves.
• Safe around pets. Fittonias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level in a home with animals.
• It tells you when it is thirsty. The leaves wilt dramatically and recover within hours of a water, which makes it one of the easiest plants to read.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where most will live: terrariums, bathrooms, benches and shaded desks anywhere in the country. Inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts with a plant this frost tender.

Terrariums and closed cases. The high humidity of a closed terrarium suits it far better than open room air. Set plants about 20cm apart for a carpet.

Balconies and shaded courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it works outdoors as a groundcover in deep shade, planted 20cm apart. It will not survive frost, so everywhere else it stays in a pot that comes inside.

Growing skeleton nerve plant in Australia

Position. Bright indirect light or moderate shade. Direct sun bleaches the veining and crisps the leaf margins, while a very dark corner makes the growth thin and leggy.

Soil and humidity. A coir or peat based indoor mix that holds moisture and still drains. Humidity is what it really wants, so group it with other plants, use a pebble tray, or grow it under glass.

Watering. Keep the mix lightly damp at all times and never let it dry right out. Water once the surface feels dry, use room temperature water, and empty the saucer so the roots do not sit wet.

Feeding and pruning. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer only. Pinch the tips to keep it compact, and remove the flower spikes, which are insignificant and cost the plant energy.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock, or in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten. Tube stock plants are small rooted cuttings, ideal for planting up a terrarium, while the 140mm plants are established and can go straight into a decorative pot or a shaded bed.

A nerve plant may arrive limp after transit. That is dehydration rather than damage, and a thorough water usually brings it back within a few hours. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Indoor plants that are safe around pets
• Browse the wider indoor plant range
• Choices for rooms with very little light

Common questions

Why does it keep wilting?

Fittonias collapse the moment the mix dries out, then recover within hours of a drink. Frequent wilting means the pot is too small or the position too warm and dry.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Nerve plants are not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes them one of the safer choices for a home where pets chew foliage.

Can I grow it outside?

Only in a frost free tropical or subtropical garden, in deep shade with steady moisture. It is frost tender, so in cooler parts of the country it belongs indoors.

Why are the leaf edges going brown and crisp?

Dry air, direct sun, or a build up of salts from tap water. Move it out of the light, lift the humidity around it, and flush the pot through every couple of months.