White Nerve Plant

Light Needs

Bright Indirect Light

Mature Height

3 - 6 Feet

Mature Spread

6 - 18 Inches

Feature

Pet Safe

With its small oval leaves, striking white veins, and compact growth habit, the White Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis) is an excellent houseplant for small, bright spaces and terrariums alike. These petite and dramatic but resilient plants are best known for their reaction to drought, collapsing completely but bouncing back just as fast when thoroughly watered. To keep this plant happy, give it plenty of bright indirect light, water regularly, provide some humidity, and prune routinely. This easy-to-care-for plant is excellent for beginners, especially since it does not hide how it is feeling.

Best Locations For Growing White Nerve Plant

The White Nerve Plant does best when provided with bright indirect light and humidity. For this reason, bright kitchen windowsills and bathrooms are popular places to place these plants. Keep this plant alone in a small planter or hanging basket, or add it into a terrarium for a pop of color to carpet the bottom. Fittonia are nontoxic, making them great options for homes with pets and children.

White Nerve Plant Sunlight Requirements

The White Nerve Plant will keep its shape and color best in bright indirect light, though it can tolerate light that is a bit dimmer. Place this plant in a north- or east-facing window, or slightly to the side of a south- or west-facing window. Fittonia leaves burn easily in direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon and in the summer. Without bright light, Fittonia tends to become leggy. 

White Nerve Plant Care

The White Nerve Plant grows best when provided with consistent moisture and higher humidity. When underwatered or in low humidity, the leaf edges and tips can turn brown and crispy. Fittonia will wilt dramatically when even slightly dry, so it is important to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. After a couple years in the same pot, repot the White Nerve Plant in a pot with drainage holes that is slightly larger, using a potting soil that is well-draining but retains moisture. 

Watering White Nerve Plant

Allow the very top of the soil to dry slightly before watering deeply, until water flows out the bottom of the pot. Maintain consistently damp soil for best results, which can mean watering this plant a few times a week, depending on light, temperature, and humidity. In the winter, watering can be cut back slightly. 

Feeding White Nerve Plant

The White Nerve Plant will grow best when provided with monthly fertilizer in the spring and summer. Add a liquid houseplant fertilizer into your watering routine once a month, following dilution instructions to avoid damaging the plant’s roots. You do not need to fertilize in the winter when plants are growing less.

SKU:

Fittonia_White-HP