Everything you need to know about Silver Nerve plant
Are you a plant lover? Do you love Silver Nerve Plant? If yes this is definitely for you.
Silver Nerve plant (Fittonia spp.) is a spreading evergreen perennial with beautifully veined, deep-green leaves that is commonly grown as a houseplant. Although silvery-white veins are the most common, you can also find variations with red, pink, white, and green veins. Nerve plant is a creeper that grows slowly and is ideal for terrariums and bottle gardens.
Silver nerve plant grows to a height of 3 to 6 inches and a trailing spread of 12 to 18 inches on average. When planted as an indoor houseplant, the plant rarely blossoms, though it does occasionally produce small reddish or yellowish-white spikes. Nerve plant is sometimes planted as a creeping ground cover in filtered light.
Silver nerve plant, as lovely as it is, could be finicky and difficult to grow as a houseplant as it demands a high level of continual humidity, similar to that found in a terrarium, and it cannot withstand stagnant circumstances. The nerve plant is also susceptible to leaf burn when exposed to strong, direct sunlight.
| Botanical Name | Fittonia albivenis |
| Common Name | Nerve plant, Mosaic plant, Fittonia, Painted net leaf, Silver Nerve |
| Plant Type | Evergreen herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 3 to 6 inch tall, 12 to 18 inch spread |
| Sun Exposure | Filtered indirect sun or part shade |
| Soil Type | Moist, well-draining soil |
| Soil pH | Prefers slightly acidic soil (6.5), will tolerate alkaline soils |
| Bloom Time | Usually July to August |
| Flower Color | Yellowish-white or reddish, flowers are insignificant |
| Native Area | Tropical rain forests of South America |
Care and Management of Silver Nerve Plant
When growing a nerve plant indoors, use a peaty commercial potting mix. The plant requires continual moisture and a high degree of ambient humidity, which can be achieved by misting it frequently or growing it in a tray filled with pebbles and water.
Most growers prefer to keep these gorgeous but temperamental plants in terrariums or covered gardens, where they can benefit from the high humidity and diffused light.
Light
As a tropical plant that grows natively in the humid, brilliant shade of tropical woods, this houseplant prefers similar conditions. It prefers bright, indirect sunlight, such as that provided by north-facing windows, to full sunshine. It will also grow well in fluorescent lighting.
Water
It can be difficult to keep the plant properly wet. If the nerve plant is allowed to dry up, it will collapse. 2 Repeated fainting periods will eventually take their toll on the plant, even though it recovers quickly if properly hydrated. Fittonia plants that are let to sit in water for long periods of time produce yellowed, limp leaves.
Temperature and Humidity
Nerve plant thrives at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but will endure a wide variety of temperatures. These plants thrive in humid environments like those found in rainforests. Misting the plants on a regular basis will protect them from drying out. A room humidifier may be beneficial in arid locations or during the dry winter months. Terrariums or bottle gardens are naturally moist environments well suited to the plant.
Soil Preference
Silver Nerve grows well in standard potting soil with a peat-moss base. The soil should retain some moisture but should also drain well. It prefers slightly acidic soil with enough organic matter.
Fertilizer and Manure
Feed plants a weak dosage of liquid fertilizer made for tropical plants once a week during the growing season. An excellent recipe is a balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Potting and Re-potting
Any conventional potting soil and compost mix and standard indoor plant pot with bottom drainage holes will work for Silver nerve plant.
While re-potting always use fresh potting soil and compost mix when you repot to prevent soil compaction and water-logging. Re-potting can be done annually.
