Fittonia Verschaffelth
Nerve Plant
Acanthaceae
Nerve plants are native to the rain forests of South and Central America. They are small plants that hug the ground. These plants make a wonderful addition to dish gardens and terrariums. They have small leaves with lots of veining and color. Color varies from red to pink to silver.
Moisture - keep the soil evenly moist but not soaked, and provide as much humidity as you can which will help to mimic the native rainforest conditions. (this is why a terrarium is a great place for this plant)
Light - medium light is best.... never place this plant in direct light or it will damage the leaves.... bright light in the winter time will help keep the plant in the best condition.
Temperature - warm to average temps are best for this plant, it can tolerate cooler temps on occassion
Fertilize - monthly using 10-10-10 solution to keep this plant actively growing
Pests - normally pest free... however watch out for mealybugs and spider mites, especially if it is not grown in ideal conditions
Repotting - use very rich soil that retains moisture... this plant is not a fast grower and does not need to be repotted often... usually only when starting new plants... most often the original pot works fine
Propagation - by stem cuttings or by layering... old plants will often start looking bad... so take regular stem or tip cuttings to produce new plants.
Tips - pinch on a regular basis to keep the plant full and bushy... it makes a great ground cover under larger plants... cut it back in the spring to produce new, bushy growth