Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Houseplant Nerve Plant By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 11, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Marty Baldwin. Nerve Plant Overview Description Nerve plant is a diminutive house plant that is big on style. Its colorful leaves display intricate vein patterns in light pink, dark pink, and white depending on the variety. Petite enough to live on desktops or nightstands, it is a great choice for small spaces that call for a burst of plant life. Group three or more nerve plants together in coordinating containers and make a big statement on a living room coffee table or entry table. Genus Name Fittonia spp. Common Name Nerve Plant Plant Type Houseplant Height 6 to 6 inches Width 6 to 12 inches Foliage Color Blue/Green, Chartreuse/Gold, Gray/Silver, Purple/Burgundy Zones 11 Propagation Division, Stem Cuttings Terrarium Friendly Humid terrariums are perfect planting spaces for nerve plant, although this easy-to-grow plant will thrive in a pot in less humid areas, such as an office. When growing nerve plant in a small or large terrarium, add some visual variety by pairing it with specimens such as variegated spider fern (Arachnordes simplicior 'Variegata'), mother fern (Asplenium bulbiferum), pilea (Pilea spp.), and/or dragon's tongue (Hemigraphis repanda). Find a step-by-step terrarium lesson here! Nerve Plant Care Must-Knows When grown outdoors in Zones 11 or 12, nerve plant can serve as a creeping groundcover in shady areas. Indoors, nerve plant grows best when planted in a peaty or soil-base potting mixture. Place the pot where it will receive indirect light, such as an east or north window or dappled sun. Avoid direct sun (which will crisp the leaves), unless that light is filtered through a sheer curtain. Unlike some houseplants, nerve plant grows best in moist soil, so water it when the soil surface is just barely dry. Empty the plant's drip tray or cachepot after watering, though, to keep this plant from languishing in soggy soil. Humidity is also key. If the leaves start to wither, mist the foliage on a regular basis, run a humidifier, or set the pot on a wet pebble tray that will boost humidity as the water evaporates. Fertilize nerve plant about once a month using a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Follow the package directions carefully. Pinch the tips of leaves to encourage a denser habit. Propagate by taking stem cuttings. More Varieties of Nerve Plant Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit