Nerve Plant 'frankie'

Nerve Plant 'frankie' Care

Fittonia Albivenis 'frankie'

What is the plant

Fittonia are spreading evergreen perennials growing 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall. Sporting dark green leaves with veins of white. Its spreading habit makes it ideal as groundcover. It is not frost hardy therefore best grown in a greenhouse or as a houseplant. Without water for a few days, this plant will "faint" but is easily revived with a quick watering. 'Frankie' has pink leaves with frilly, green edges. Quite stiff leaves when watered well.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

15°C - 27°C

Hardiness zone

11 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Keeping the plant appropriately moist can be a challenge. Nerve plant is prone to collapse if it's allowed to dry out. Although it will recover quickly if thoroughly watered, repeated fainting spells will eventually take their toll on the plant. At the other extreme, Fittonia plants that are allowed to stagnate in water will develop yellowed, limp leaves.
Pruning
Nerve plant grows quickly in the right conditions, and if the stems grow leggy, pinching off the tips will keep the growth full and bushy. Because the flowers are insignificant and boring, pinching off the buds will also help keep the foliage full.
Fertilizer
During its growing season, feed plants weekly with a weak dose of liquid fertilizer formulated for tropical plants. A balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer diluted to half strength is a good formulation.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
As a tropical plant that naturally grows in the humid bright shade of tropical forests, this plant prefers similar conditions when grown as a houseplant. It dislikes full sunlight, preferring bright, indirect sun, such as that offered by north-facing windows. It will also thrive under fluorescent lights.
Soil
Fittonia grows well in standard potting soil with a peat-moss base. The soil should retain some moisture but should also drain well.
Temperature
Nerve plant thrives at temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit but will tolerate a range from the low 60s to low 80s. These plants prefer humid conditions similar to those found in rainforests.