Dear Jen,

Thanks very much. What happened to your fittonia?? (Since you speak of it in the past tense.) That's so weird that it's a difficult plant to care for, because the label (Angel) made it sound like something easy to the point of stupid. So much for that!

Thanks again :-)
Esther

Esther,

They probably make it sound easy so you'll buy it! : ) I gave my Fittonia to my mom when I moved into an apartment a while ago, didnt have the light for it. Now I live in a house though full of plants. Wouldnt be without them. Did you find any bugs? Hope it works out!

Jen

No bugs... thank goodness! Well now--it seems I have a new problem. I came home today and found them all drooping sadly. Soft & limp, no longer crisp or curling. I simply don't know what's going on. Maybe it's too cold. It's been a cool autumn in NY, around 60 degrees. It rained today, but the fittonia, of course, is indoors.

If anyone knows what's going on, please let me know!

Alas!

Thanks Jen,
Esther

Ester, do you have your Fittonia in a pot w/drainage? Although Fittonias like moist soil, they don't like sitting is muddy soil 24/7. I let my Fittonia dry to the point of some wilt. Then it gets a good watering until water seeps out of bottom of pot.
Buying a humidfer is a good investment..not only for plants, but people, too..Our homes get so dry once the heat is turned on..Good circulating air helps, also. I run my ceiling fan on low in the winter, so heat and humidity permeates throughout the rooms..Toni

Ester, even though Fittonia's are water lovers, I let the soil dry out just as they plant is starting to wilt.
60 degrees is adequate..Hot air will do much more damage than cool.
I do mist, and take to the sink and hose foliage, but everyone has their own ways..we do what works best.
What type of light is your Fittonia getting? Does the pot have drainage? How wet are you keeping soil?
Brown leaves are an idication of dry air and/or dry soil. I wouldn't keep the soil constinuously wet or dry. Toni

Dear Toni, I keep the soil fairly moist, although not soaking--and actually don't water too often. I don't let the soil get bone-dry, but some soil always clings to my fingernails when I touch it. I mist everyday and keep a pebble tray. The fittonia gets good light, bright but not enough to make you blink.

So it's not wilted anymore, but back to being crisp and slightly curly. That's seems better than being totally limp!

I think I will have to get a humidifier... I just moved into this apartment and am experiencing cold weather for the first time. I woke up this morning and my throat was raspy. So! The fittonia must be suffering. I am keeping it away from the radiator.

Thank you so much for your advice and description of how you care for your fittonia. :-)

-Esther

Ester, I dislike dry air too, so you can imagine how our plants detest it.
Of course everyone grows plants differently, but I allow my Fittonia to dry so leaves are about to wilt before watering..especially in winter.
I hope after you get your humidifer your plant resumes perfect health and leaves unfurl. They're not the easiest plants to grow, Esther, so don't feel bad about the problems you're having. Good luck, Toni

Hello everyone !!
I am new here and do love reading your posts-I too have experienced the exact symptoms with my fittonia-- when she/he fell over and played dead I nearly died---so I ran for my jug of water with a low dose of fert. and hour later she was back and seemed happy--I do keep on eye on her more so than my other dozen or so plants--I will mist her and perhaps do the pebble/water tray--
What size pot would I use-- this was in a small pot--maybe 3-4 inch--I did plant one portion in a garden dish that needed a fill in-- then the rest is in a 4" pot
Thanks for all your great info--
I am from MA and have dryness all winter--we use 2 vaporizers- found them better for my sinus and throat--
plants do not complain either
Take care Mari

Hi Mari..
Thankfully, you caught it on time.
Once the soil dries, Fittonia leaves wilt. If left unattended, it's good-bye plant.

Dry air and hot temps cause leaf curl, too.

Fittonias are usually bought as Accent Garden Plants, so naturally they do best outdoors. Grown as a house plant takes work.

Plastic pots are best. Clay would dry soil too fast.

Vaporizers sure help. Is your hot or cool? Hot air uses a lot of electric and has to heat before it works.
I know, I bought one, lol. We use humidifers and 2 indoor fountains..little fountains, nothing fancy or overly-expensive.

How long have you had your Fittonia? Toni

Hi Toni
Have had the Fittonia 3 weeks or so-- and both plants are doing well--at least today--one is in a plastic pot--so unknowingly I got that right--
the other in a large ceramic bowl (type) garden that was a gift--and I added the Fittonia to it-- along with 3 or 4 different plants-seems to hold the water well yet I do check it more often-- I am leaving for NH for a week-- will have to have hubby water the Fittonia ??? Yikes he will love that !!
I did my monthly watering last couple of days--have 3 jades and most of the others can take being dry for a few days--
Thanks for your info-- it really helps--
Mari

uh.. what does this mean? i sure hope its not bacteria infection

oh here is the top view...

Ester, not too sure about why the leaves curl; however, if there is any sagging the answer is that the plant needs watering. It would be nice to know about the curling leaves. Maybe the variety 'albivenis' is hardier. I did not see any curling of a plant I had in Denmark; but here in Canada there seems to be curling. And it looks like the variety here is 'verschaffeltii.' Maybe that makes the difference. Keep the soil watered but not soggy at all.

Curled fittonia leaves mean dry air or not enough water. If you feel sure your watering is enough, give the plant a humidity tray. Place stones, or marbles on a tray and pour on water just below the top of the stones, don't let the plant sit in the water, You can also just elevate the plant with anything around the house in a tray of water. In a pinch I use the top of aerosol cans often,

My Fittonia is in a hanging basket, so I can't use the pebble tray trick. Other than a humidifier, any other tricks for keeping it happy?

I grew one for my boss at work, for a long time. It loved indirect light, 12 feet or so from a west window, but also under typical office fluorescent lighting. I never let the soil get more than barely dry to the touch. There was no extra humidity or spritzing. It was happy as long as it was watered around every 3 or 4 days in it's 8 inch pot.