Scientific/Botanical Name:
Genus: Fittonia
Specie: F. verschaffeltii
Variety/Cultivar:
English Name:
Common Name:
Nerve Plant
Botanical Family:
Name in Latin: Acanthaceae
Name in English: Acanthus Family
The Plant
Origin: Peru
Growth Habit: Perennial ornamental herb (evergreen herbaceous plant). Upright, branching plants about a foot (30cm) tall. The leaves have veins of a very distinctly different color from the rest of the blade.
Flower: Small buds may appear after time where the stem splits into leaves. Flowers are small with a white to off-white color.
Blooming Period: early-mid summer
Leaf: Its stem is covered in hair. The veins of the leaves are usually white, but colors vary with cultivar.
Usage:
house plant or groundcover. Great choice for terrariums and bottle gardens due to its need for high humidity, and being small, neat and compact in size.
Care and Handling
Soil: Peat-based potting mix that holds moisture well.
Amount of water: moist area with mild sunlight and temperatures above 55°F
Nutrition: Feed every 2-3 months spring through fall with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Special handling: known to be hard to grow. Pinch off stems tips regularly to keep plant bushy and full. Also pinch off any small flower spikes that may appear, because they are insignificant and will weaken the show of leaves. Mist. It doesn't like dry air, drafts, or direct sun, any of which may cause its leaves to shrivel or fall off.
Special feature/remarks: