Nerve plants, whose scientific name is Fittonia albivenis, are loved indoor plants for their beautiful, pink-veined leaves. But these tropical beauties can look sad and droopy all of a sudden. Something is wrong if the leaves on your nerve plant are flat, droopy, and not colored.
Not to worry! Your nerve plant will look good and healthy again in no time with a few simple fixes. This article will talk about the most common reasons nerve plants droop and easy ways to make them stand up again.
Common Causes for a Drooping Nerve Plant
There are a few key things that cause nerve plants to droop. Here are the most common culprits:
Underwatering
Nerve plants need consistent moisture. If you forget to water your Fittonia and the soil dries out completely, the leaves will start to wilt, droop, and potentially crisp up.
Make sure you are watering your nerve plant when the top inch or two of soil becomes dry Stick to a regular watering schedule Nerve plants prefer moist, but not soggy soil.
If you accidentally let it get bone dry it will need a good thorough soaking to rehydrate. More on that later!
Low Humidity
Nerve plants thrive in humid conditions. In fact, they naturally grow in tropical rainforests. If your home’s air is very dry, it can cause Fittonia leaves to lose turgidity and go limp.
Aim to keep humidity levels between 50-70%. You may need to make some adjustments to increase the moisture in the air surrounding your plant.
Overwatering
While nerve plants don’t like to dry out, they also don’t like soggy soil. If the roots sit in wet soil for too long, they can start to rot. This damages the roots’ ability to take up water and nutrients.
Make sure your plant’s soil is able to dry adequately between waterings. Water less frequently in winter when growth slows.
Cold Temperatures
Nerve plants prefer warm conditions between 65-80°F. If your Fittonia is exposed to temperatures lower than 60°F, the leaves can start to droop and suffer cold damage.
Keep your nerve plant in the warmest spot in your home and away from cold drafts. Aquick temperature drop can shock the plant.
Low Light
A nerve plant can survive in low light indoors, but too little light can quickly kill it. If there isn’t enough light, growth can be limp and stretched out.
Place your Fittonia in bright, indirect light for best results. Some morning or late afternoon sun is beneficial. Rotate the plant periodically so all sides get light exposure.
Transplant Stress
Re-potting or dividing a nerve plant can disrupt its roots and cause temporary drooping while it adjusts and re-establishes.
Give your plant some time to settle into its new container. Make sure not to disturb the roots more than necessary when re-potting.
Quick Fixes to Perk Up a Drooping Nerve Plant
Do something right away if the leaves on your nerve plant are getting weak. Here are some simple solutions to perk it back up:
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Water thoroughly – If dry soil is the culprit, give your plant a good, deep watering until it runs from the drainage holes. For severely dried out plants, submerge the pot to soak for 20-30 minutes before draining.
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Mist frequently – Use a spray bottle to mist the leaves several times a day. This easy technique boosts humidity around the plant.
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Use a pebble tray – Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and a bit of water. As the water evaporates, it increases humidity for your plant.
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Get a humidifier – Humidifiers are ideal for increasing moisture in the surrounding air during dry winter months.
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Move to a brighter spot – Getting more bright, indirect light helps revive a droopy nerve plant. Rotate it periodically for even exposure.
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Keep it warm – Maintain temperatures above 60°F and avoid cold drafts. A heat mat can provide extra warmth.
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Wait it out after re-potting – If drooping coincides with being re-potted, allow 1-2 weeks for the roots to recover before taking further action.
How to Prevent a Nerve Plant From Drooping
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to houseplant issues. Here are some easy ways to keep your nerve plant happy and prevent sagging:
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Water when the top inch of soil is dry to keep moisture evenly moderate.
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Mist the leaves daily or use a pebble tray to maintain 50-70% humidity.
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Keep your nerve plant in a warm spot (65-80°F) with bright, indirect light.
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Avoid moving the plant to different conditions quickly. Make location changes gradually.
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Be cautious when re-potting and don’t disturb the roots excessively.
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Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
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Remove dead leaves and spend time caring for your plant to notice early signs of distress.
When to Be Concerned About Your Nerve Plant
In most cases, a drooping nerve plant can bounce back quickly. But if the drooping doesn’t improve after a week or two, or other symptoms develop, additional intervention may be needed.
Reach out to your local greenhouse or plant nursery for advice if you notice:
- Wilting that persists after correcting care issues
- Stems and leaves feel mushy or rotten
- Leaf spots or other signs of disease
- Pests like mealybugs, spider mites, or fungus gnats
- Significant leaf loss and dieback
For severe cases, you may need to take cuttings and propagate the healthy parts of the plant to start again. Don’t give up hope! With a little TLC, your nerve plant can make a full comeback.
Enjoy Your Happy, Healthy Nerve Plant
With their stunning pink-veined leaves, nerve plants are one of the most beautiful foliage houseplants you can grow. By understanding what causes Fittonias to droop and how to fix it, you can keep your plant looking sensational.
Check soil moisture frequently, increase humidity, provide bright indirect light, keep temperatures warm, and avoid stressing your plant. Your diligent care will be rewarded with vibrant leaves that delight as a living work of art in your home.
If you’ve noticed your Fittonia looking deflated and limp-don’t be alarmed! This is totally normal, and easily fixed. Your plant is likely very thirsty and could use a good drink.
Incredibly dry soil
Be sure you’re not underwatering your Fittonia. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 1-2” of soil are dry.
If you accidentally let your Fittonia’s soil dry out completely, you may see fronds droop, crisp up, and leaves fall. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a good soak is in order.
Here’s how to soak-water your plant:
- Put the plant in the sink or tub without the saucer. Fill your basin up with about 1-2” of water. Make sure the water isn’t hot! .
- For at least 30 minutes, let your plant soak up water through the hole in the bottom of the pot.
- Please check the top 1-2 inches of soil after your plant has been soaked. Has the water reached them?
- If you can tell that not all of the soil is wet, you can water your Fittonia from the top to help it get wet faster.
- When the soil around your plant is evenly wet, drain the sink or tub and let the plant rest while it all drains. Put the plant back where it belongs on its saucer.
Remember that going from very dry to very wet soil can be hard on your Fittonia, and it might not get better as quickly as it normally would. Be patient and give it some time to adjust.
Not enough humidity
Your Fittonia might also be pouting because it could use more humidity. Here are some ways you can boost humidity:
In order to increase the humidity around the plant, misting its leaves with filtered or distilled water is one of the easiest ways to do it. Depending on how dry your environment is, you may need to mist several times a day.
Make a pebble tray
Pebble trays are another easy DIY solution to increase humidity around a plant. You don’t want a plant’s roots sitting in water, so to prevent that from happening, add clean pebbles in a shallow water-filled tray. The water level should not be above the pebbles. Place the plant on top of the tray. The water will gradually evaporate around the plant, boosting humidity.
Get a humidifier Humidifiers can be a benefit to both people and plants during the winter months. While heaters and fireplaces can dry out a living space, a humidifier adds much-needed moisture to the air. Always follow the instructions regarding where to place it in your home.
Give your plant a shower
Give your Fittonia a quick lukewarm shower. This not only raises the humidity, but it also gets rid of any dust or dirt and keeps pests from moving in.
Fittonia (Nerve plant) Rescue, Care Tips, and Propagation – WITH SATISFYING UPDATES
FAQ
How to revive a wilting nerve plant?
Wilted, limp leaves: A telltale sign that your plant is thirsty. Usually the leaves will revive quickly after you give your plant a good soaking. To avoid stressing out your plant too often, it’s best to keep to a regular watering schedule.
How to tell if a nerve plant is overwatered?
Yellowing Leaves: This is often a sign of overwatering. Fittonia plants like their soil to be consistently moist, but not waterlogged. If you notice yellowing leaves, reduce your watering frequency and ensure your plant’s pot has good drainage.
How often should you water a nerve plant?
Nerve plants (Fittonia) generally need to be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry. This usually translates to about once a week, but the frequency can vary based on your environment.
How to revive a droopy plant?
To revive a droopy plant, start by assessing the cause of the drooping, which is often related to watering issues (either overwatering or underwatering) or inadequate light or humidity. Check the soil moisture and drainage, and adjust watering accordingly. If underwatered, bottom water the plant until the soil is evenly moist. If overwatered, allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again and consider repotting into a pot with better drainage.