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Fittonia Care

Your Fittonia is a compact plant with striking patterned foliage. Fittonia are fairly easy to care for–they can tolerate a range of lighting conditions and like to be kept moist. They prefer humid environments and will benefit from regular misting.

How to care for your Fittonia

Use these instructions to care for a Fittonia. This guide will tell you how to water a Fittonia; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.

Fittonia
LIGHT

Your Fittonia prefers bright, indirect light. Lower light can cause it to lose some of its vibrant color and growth will slow. Too much light can burn the leaves.  

WATER

Your Fittonia loves water and to be consistently moist, but not soggy. Water thoroughly when the top 50% of soil is dry. If you let your Fittonia dry out too much, it will let you know with limp leaves. Not to worry! After a thorough watering, the leaves should soon perk up. 

TEMPERATURE

Your Fittonia will thrive in average room temperatures between 65-80 degrees. Avoid cold drafts and direct airflow from heaters in the winter months.

HUMIDITY

Your Fittonia will appreciate higher humidity levels. You can boost the humidity with frequent misting, placing a humidifier nearby, or using a pebble tray. Another way to increase relative humidity is to group several humidity-loving plants together in a small area, creating a micro-climate. 

FOOD

Feed every month in spring and summer with a general houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength. No fertilizer is needed during the fall and winter months when growth naturally slows.

TOXICITY

Fittonia are non-toxic and pet-friendly.

ADDITIONAL CARE

The creeping stems of Fittonia will naturally root into surrounding soil in the pot. In the spring, these rooted areas can be carefully cut out and potted separately to grow your collection.

Grow Beyond Expectations

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What's a Fittonia?

Botanical Classification: Fittonia albivenis

ABOUT

Fittonia are compact plants with striking patterned foliage. Fittonia are fairly easy to care for–they can tolerate a range of lighting conditions and like to be kept moist. They prefer humid environments and will benefit from regular misting. If you are a plant parent that loves to tend to your plants often, this is the plant for you. 

Fittonia originate in South America, mostly found in Peru. They grow in tropical rainforests as ground cover under canopies of trees. Because of this, they stay relatively small and prefer indirect light. They can be pruned to stay small if you prefer not to repot it into a larger pot.

FUN FACT

When your Fittonia is thirsty, it will tell you! Don’t be alarmed if you look over to see you Fittonia completely limp and wilted. Give it a good drink and it should perk up in no time.

Pictured Left: Fittonia

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