Nerve plant drooping leaves is a picture that no green hobbyist likes to see. These plants are resilient but can rebel if they don’t get the attention they deserve.
Nevertheless, plenty of tips can help you get your Fittonia plant back on track. In this article, we’ll go through some common issues for nerve plants hanging their foliage and how to address them.
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Why Is Nerve Plant Drooping?
Nerve plants can show signs of drooping due to lack of water, too much or too little light, or if there are pests and diseases bugging them. In addition to this, it can also be due to repotting shock, having a temperature shock, or being placed in poor soil.
These plants are increasingly popular potted beauties that thrive in our rooms and can do well in indirect light, making them ideal for hallways and even bathrooms! However, some things will have them drooping and can even kill them if we don’t address them properly. This is one of the most common nerve plant problems, but poorly addressed nevertheless.
– Low Humidity
The fittonia albivenis plant is used to living in the lush, humid environment of the rainforest. But when you bring it indoors, the dry air from central heating and air conditioning can cause it to wilt and droop. Don’t let your precious plant suffer, and they will begin to look weakened and this would be seen on the leaves as an unhealthy trigger.
– Watering Issues
Keeping your nerve plant hydrated is crucial to its well-being; on the other hand, if you let the soil completely dry out, you’ll see your beloved plant drooping in no time. To prevent this from happening, water your plant every other day, especially if your home is toasty and warm.
Give your plant a good soak, making sure water drains out of the bottom of the pot. But be careful not to overwater, as this too will lead to droopy foliage turning yellow, and even deadly root rot.
– Light Issues
While it might seem tempting to place it in direct sunlight, that could actually be the worst thing you can do. Which is why they would start to look dull and droopy in the long run. With this, you may also start seeing that the nerve plant is not as healthy as it was, and the stems are also weakened. The light that you have placed in for this case would be a direct one.
– Repotting Shock
Nerve plants will go through their share of pain and shock as you repot them to a new place. If you’re trying to give your plant a more spacious container, try to water the new soil before doing so. If the new soil is too dry it will make it harder for the roots to get to water, causing your nerve plant to wilt and go yellow. In severe cases you may experience your plant dying.
You should also try to minimize any mechanical shock, and this is what you should be mindful of because the nerve plant’s roots are tender, so best not to jerk or pull your plant out of the container by force. Instead, try to give the container a squeeze, and simply turn it upside down so that the plant slips out of it. You can gently shake the container to help loosen the soil in this process.
– Temperature Shock
The nerve plant thrives in the cozy comfort of indoor temperatures, where it can bask in the warmth of your home. These tropical plants prefer a temperature range between 60 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal nerve plant growth. This temperature-sweet spot encourages the plant to flourish, producing even growth and lush foliage, and if there is a temperature shock, it will go through a phase where the plant is suffering and feels dull.
Unfortunately, the nerve plant isn’t fond of chilly temperatures, and if the thermometer dips too low, it can spell trouble. If you live in a cooler climate and you don’t keep the plant in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit this is when its delicate leaves from dropping.
It’s worth noting that while nerve plants enjoy warmth, they don’t appreciate overheating. Avoid placing your plant baby too close to a heater or central heating system, as this can dry out the soil and cause the plant to wilt.
– Poor Soil
The soil you choose for your nerve plant is just as important as the amount of water and light it receives. If it’s too dry or too wet or lacks proper nutrients, it can cause the plant’s foliage to droop and look generally unhappy.
To give your nerve plant the best chance at thriving, decide a high-quality potting mix that is moist, organic-rich, and well-draining. Aim for loamy soil that is peat-based, as this type of soil retains moisture well without becoming too waterlogged.
In addition to the right soil, it’s significant to feed your nerve plant with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month during the growing season. This will provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and encourage vibrant foliage. Just be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can harm the plant and lead to burnt leaves or root damage.
– Pests and Disease
Being tropical plants, fittonias are relatively hardy and do not commonly succumb to pests and diseases. Nevertheless, when they get overwatered or exposed to excessively humid conditions they may develop root rot. This fungal disease can quickly cause the plant’s leaves to droop and wilt, ultimately leading to plant death.
Nerve plants can also fall prey to common houseplant pests such as mealybugs and spider mites. These can often be seen crawling on the plant’s leaves and stems, causing significant damage if left unchecked. To prevent infestations, regularly inspect your plants for signs of pest activity and take immediate action if you find any.
How To Save Nerve Plant From Drooping
To save nerve plant from drooping, you must begin to water them properly and to provide the right light for them. You must also increase the humidity level around the plant, and lastly, you must ensure that you adjust the temperature surrounding it.
– Water Properly
If your nerve plant starts to droop, it’s a sure sign that it’s thirsty. As a rainforest native, it craves moisture, so be sure to keep its soil damp and its surroundings humid. To avoid killing your plant, water it as soon as you notice it’s wilting, and this is part of the nerve plant care guide.
But be careful not to overwater it, as this can cause yellowing leaves. Use well-draining soil and avoid letting the plant sit in water. Experiment with watering frequency to find what works best for your environment. You can also wait for the top layer of the potting mix to go dry before giving it a soak, and after watering, give the plant time to perk back up.
– Provide the Right Light
You need to be mindful of the amount of sunlight your nerve plant receives and the right light. Fittonia plants are delicate and need indirect light to avoid damage to their leaves. Think about the natural habitat of the nerve plant and its native environment; it grows beneath taller plants, sheltered from direct sunlight.
Mimicking these low to medium-light conditions will give your nerve plant the best light requirement to thrive and grow vigorously. By providing your plant with the right amount of light, you’ll be able to enjoy its beautiful foliage for years to come.
This finicky plant requires bright, indirect light to thrive, and in order to get the best results, try placing your nerve plant in a window facing east or west. If you don’t have a location that gets a lot of natural light, don’t fret. You can always supplement with fluorescent lights, which are fantastic supplements.
If you’re worried about the setup process of fluorescent lights, don’t be. These lights often come with a timer and settings for brightness and different types of light. They’re easy to install, and you’ll notice a big difference in plant health in no time.
– Increase Humidity
This tropical beauty can be a bit of a diva when it comes to its living conditions. It requires high humidity levels which can be a challenge in a home with dry air. That’s why many people choose to grow it in a terrarium, where it’s easier to maintain humidity.
You can mist it daily with a handheld mister or a spray bottle on the “mist” setting and this simple technique works wonders for humidity-loving plants like the Nerve plant. Another option is to place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water, ensuring the bottom doesn’t actually touch the water. This will create a mini-humid environment for your Fittonia. You can also buy a room humidifier near the plant and even group similar plants together to create a small rainforest zone.
– Temperature Adjustment
You need to pay attention to the temperature needs of your plant — it prefers temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, along with high humidity levels to keep it feeling right at home.
Don’t subject your plant to blasts of cold air from opened doors or air conditioning vents, as this could cause your nerve plant to droop or even drop its leaves. Even slight changes in temperature from drafts can impact the health of your beloved plant, but not as much as under-watering or low humidity will.
Remember that your nerve plant hails from the tropical rainforests of South America, where the moist forest floor is its natural home. So if you can recreate these conditions in your home, your nerve plant will thrive in no time.
Conclusion
Nerve plants drooping isn’t really something we expect to see in our home setup, but it often happens due to dry air and the placement we use. Just to remind ourselves of the key points to tackle when trying to revive this plant:
- They are rainforest plants — so high humidity, warmth, and good draining soils should all apply if you want to keep Fittonia plants happy.
- Other issues can include light, repotting shocks, or even pests and diseases. Although you shouldn’t worry about those if you can tackle those problematic living conditions.
- It’s paramount to keep them properly watered, with just the right humidity and temperature.
- If they lack the light, just place them near a south-facing window or use those fluorescent lights.
Following these steps will ensure that your nerve plant lives a long and healthy life.
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