Nerve plant
Fittonia albivenis
Also called Mosaic plant and Fittonia
Houseplant · Patterned foliageFaints dramatically when dry and revives within the hour. A terrarium suits it far better than a pot.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Very hard
- Water
- Every 3 daysKeep it moist — water at the first hint of dryness — don't wait for a dry pot.
- Light
- Medium indirect
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Very high
- Hardiness
- Tropical — indoors, warm RHS H1A, to 15°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Peruvian rainforest
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The whole plant lies flat in an afternoon, leaves limp against the pot rim, and stands back up within an hour of watering — it faints from dryness rather than dying of it.Dramatic wilt · disorder
- A fuzzy grey-brown patch on a leaf lying against the compost or the glass of a terrarium, where the air never moves.Grey mould · disease