What to Do When Fittonia (Nerve Plant) Leaves Wilt and Turn Yellow? Causes and Solutions
Fittonia is a small and delicate plant, tiny in size, very suitable for small pots, and a good choice for office workers. Although its cultivation method is very simple and its requirements for the environment are not very harsh, problems that are often overlooked during care can cause Fittonia to develop wilting leaves, yellowing, and other issues. Next, we will explain the correct solutions.
What to Do When Fittonia Leaves Wilt
1. Lack of water
When Fittonia is not watered enough, it will become short of water. Insufficient water easily causes Fittonia leaves to wilt and look very listless, so Fittonia needs to be rehydrated.
When Fittonia wilts due to lack of water, watering it immediately will help it recover quickly. But to prevent Fittonia leaves from wilting, it is still necessary to do a good job in daily management and water correctly. When watering, it should be done according to the plant's water needs. Generally, check the surface soil and water alternately when dry and wet, and always water thoroughly.
2. Waterlogging
When Fittonia is watered too frequently, it easily causes water to accumulate in the pot, and the soil becomes too wet, so the roots cannot breathe well, leading to root rot and wilted leaves.
If Fittonia develops root rot, it is very difficult for it to regrow. It can be pulled out and replanted, but the effect is not great. The best method is still reasonable watering to prevent root rot.
3. Temperature too low
Temperature is an important factor for good plant growth. Only a suitable temperature can ensure normal plant growth. Once the temperature is too low or too high, the plant will develop various problems. If the temperature is too low, Fittonia leaves will wilt.
To prevent Fittonia leaves from curling, drooping, and wilting, place Fittonia in a spot with bright light and maintain a certain level of air humidity. When the temperature is too high, shade it.
Solutions for Fittonia Leaves Turning Yellow
1. Lack of water
When Fittonia lacks water, its leaves turn yellow. The best solution is to rehydrate immediately. Generally, it can recover in about half a day. The correct watering method should be to check the surface soil, water alternately when dry and wet, and water thoroughly each time. Do not fix the frequency; change it at any time according to the soil and weather. The surface soil means the shallow soil layer 3-5 cm deep. Test the dry/wet condition with a toothpick or tweezers, and water thoroughly when it is completely dry.
2. Temperature too low
When the temperature is below 13°C, Fittonia leaves will turn yellow and wilt, so in winter, if the temperature cannot be guaranteed, it is recommended not to keep Fittonia easily.
3. Overwatering
Watering Fittonia frequently causes water to accumulate inside the soil, the roots cannot breathe smoothly, and Fittonia will develop root rot and wilt. Try pulling Fittonia out and replanting it, but the possibility of recovery is not very great.
How Often to Water Fittonia
1. Spring and summer
Plants grow relatively quickly in spring and summer, and Fittonia is the same, so Fittonia also consumes relatively more water in spring and summer. In these two seasons, it needs to be watered relatively more, so generally we can water once every four or five days. Because the water demand is relatively high, in addition to watering the soil, water can also be appropriately sprayed on the leaves of Fittonia, which can make the soil and surrounding environment a bit more humid.
2. Autumn and winter
In winter, Fittonia's growth rate slows down, and because the temperature drops, water evaporation also decreases, so we should reduce the amount of water given to Fittonia. We can water once every a little more than a week. In winter, do not spray water directly on Fittonia leaves, as this easily causes the leaves to rot and fall off. Also pay attention to the water temperature, and do not directly water Fittonia with water that is too cold.
Can Fittonia Be Placed in the Bedroom
At night, when the room light is on, Fittonia will perform photosynthesis and respiration at the same time. When there is no light, it can only carry out respiration. Basically, the gas exhaled by one Fittonia plant in one night will not have any effect on the indoor air composition.
However, if there are many plants in the bedroom and the light is not very good at the same time, the carbon dioxide content will be a bit higher, and people will feel uncomfortable. Therefore, at night, it is okay to place Fittonia in the bedroom, but be careful not to have too many plants in the bedroom.
The easiest and also the most difficult problem in growing plants is watering, and watering is also a very key factor in growing Fittonia well. So everyone needs to first master Fittonia's growth habits and then water it correctly.