How to grow potted nerve plants? A detailed guide to the latest care methods
The nerve plant, also known as Fittonia and silver net plant, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Fittonia in the family Acanthaceae. It has a light and graceful habit, and the plant is small and delicate. Among foliage plants it is a small potted plant. Because it is exquisite and delicate, with clear leaf veins, elegant leaf color and even texture, it is deeply loved by people, and in Europe and America it is very popular as a small potted variety. Now let us take a look at how to grow potted nerve plants!
Growth habits of the nerve plant
The nerve plant likes high temperature, high humidity and a semi-shaded environment, and is especially sensitive to temperature. The optimum growth temperature is 18-24°C. It prefers a humid environment, and during the growing period it needs relatively high air humidity. Especially in the hot summer season, when water evaporation is high and the air is dry, in addition to watering to increase the moisture of the potting soil, spraying water on the leaves and sprinkling water on the ground are even more necessary. For light, scattered light is best, and direct light should be avoided. In summer, a shade net is needed, with a shading rate of 50-60% being most suitable. In winter, sufficient sunlight is needed, with slight shading protection at noon. On rainy and snowy days, supplementary light should be added, so that the leaves grow robustly, the leaf color is emerald green, and the leaf veins are clear. The soil should be a sandy loam rich in humus.
Cultivars of the nerve plant
1. Purple Anne nerve plant: The Purple Anne nerve plant is a dwarf perennial herb, growing in a creeping and trailing manner, with leaves decussately opposite. The leaves are relatively broad and oval, spreading flat, with a dark green leaf surface, relatively strong gloss, and white reticulate veins densely distributed in a pinnate pattern, very clear, which is the main ornamental trait. It also has a light and graceful habit, and the plant is small and delicate, with even texture, and is deeply loved by people.
2. White Snow Anne nerve plant: The White Snow Anne nerve plant is a dwarf perennial herb, growing in a creeping and trailing manner, with leaves decussately opposite. The leaves are ovate or oval, spreading flat, with large and small wavy folds along the leaf margins, and the green of the leaf surface is not obvious, with white reticulate veins densely covering the leaves, making the leaves appear snow white, which is the main ornamental trait. It also has a light and graceful habit, and the plant is small and delicate, with even texture, and is deeply loved by people.
3. Large Flame nerve plant: The leaves of the Large Flame nerve plant are delicate and small, ovate or oval, with folded leaf margins, flat leaves, a dark green leaf surface, and brick-red leaf veins distributed in a pinnate pattern, very clear, which is the main ornamental trait. It also has a light and graceful habit, and the plant is small and delicate, with the leaf color turning red, and even texture, and is deeply loved by people.
Propagation methods of the nerve plant
1. Division: When the stems and leaves of the nerve plant grow relatively densely, many creeping stem nodes have already grown adventitious roots. As long as the creeping stems are more than 10 cm, they can be cut off with roots and directly potted, then after recovering in a semi-shaded place for 1-2 weeks, they can be transferred to normal care.
2. Cuttings: Under suitable temperature conditions, the nerve plant can be propagated by cuttings all year round, and cuttings taken from May to September, when the temperature is slightly higher, have the best results. Cut cuttings from the creeping stems growing out of the pot surface, about 10 cm long, generally needing 3-4 stem nodes. Remove the lower leaves, let them dry slightly, and insert them into a sand bed. If the cutting medium temperature is 24-30°C, roots can form 7-14 days after insertion. If the temperature is too low, it is relatively difficult for the cuttings to root. Generally, 1 month after insertion, they can be transplanted into pots.
3. Tissue culture: The nerve plant often uses leaves and stem tips as explants. After disinfection and sterilization, the leaves are cut into 8-10 mm lengths and inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine 2 mg/L, naphthaleneacetic acid 2 mg/L and 2,4-D 1 mg/L. After 30 days the leaves bend, and after another 20 days clustered shoots grow out. After cutting the clustered shoots and transferring them to 1/2 MS medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid 0.1 mg/L, adventitious roots grow out in about 1-2 weeks, forming complete plants.
How to grow potted nerve plants?
1. Potting soil: The best culture soil for the nerve plant is a sandy loam rich in humus. It can also be prepared with 50% fine tree fern fiber, 20% peat moss and 30% river sand. For potted nerve plants, peat soil, leaf mold and river sand can be mixed in equal amounts.
2. Potting up: When potting up nerve plant cuttings, be careful not to damage the roots, and keep them separated from the fertilizer to avoid burning the roots. After planting, water to settle the roots, and then transfer to normal care.
3. Light: The nerve plant likes moderate-intensity light and avoids direct sunlight, but its shade tolerance is also relatively strong. Indoors, it is best placed by a bright window.
4. Watering: Care must be taken when watering the nerve plant. If the potting soil is allowed to dry out completely, the leaves will curl up and fall off. If it is too wet, the stems are prone to rotting.
5. Fertilizing: For vigorously growing nerve plants, a nitrogen-based compound fertilizer at half the normal concentration can be applied once every half month.
6. Temperature: The nerve plant likes warmth, and the optimum growth temperature is 18-25°C. The nerve plant has poor cold resistance. When the temperature is below 12°C, the leaves will suffer cold damage, and at about 8°C the plant may die.
7. Diseases: Common diseases of the nerve plant include leaf rot and root rot. For leaf rot, spray with 25% carbendazim wettable powder at 1000 times dilution for control. For root rot, soak the roots with streptomycin at 1000 times dilution to sterilize.
8. Pests: Pests of the nerve plant include scale insects, red spider mites and snails. For scale insects and red spider mites, spray with 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution. Snails can be caught by hand or lured and killed with metaldehyde.