How Do You Take Care Of Pink Fittonia?
How Do You Take Care Of Pink Fittonia?
Pink Fittonia is easy to care for and does not requires a lot of maintenance. Pink Fittonia plant prefers well-drained moist soil that is not very damp. Water sparingly and allow developing nerve plants to dry between watering.
During the growth season, water your Fittonia every 3-4 days, but allow the soil to dry between watering. In the winter, once every two weeks should be enough.
Pink Fittonia dislike having wet feet, so don’t leave them in water for lengthy periods. To avoid shock, irrigate the plant with room temperature water. Growing between 3 and 6 inches (7.5-15 cm.). The following are the aspects to consider when caring for Pink Fittonia:
Sunlight:
Pink Fittonia prefers bright, indirect light. Try to put it in a location where it can get a few hours of direct sunlight. It dislikes direct sunlight and prefers strong, indirect sunlight, such as that provided by north-facing windows. A nerve plant should be kept under fluorescent lights or near diffused light coming in via a transparent drape. You may also keep a nerve plant in the bathroom if the lighting is dim.
Watering:
Pink Fittonia prefers moist soil. Water your nerve plant once it becomes dry to the touch. You can water your plant with a spray bottle or by immersing it in room temperature water. Allow the soil to drain before placing it back in its original location. Water it every 3-4 days during the growing season, but allow the soil to dry between watering.
Soil:
Pink Fittonia prefers regular potting soil with a peat moss substrate. It loves soil with a slightly acidic pH. (6.5). the soil should hold some moisture but also drain effectively. The soil should also be light and airy so that the roots can grow through it easily.
To repot Pink Fittonia, choose a pot with a drainage hole at the bottom. Fill one-third of the pot with a combination of soil and sand. Place the plant inside and fill in around it with more soil and sand mixture to about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm.) below the surface of the soil. You may place rocks or sticks inside for added support.
Temperature:
Pink Fittonia thrives in temperatures about 70 degrees Fahrenheit but will tolerate temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the low 80s Fahrenheit during the growing season. In winter, Pink Fittonia can tolerate a slightly lower temperature, around 40 o F (4 oC.). Keep in mind that these temperatures are ideal and should not be exceeded too often.
Humidity:
Pink Fittonia loves the humid conditions found in rainforests. Misting Pink Fittonia regularly protects them from drying out. A room humidifier may be beneficial in arid locations or during the dry winter months. Most gardeners find that growing these attractive but fickle plants in terrariums, bottle gardens, or covered gardens, where Pink Fittonia may enjoy the high humidity and diffuse light they like, is the best option. They also work nicely in hot bathrooms.
Fertilizers:
Pink Fittonia appreciates regular feeding with a diluted balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Feed in the early spring and summer with a balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer at about 1/4 strength regularly. In winter, reduce the frequency of fertilizing to once a month or less. To avoid shocking the plant, feed it at room temperature and do not overfeed.
Propagation:
Propagate Pink Fittonia with stem cuttings, leaf-cuttings, and seeds during the spring and summer months. Use a rooting hormone on your cuttings, then pot them and keep them moist. Once rooted, you may remove the bottom leaves to help it become accustomed to living inside the pot. You should also keep it in a humid location.
Repotting:
Pink Fittonia should be repotted every 1-2 years to allow the potting mix to be refreshed. Pink Fittonia will thrive in any normal potting soil mix and houseplant pot with bottom drainage holes. Repot once a year in the spring or early summer, using fresh potting soil to avoid soil compaction and waterlogging.
Repot Pink Fittonia when the plant becomes rootbound, or it is necessary to split the plant. Make sure that the new pot has drainage holes in the bottom. Fill with a mixture of peat moss, perlite, and bark; organic-based soil; or a combination of all three. Reduce watering intervals and increase fertilization to encourage new growth.
Pruning:
Pink Fittonia should be pruned only when necessary, and the pruning should be done before the growing season begins. Keep in mind that this plant is prone to growing leggy stems and may need to be cut back. If a stem is starting to look thin, it needs trimming. Remove any dead or yellow leaves that may have also developed on any of the stems.
Pink Fittonia most likely will wilt and drop its leaves when moving from one location to another. Don’t worry, this is normal.
Pests and Diseases:
Pink Fittonia may be susceptible to insects and diseases, but it is better at fighting them off than other plants. Pink Fittonia may be vulnerable to spider mites, mealy bugs, and scale insects. Spray with a solution of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) on the leaves and underside of the leaves. Sticky traps can catch spider mites as they move up branches. Insecticidal soaps are also useful in controlling aphids.
How Often Do You Water Pink Fittonia?
Pink Fittonia needs to be watered every 3-4 days. Water it only when the top side of the soil feels dry to the touch. Pink Fittonia prefers well-drained moist soil that is not very damp. Water sparingly and allow developing nerve plants to dry between watering.
To avoid shock, irrigate the plant with room temperature water. Growing between 3 and 6 inches (7.5-15 cm.) tall, Pink Fittonia is an excellent houseplant and looks great in a terrarium or as part of a collection of plants.
When watering your Pink Fittonia mist, use a spray bottle or by immersing the plant in room temperature water. If your plant is outdoors, soak the ground around it but be careful not to over-saturate the soil.
Allow the soil to drain before placing it back in its original location. Pink Fittonia tolerates slightly dry soils for short periods, so don’t be alarmed if your plant does not need watering for a few days. You should also try to avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot and other pests.
Pink Fittonia should be watered weekly during the growing season, allowing the soil to dry between watering. During periods when the weather is particularly dry, you should top-dress with peat moss mulch.
Keep in mind that your plant will not produce lush foliage if it doesn’t receive enough water. Once Pink Fittonia has finished its growing season, you should keep it in a humid environment such as a bathroom or terrarium during winter. When you’re ready to repot your plant for the next season’s growth, do so when there is no danger of frost.
How Do You Propagate Pink Fittonia?
Pink Fittonia is easy to propagate by stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, and seeds. Take stem cuttings in spring or summer. Transfer the stem to a rooting medium with bottom heat, then let it dry for a day before placing it in the moist soil. Keep it warm, out of direct sunlight, until the cutting has rooted.
Pink Fittonia is also easily propagated by taking leaf cuttings in spring or summer. After pruning the plant, remove all the leaves using a sharp knife or razor blade and allow them to dry before placing them into fresh potting soil at least one inch (2.5 cm) deep, keeping it moist until they root.
When propagating Pink Fittonia from seeds, plant in pots during the spring or summer months. You should not plant these seeds in the coldest winter months because they may not germinate. This plant requires well-drained soil, so avoid heavy clay soil.
Space seedlings are at least 12 inches (30 cm.) apart to allow them to develop their own space. Here are the steps to follow when propagating Pink Fittonia:
Propagation by stem cuttings;
- Use a sharp knife to cut the stem at a 45-90 degree angle.
- Remove lower leaves and about half of the leaves on the stem
- Make sure that the bottom leaves have been removed before placing them in the rooting medium
- Plant in the well-drained soil mix with bottom heat, but out of direct sunlight
- Keep moist until new roots appear
Propagation by leaf cuttings;
- Cut off mature leaves with a sharp knife and allow them to dry for one or two days before placing them into fresh potting soil, at least one inch (2.5 cm) deep, keeping it moist until they root
- Plant in the well-drained soil mix with bottom heat, but out of direct sunlight
- Remove all leaf tissue from the tall plant, being careful not to damage the plant.
- Rinse the cut end of the leaves with water, and place them in a moist peat-moss mix at about 55-75% humidity for 1 week. Do not water! This will reduce rot risk and increase the speed of rooting
- Plant each leaf into pots containing soil that is equal parts peat moss and perlite (1:1); work thoroughly around all sides of the stem, with plenty of drainage holes drilled at each level
- Keep soil moist but not wet.
- Do not place rooted cuttings in water until ready for transplanting.
Propagation by seeds;
- Plant in a pot in the spring or summer months spaced 12 inches (30 cm.) apart
- Soak seeds overnight, then sow 1/4 to 1/2 inches deep
- Remove all seed pods from the tall plant, being careful not to damage the plant.
- Wash seeds and place them in the moist peat-moss mix at about 55-75% humidity for 3-4 weeks. Do not water! This will reduce rot risk and increase the speed of rooting.
- Once the seeds have germinated, plant them individually into pots containing soil that is equal parts peat moss and perlite (1:1); worked thoroughly around all sides of the stem, with plenty of drainage holes drilled at each level
- After the pod is opened, the seed falls to the ground and germinates. The new plant matures quickly; Pink Fittonia can flower just three months after germination.