Gisborne Herald
  • Gisborne Herald Home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Gisborne
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Hawke's Bay

Media

  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Gisborne Herald / Lifestyle

Flair and flora

Gisborne Herald
17 Mar, 2024 12:46 PMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
The colours of fittonia albivenis stand out in white flowerpots.

The colours of fittonia albivenis stand out in white flowerpots.

Transform your indoor spaces into vibrant havens of beauty with fittonia, adding colourful trails and charm to every corner . . .

For a pop of colour in the office, house or even the bathroom, nothing compares to Nerve Plants (Fittonia spp.) These low-growing, trailing wonders come in a variety of colours from pink and green with white veins or the mesmerising green with pink veins. They are great for growing in pots, shaded areas of the garden or in terrariums, where they shine like the little gems they are.

How to grow fittonia in a pot

Choose a spot in the garden or indoors, that is well-lit but away from direct sunlight.

Fill the chosen planter with quality potting mix, such as Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Remove the plant from the container, and gently tease the roots.

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

Water regularly to keep the soil lightly moist. Fittonias like humidity and will enjoy having their foliage misted with water during hot dry weather.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Feed fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food.

How to grow fittonia in a garden

Choose a well-drained, shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in some Yates Thrive Natural Blood and Bone with Seaweed.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut-shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant’s root zone. This helps keep water where it’s needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant is established.

Mulch lightly with organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw and water in well.

Water once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions to keep the soil lightly moist.

Feed fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.

Growing tip

Nerve Plants can be easily propagated through division or by soft tip cuttings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Trim back long or leggy plants to create a bushier specimen.

Nerve Plants will grow very happily in quite small pots, including self-contained terrariums, low bowls and dish planters.

These plants don’t like having wet feet. Avoid having them sit in wet soils for long periods as root rot can occur. —  Courtesy of Yates

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

From classroom to stage: Jed Skuse returns home for Longline Classic finale

08 Oct 01:00 AM
Lifestyle

Rustic vision: Mahia farmer’s 35-year labour inspires new book

06 Oct 04:00 PM
Premium
Letters to the Editor

Letter: Tairāwhiti Needs You!

02 Oct 04:00 PM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

From classroom to stage: Jed Skuse returns home for Longline Classic finale
Lifestyle

From classroom to stage: Jed Skuse returns home for Longline Classic finale

The 20-year-old is juggling an engineering degree with his growing music career.

08 Oct 01:00 AM
Rustic vision: Mahia farmer’s 35-year labour inspires new book
Lifestyle

Rustic vision: Mahia farmer’s 35-year labour inspires new book

06 Oct 04:00 PM
Premium
Premium
Letter: Tairāwhiti Needs You!
Letters to the Editor

Letter: Tairāwhiti Needs You!

02 Oct 04:00 PM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Gisborne Herald
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Gisborne Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP