Low humidity
Crispy, shriveling edges in dry air are the nerve plant's number-one complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Fittonia is a rainforest-floor plant that expects constantly humid air. Its leaves are paper-thin with almost no waxy coating, so in dry indoor air — especially near a vent, radiator, or air conditioner — the edges lose moisture far faster than the roots can replace it, and they brown, curl, and shrivel.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity right away: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, or run a small humidifier nearby — and move it away from any heat source or draft. A closed terrarium or a covered cloche is ideal, since nerve plants thrive in trapped humid air. Trim the worst-browned edges with clean scissors so the plant looks tidy while new, healthy growth fills in.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the thin leaves from crisping, especially in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Nerve Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this