How often do you water it? I've found that these plants can get droopy if you give them too much water too. They're also very picky about humidity. The only place in my house where they seem the happiest is in the bathroom.

Second Lmontestella. They are beautiful plants, but amazingly picky. A terrarium would be a good home for it. You can can build a mixed terrarium with other small low-growing plants, such as small ferns or peperomia, and create something really neat looking. Tons of images on the web with examples.

This is just me, but this is the probably only way I would ever try this plant again.

Second that. I had one of these, and I just couldn't emotionally handle it's ups and downs. I went on vacation and it died. I was secretly like, "thank goodness." Outwardly, I was like, "oh no."

Never again with these plants.

I water the plants once a week and mist it every other day as i've read somewhere that misting helps with the humidity. The potting mix i use is actually coconut husks and soil which is moist to touch.

I was thinking maybe coz i left this at the office where it can be really hot during the weekends when we are not around. Often i cam back to work and found it droopy begging for water. Or could it be the constant under watering of the plant that makes it unable to stand up right now?

Read somewhere that this is a trailing plant too, so was wondering if that's the reason why it's looking like that now?

I'm not sure about the trailing plant part (it's possible, but I just can't seem to remember off the top of my head), but I did ready somewhere that they should be pinched back so that they do not become leggy. What might be more aesthetically pleasing is a dense, bushy plant.

I've also grown these, but only in terrariums or my bathroom window next to the shower.

I see where you're reading these can be trailing, but I've never seen that anywhere myself. I've used it in a big terrarium, the small leafed one like yours.

I've done different searches online just now for Fittonia pix, I see the pix show them mostly upright, I don't see pix of these trailing.

I know that coir husk can be like peat & if you're keeping it moist, that sounds right. Since you say the leaves feel OK, that sounds good. Maybe yours IS a trailing plant.

I bought one yesterday, red veined, very upright, but the large leafed ones.

I used to pinch mine as mentioned just above here (the small leafed one) after 2 or 3 pairs of leaves. Then I'd take the tips I pinched & place them back in the mother plant's pot & they'd root & keep going.

Maybe it's the really hot you've mentioned, but they don't look wilted; I see what you mean about that.

Pls. say what you mean by " the constant under watering".

Do you water a small amount when you do, or water 'til it comes out the bottom (which you should be doing)?

Some folks don't really believe that misting helps more than a few minutes, some find pebble trays more effective (I'm a pebble tray user).

In addition to Karen's questions, does your pot have drainage holes? If not, you could be inadvertently overwatering.

At my job we have these plants in small arrangements with other plants. Most places I stop by twice a week to check the plants. These fittonias I have learned to always water even if they are not dry at each visit. They need to be kept moist and if I do that they usually do well. They also like a lot of humidity. If you can grow them next two or combined with other plans that would help as well, or in a terrarium. If you keep them moist all the time you will probably get fungus gnats which are annoying but won't hurt your plants. The other option is to water them every time they will like that. They will usually perk back up but I doubt the stress is good for them.

Jiana,

"hmmm no there's no drainage holes on this pot. "

This is a problem, I assumed there was a hole, it's an absolute MUST, sorry not negotiable. You need to get a pot w/ a hole, preferably plastic to help conserve the humidity.

I'm not familiar with this lovely species, but although it may be very difficult to make it happy, that doesn't mean you can't try if you really want to make it work. Just don't feel bad if you don't succeed with this plant, because there are many beautiful plants that are much more forgiving of missteps while you're learning how to help them thrive.

Back to your question: the pot absolutely needs to drain completely after watering. Roots need oxygen, and if they are always wet they rot and can't take in water anymore, and the plant gets sick and eventually dies. If you water in tiny amounts so the soil never really gets wet, salts build up in the soil and prevent the roots from absorbing water and the plant gets sick and eventually dies. If your pot is plastic you can drill drain holes; if not you'll need to find a pot that already has them.

Roots can breathe in moist soil but not in wet soil. My plants like to get very dry and then get a good soaking, so you'll have to get tips on exactly how to strike the right balance with your baby from Those Who Know.

I'm rooting for you (pun unintended)!

Yes, you REALLY DO need to repot into pot w/ a hole.

Efforts made w/out that will be unlikely to make your plant better in the long run.