Baby's Tears Plant - How to Grow Care Guide

Baby’s Tears Plant

Soleirolia helxine

Babys Tears Plant Baby Tears Plant

A Baby’s Tears plant is a delicate looking house plant that resembles a mat or carpet of tiny green leaves as it spreads over the sides of its pot. Baby’s Tears plants, which originally came from Corsica and Sardinia, have tiny round or bean- shaped leaves that grow on thin fragile stems. Baby Tear’s houseplants can be used in a terrarium, as table plants, or as small hanging plants. This very little plant requires a lot of attention.

Light

Baby’s Tears plants like bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. but no direct sun.

Water

Always keep the soil of a Baby Tear's plant moist but never soggy. If the soil stays too wet, the stems quickly rot.

Fertilizer

Feed every two weeks in the spring and summer when a Baby's Tears plant is actively growing. Use a basic houseplant fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength.

Temperature

Normal household temperatures or even a little cooler are best for a Baby Tear's plant. 60°-75° is an ideal temperature.

Humidity

High humidity and good air circulation help a Baby's Tears plant to grow well and not develop brown leaves

Flowering

A Baby's Tears plant gets tiny white star-shaped flowers in the late spring. The flowers are fairly inconsequential.

Pests

Baby's Tears plants are susceptible to whiteflyLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pests, scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew., and AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com.. You can read about these Plant PestLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pestss in the Glossary of the website.

Diseases

Root-rot, due to over-watering, is the main disease to that affects Baby's Tears plants.

Soil

These plants require a well-aerated, quick draining, potting soil that contains a good amount of peat moss.

Pot Size

These are small plants and are usually are found in 4" and 6" pots.

Pruning

Trim a Baby's Tears plant with a sharp scissors to maintain its shape and fullness.

Propagation

Baby's Tear plants are propagated by plant divisionLearn how to propagate plants by plant division at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary and stem cuttings.

Poisonous Plant Info

A Baby's Tears plant is a non- poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. plant and looks perfect in a child's room.

1. Is a Baby's Tears Plant a good plant for a terrarium?

A Baby Tear's Plant is a great terrarium plant, sometimes even too good. If you’re not careful a Baby Tear's Plant will rapidly overtake everything else in the terrarium.

Does a Baby’s Tears plant ever get flowers?

Baby’s Tears plants do get very tiny, white, star-shaped flowers in the late spring. The flowers are pretty inconsequential.

Can you plant a Baby’s Tears plant outside?

A Baby Tear's plant does very well outside in shady rock gardens, spreading like a fluffy green carpet. They are frost sensitive and will die back in the winter. Baby’s Tears plants should be kept moist whether growing inside and outside.