With leaves so tiny that it resembles a luxuriant moss, baby’s tears plant (Soleirolia soleirolii), carpets the ground in fairy gardens and terrariums or beneath leggy houseplants and bonsai trees. On its own, the baby tears plant, is indeed, a “weeping” plant that spills spiffily over the sides of hanging baskets or pots.
Though not difficult, baby tears plant care requires attention to watering since this baby will throw a tantrum by wilting dramatically if thirsty. Keep in mind that it is not the same plant as Pilea depressa or Hemianthus callitrichoides, both of which also are called baby’s tears.
The baby tears plant, also known as angel’s tears or mind-your-own-business, is a charming little plant that can make a great addition to any indoor or outdoor space. With its lush green leaves and creeping habit, it creates a beautiful cascading effect in hanging baskets or as a groundcover.
Though delicate in appearance, the baby tears plant is actually pretty easy to grow if you follow some basic care tips. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to keep your baby tears happy and healthy
An Overview of Baby Tears
Baby tears, scientifically known as Soleirolia soleirolii, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae It is native to the Mediterranean region, especially Corsica and Sardinia
Other common names for this plant include Corsican curse, mind-your-own-business, Corsican creeper, and angel’s tears
The baby tears plant is a low, spreading perennial that forms a dense mat of small, round leaves on slender stems. The leaves are usually green, but you can also find varieties with golden, variegated, or silver-gray foliage.
In the right growing conditions, baby tears can spread rapidly thanks to its creeping stems that root at the nodes. Outdoors, it makes an excellent ground cover and can also be used in hanging baskets or container gardens. Indoors, it works great as a trailing houseplant.
During the summer months, baby tears may produce tiny white flowers. However, it rarely blooms when kept indoors.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
Baby tears thrive when given the proper care. Here are the key conditions this plant needs:
Light
Bright, filtered light is best for baby tears. Direct hot sun will scorch the leaves. Indoors, place baby tears near an east or west-facing window. Outdoors, plant it in partial to full shade. Areas with dappled sunlight filtering through trees are ideal.
Soil
Rich, humus-y soil that retains moisture is ideal for baby tears. Amend regular potting mix with compost or peat moss to mimic its preferred growing medium. The soil should drain well to prevent sogginess.
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Baby tears has very high water needs. Allowing the soil to dry out will cause wilting. During the warmer months, water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry. In winter, back off on watering, but don’t let it completely dry out.
Humidity
Baby tears thrives in humid conditions around 60-75% relative humidity. In dry air, the leaves may brown on the edges. Increase humidity by misting frequently or using a pebble tray.
Temperature
Ideal temperatures are between 60-75°F. Avoid exposing baby tears to frost or freezing temperatures.
Caring for Baby Tears
With proper care, baby tears will reward you with a gorgeous trailing effect! Here are some tips:
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Water thoroughly whenever the topsoil becomes dry to the touch. Don’t let it completely dry out.
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Mist the leaves every few days to increase humidity. Group plants together to create a moist microclimate.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season for healthy growth.
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Prune back any long stems or leggy growth to encourage a thick mat of foliage.
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Repot annually in the spring, moving it to a slightly larger container. Divide congested clumps.
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Bring indoors or protect outdoor plants if temperatures dip below 50°F.
Propagating Baby Tears
You can easily propagate baby tears through stem cuttings or division:
Stem cuttings – Take 2-3 inch cuttings in spring or summer. Remove lower leaves and dip cut end in rooting hormone. Plant in soilless mix. Cover with plastic to retain humidity. Roots should develop in 3-4 weeks.
Division – Carefully divide congested clumps in early spring, ensuring each division has some roots attached. Replant divisions in small pots. Keep soil moist until established.
Common Problems and Solutions
Baby tears are relatively trouble free, but may experience a few issues:
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Wilting – This is commonly caused by underwatering. Baby tears need consistently moist soil. Increase watering frequency.
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Leaf browning – Can be a sign of too much light. Move to a shadier spot.
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Leggy growth – Results from insufficient light. Give it brighter (but indirect) light.
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Pests – Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites may appear. Wipe leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
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Fungus gnats – Letting soil stay wet can lead to these annoying flies. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Tips and Tricks for Growing Baby Tears
Here are some additional pointers to get the most out of your baby tears:
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Pinch off any flowers that appear to encourage more foliage growth. The tiny white blooms are rather insignificant.
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Keep it contained – baby tears can spread aggressively. To prevent it from taking over, grow in a hanging basket or container.
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Regular trimming neatens its appearance and prevents legginess. Use sharp scissors to clip back long strands.
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Allow cuttings to fall onto moist soil to encourage new rooting and fuller growth.
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Give it high humidity and brightly lit, filtered light for the densest, most lush growth.
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If growing outdoors, provide shade during the hottest part of the day. Add organic mulch around the base to retain moisture.
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To keep a cascading shape, train longer stems to trail over the container edges.
With the proper care, baby tears will reward you with a beautiful, dense mat of foliage perfect for décor. Its creeping habit lets it cascade gracefully in containers or serve as a lush, mossy groundcover. Just be sure to give it the high humidity, indirect light, and consistently moist soil that it needs to really thrive.
Potential Pests and Diseases
Since this plant seldom suffers from insect pests, browning or yellowing foliage can usually be attributed to overwatering or underwatering. Brittle leaves result from too little water while yellow lower leaves might indicate too much moisture rotting the roots. A bleached look to the foliage can indicate too much direct light.
Should the plant be severely dehydrated, water it well and move it away from sunlight to an area where it receives only bright, indirect light. You might also want to place it inside a perforated plastic bag for about a month to raise the humidity around it until it “breaks out in tears” again!
If you conclude the problem is root rot instead, remove the plant from its pot. Using a sharp knife or pruning shears, cut out any sections that are obviously rotted—brown and mushy—and repot the plant in fresh soil. Then attempt to give it more light and less water than it received before.
Selecting Soil for Baby’s Tears Plants
Growing most luxuriantly in humus-rich, well-drained ground, baby’s tears will appreciate an organic potting soil. However, you might want to add one part of coarse builder’s sand to three parts of the potting soil to make sure the soil drains rapidly. Since this baby pot plant requires consistent moisture to keep it happy, the sand should ensure that its fine stems don’t rot in the process.
Because they tend to cascade over the edges of their containers, you’ll want to place baby tear plants in a hanging basket or trim back the delicate “tresses” before they reach a pot’s saucer. A wide, shallow pot with drainage holes works best for this creeper. Be sure you don’t confuse it with the aquarium plant also called baby’s tears, since S. soleirolii is not one of the indoor plants that grow in water.
Outdoors, baby’s tears reportedly will tolerate full sun in cool coastal climates but might burn under too many rays in hotter areas. Therefore, it most often is grown in partial shade or shade.
Indoors, that would translate to either a position in bright, indirect light or on an east- or west-facing windowsill where the baby’s tears receive sun for only part of the day. It also could serve as a ground cover to a larger plant in a south-facing window, provided it is at least partially shaded by that plant’s foliage. Should its green color begin to look bleached, move it to a less bright position.
In spring and summer, keep this plant’s soil lightly moist at all times. As the days shorten from fall into winter, cut back on watering a bit to prevent root rot, but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Because overhead watering can mat down the foliage, you might want to water your plant from beneath. To do that, place water in the pot’s saucer and allow it to be drawn up through the pot’s drainage holes into the soil. Add more water as necessary until the surface of the soil feels damp before pouring out any excess water remaining in the saucer. If the soil feels soggy instead of just damp, remove the pot from its saucer and place that pot in a sink until the excess water drains away.
Baby Tears Plant Care (How Not To Kill Your Baby Tears Plant)
FAQ
How to care for a baby tears plant?
How do I make my baby tear plant bushy?
Why is my baby’s tears plant turning brown?
What kind of fertilizer for baby tears plant?
How do you care for a baby tears plant?
Keep the baby’s tears plant away from direct light as it may hinder their growth. Ideal daytime temperatures for Soleirolia soleirolii are between 60°F and 65°F, and nighttime ideal temps are between 50°F and 55°F. Keep the baby’s tears plant out of frost, as they have no tolerance for it and will take on damage or die.
How do you grow baby’s tears?
A standard houseplant potting mix will work well for your Baby’s Tears Plant but any added humus or compost will aid growth. If growing outdoors, added manure will really help your plant. Baby’s Tears plants thrive in the average temperatures of your home so try to avoid extremes caused by radiators, AC vents or drafty windows.
Can baby tears grow in potting soil?
A rich soil amended with humus, compost, or manure is sufficient for baby’s tears plants. It will also help to regulate the moisture level for plants. Commercial potting soil is suitable for growing baby tears as a houseplant or in a container garden. Baby’s tears plants are thirsty plants that never like to dry out.
How do you propagate baby’s tears?
Baby’s tears plant propagates easily, especially in its growing season, usually during the spring and summer. Wherever stems touch the soil, they will form roots. Plants can spread without limit. If you want to keep the plant within its bounds but don’t want to kill the overgrowth, move it to a container. These plants are seldom propagated by seed.