The dense, lush and rich green leaves of the baby tears plant look incredible when falling from a hanging basket. However, the thought of maintaining these delicate-leaved plants can be intimidating! Do they look difficult to plant and care for to you as well?
Well, you don’t have to worry about planting or taking care of these charming baby’s tear plants. They are easy to maintain and can serve as an excellent houseplant.
Scientifically, they’re known as Soleirolia soleirolii or Helxine soleirolii, baby tears is delicate looking, featuring bright yellow leaves with tiny white flowers. Outdoors, you’ll usually find them as a ground cover or in ornamental gardens.
They’re native to southern Europe, mainly Italy, Sardinia, and Corsica. These moss-looking plants are often regarded as environmental weed in Western Europe and California. If you’re looking for a plant to enhance the appeal of your home’s interior décor, Soleirolia soleirolii is a great option to choose.
Read on to learn more about how to plant dwarf baby’s tears plant and take care of them properly.
The baby tears plant also known as Soleirolia soleirolii, is a popular houseplant admired for its delicate lush foliage. With its bright green, round leaves that resemble tiny teardrops, it’s easy to see where this plant gets its common name. However, many plant parents struggle to determine the right watering schedule for this thirsty plant. Providing the optimal amount of water is key to keeping your baby tears healthy and helping it thrive.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about watering your baby tears, including:
- Understanding the Watering Needs of Baby Tears
- Factors That Affect Watering Frequency
- Signs of Overwatering and Underwatering
- How Often You Should Water
- Watering Tips for Baby Tears
- Common Problems and Solutions
Understanding the Watering Needs of Baby Tears
To understand how to water baby tears properly, it’s helpful to consider the plant’s native environment. Baby tears originated in Corsica and Sardinia where it grows in moist shaded areas near bodies of water. This gives us clues that baby tears prefers consistently damp (but not soggy) soil. The plant’s leaves are also prone to scorching if exposed to direct sunlight.
While baby tears can tolerate short periods of dryness, allowing the soil to completely dry out can cause the leaves to wilt and yellow. On the other flip side, overwatering leads to root rot and leaf drop. The key is to find the right balance.
Factors That Affect Watering Frequency
When determining your baby tears watering schedule, there are several factors to take into account:
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Pot size – Small pots dry out quicker than larger ones. Baby tears in smaller pots will need more frequent watering.
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Plant size – Larger, more established plants require more water than smaller, younger ones.
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Light exposure – Baby tears in bright, direct light need more frequent watering than those in low to medium indirect light.
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Temperature & humidity – Warmer and drier environments lead to quicker soil moisture evaporation. Boost humidity to help reduce watering needs.
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Soil type – Dense soils hold more moisture while fast-draining mixes require more frequent watering.
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Time of year – In their active growing season (spring and summer), baby tears need more water than in fall and winter when growth slows.
Signs of Overwatering and Underwatering
Pay close attention to your plant’s appearance to determine if you’re watering too much or too little.
Signs of overwatering:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Yellowing leaves
- Leaf drop
- Mushy stems
- Rotting roots
- Mold growth
- Foul odor from soil
Signs of underwatering:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Leaves browning at tips or edges
- Dry, crispy leaves
- Stunted growth
- Leaves falling off easily
How Often You Should Water Your Baby Tears
As a general guideline, you should water your baby tears when the top 1-2 inches of soil become dry. Use your finger to test moisture levels. During the active growing season, this usually means watering about once a week. In the cooler months, this may stretch to every 10-14 days.
However, you should adjust this schedule based on your baby tears’ specific needs and the factors we discussed earlier. If the plant is wilting or leaves are browning, increase frequency. If you notice signs of overwatering, cut back on watering. It’s better to underwater slightly than overwater.
Here are some more specifics on baby tears watering frequency:
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Baby tears in 4-6′′ pots: Water when top inch is dry, about every 5-7 days.
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Baby tears in 8-10′′ pots: Water when top 1-2′′ are dry, about every 7-10 days.
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Baby tears in a warm, dry environment: Water when top 1′′ is dry, about every 5-7 days.
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Baby tears in a cool, humid environment: Water when top 2′′ are dry, about every 10-14 days.
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Baby tears in bright light: Water when top 1′′ is dry, about every 5-7 days.
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Baby tears in low light: Water when top 2′′ are dry, about every 7-14 days.
Watering Tips for Baby Tears
Follow these tips to water your baby tears properly:
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Water early in the day to allow the foliage to dry fully before nighttime.
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Always water until it drains from the bottom of the pot to flush out salts.
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Avoid getting water on the leaves to prevent disease.
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Use room temperature filtered or distilled water. Tap water may have high mineral content.
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Be sure the pot has drainage holes and empty any water in the saucer after 30 minutes.
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Add pebbles to the drainage saucer to keep the bottom of the pot elevated above excess water.
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Maintain even moisture. Avoid frequent cycles of very wet and very dry soil.
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Consider using a self-watering pot to provide an even moisture supply.
Common Baby Tears Problems and Solutions
If you notice any of these problems, the watering schedule likely needs adjustment:
Drooping leaves – This can indicate both under and overwatering. Check soil moisture and adjust watering frequency accordingly. Repot if pot-bound.
Yellow leaves – Usually a sign of overwatering. Allow soil to dry further before watering. Remove rotten roots and repot in fresh soil.
Crispy brown leaves – Indicates underwatering. Water more frequently. Trim off dead leaves.
Leaf drop – Can be caused by over and underwatering. Assess soil moisture and adjust watering appropriately.
Mushy stems – Caused by overwatering. Cut back on watering and repot in dry soil.
Stunted growth – Generally a sign of underwatering. Increase water frequency. Fertilize to encourage new growth.
By understanding your baby tears’ water preferences, providing the right soil moisture, and adjusting your schedule as needed, you can help this eye-catching plant thrive! Pay close attention for signs of distress and modify your watering habits accordingly. With a little trial and error, you’ll get the hang of this delicate plant’s ideal watering needs.
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All About Baby Tears Plants
Baby tears has small round leaves in lush green and yellow leaves on rather fleshy stems. They are low growing plants that give off a moss-like look. Belonging from the Urticaceae family, Soleirolia soleirolii grows vigorously and is likely to outgrow its container. It can be easily grown indoors near bright sunlight windows, patios or even in shady spots.
If you are looking for an alternative to grass, baby tears is an excellent option, especially because this is an evergreen plant. This mat-forming creeping member of the nettle family is perfect for subtropical and temperate areas. Baby’s tears originates in the Mediterranean — specifically in coastal Italy. Today, baby’s tears plants are common in many other parts of the world.
The baby tears plant is similar to other members of the nettle family, and even shares a common name with Sagina subulata, called Irish moss. However, the baby’s tears plants has a completely different botanical structure and belongs to another family.
Baby’s Tear Plant Look-Alikes
If you are wondering how to care for Soleirolia soleirolii (baby’s tears) plants, it is important that you delve deeper into understanding the family of Urticaceae to which it belongs.
Pilea or Pilea depressa is a native of Mexico and Brazil. It belongs to the Urticaceae family and looks largely similar to the original baby’s tears plant. Though both types are not closely related, they can be confused with each other. Pilea has leaves smaller than a fingernail and are round in shape.
If you are looking to grow baby tear plant for terrariums or container gardens, Pilea ‘Baby’s Tear’ can be the best option. With their small and delicate structure, they look beautiful hanging from the containers or draped on the wall. However, you have to make sure that this type of Soleirolia soleirolii does not dry out.
Aurea is another variety of Soleirolia soleirolii. It is commonly known as Golden Baby’s Tears plant. They are perennial plants used for groundcover. These baby’s tears plants have the ability to grow as high as two inches and as wide as 18 inches.
The growing conditions for these baby’s tears plants remain the same: they need well-draining soil with even moisture. It can grow in shady locations and places without direct light. Aurea baby tears has broad leaves and is golden in color.
Baby Tears Plant Care (How Not To Kill Your Baby Tears Plant)
FAQ
How often should I water pilea baby tears?
How often should you water plants guide?
How much water does a baby plant need?
Do baby tears like to be misted?
How often should you water baby’s tears?
Baby’s Tears Plants enjoy consistently moist soil, but they don’t like to sit in water. Overwatering can lead to root rot and eventual death. Water your plant once or twice a week, depending on the humidity and temperature of your environment. Stick your finger an inch deep into the soil, and if it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Do baby tears need to be watered?
NOTE: Baby tears require more water during periods of extremely hot temperatures as the heat dries out the plant and soil. It also remains evergreen in USDA zone 9 through 11. Instead of watering the soil from above, pour water into the saucer and allow the root ball to soak the moisture.
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 care for a baby’s tears plant?
Here are some of the most important things to remember for the care of a Baby’s Tears Plant. Plant outdoors in moist, well-drained soil. Place in a partial to fully shaded area. Keep out of harsh direct sunlight and extremely dry conditions. Water generously during the Spring and Summer. Maintain a 75% humidity level in the plant’s environment.