When it comes to growing plants, there are many things you need to consider, but there’s one thing you don’t want to worry about: baby tears. To care for a baby tear plant, simply put a moistened cotton ball over the eye area of a plant and cover it with a clear plastic bag. Leave the bag on until it feels dry. Remove the plastic bag and wash off the plant with water.
Baby tears are a favorite houseplant in homes across America. But for some reason, they don’t do well in humid environments. They don’t like to sit in a closet. They don’t like to stay in a pot for very long. The plant’s roots rot and die. The leaves curl. And the plant will eventually stop growing altogether. It can be a real nuisance to a lot of houseplants.
With this post, I want to share some quick and easy tips on how to care for baby tears plant. It is an interesting, cute, and easy to care for plant that is suitable for beginners.
How to Grow and Care for Baby’s Tears
Baby’s Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a type of herbaceous plant in the Nettle family. It’s also called a nettle. What makes baby tears special is its dense, delicate mat of fine, round, or bean-shaped leaves on short, fleshy stems.
Baby’s tears is a popular choice for a houseplant because of its compact form and low maintenance. It requires low light and can tolerate some shade.
For most people, cilantro is an herb that grows in abundance during the summer months and makes for a lovely addition to Mexican food. However, some people find the flavor too strong for their liking. This plant, however, is considered an invasive plant in colder zones where it does well in the winter. It can be easily propagated from seed or potted plants in the spring, but it must be kept under control if you want to keep it from spreading.
Baby’s Tears Plant Care
Baby’s Tears are one of the first plants that new gardeners think about because of their bright flowers and easy care. They grow best in moist soils but can tolerate dry conditions once established. Unlike most other plants that like full sun, a baby’s tears can take a bit of shade. They also enjoy plenty of moisture but can be grown successfully with light watering.
Baby’s Tears is a plant that can be grown outdoors. It remains evergreen in warm climates and grows to about 4 feet in height. In the winter it is usually grown inside and has almost no pest or disease problems. Indoors, it may be affected by some of the same pests that affect many houseplants – aphids, mites, and mealybugs.
Warning
In mild climates with regular rainfall, the plant is weedy and can become invasive. However, it tends to spread vigorously in Hawaii in the southwestern U.S. and usually doesn’t need a great deal of space or moisture.
Sunlight
Baby’s Tears plants dislike intense direct sunlight, which may scorch leaves. They look their best in bright, filtered light. Baby tears plants can thrive under artificial lights indoors.
Soil
Rich soil with added nutrients and compost is required for growing baby tears. You can buy potting soil or make your own. Baby tears will tolerate lower moisture levels than most plants, making them ideal as houseplants.
Water
Baby’s tears plants are thirsty plants that never like to dry out. If you let them, they will quickly wilt. The secret to watering these plants is to water them before they begin to dry out.
Even though we may think of plants as hardy, in some cases they aren’t. Some plants can die even when getting enough water, and some need to be watered daily to survive.
It’s a good idea to keep the soil in which you plant your vegetables moist at all times, but make sure that the soil remains well-drained. Waterlogged soil will promote fungal growth, and this can be damaging to your plants.
Temperature and Humidity
As an outdoor specimen, a baby’s tears grow best in a climate that stays between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature, the more attention the gardener must pay to light and humidity. Baby’s tears are tolerant of cold temperatures, but freezing temperatures that occur in the U.S. from time to time can damage plants.
Baby’s Tears is a type of flower that is quite versatile and can be found in many types of indoor and outdoor gardens. This is a beautiful plant that prefers warm temperatures but is adaptable to a range of conditions. It is drought tolerant and makes a nice, potted plant. If you live in a dry climate, these plants will appreciate life in a humid terrarium.
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer can be applied through the spring and summer to keep the foliage of the baby’s tears healthy and vibrant. The liquid form is easier to apply than spike inserts or granular fertilizer when no bare soil is visible.
Pruning
Varieties of fruit trees will vary in appearance depending on the varieties they are. With varieties that come in various colors, pruning can be necessary to stop those variegated hues from becoming solid green.
Baby tears can be used to add some pizzazz to your garden. Prune baby’s tears back when they become a bit overgrown to encourage new growth.
Smaller terrariums offer greater possibilities for plant growth and development than larger terrariums. As such, there’s little benefit in pruning a baby’s tears unless you’re looking to start something new or move the plants to a larger container.
Propagating
Baby’s tears are a flowering plant with red flowers. They like well-drained soil and full sun. The plant has very fine leaves. It can be grown from seed or division.
If you want to keep a plant within its boundaries, you may need to put it in a pot to contain its growth. While they can be propagated by seed, most plants are not.
To propagate via division: Simply pull out a section of stem, dig a hole, and insert a plug of healthy roots. To make your division more effective, add some soil and water. If you have a greenhouse, you can place your newly divided plant there so it has a chance to recover.
Make sure that you don’t harm the plants by not giving them a solid amount of water. Water is the lifeblood of plants, so make sure that they have sufficient moisture but no excess.
To propagate via stem cutting: You’ll need scissors or pruning snips, a potting container, fresh moistened potting mix, and, optionally, some rooting hormone.
Cut healthy stems that are at least 2 inches long. Remove the base leaves and keep only the leaves at the top of the stem. Make holes in the potting medium with your finger and plant the cuttings in the holes. For better results, dip the cut ends in water with the rooting hormone before burying the cut tip in the hole.
The stems should be cut at the soil level; if you find yourself with cuttings that are not rooted, you may want to start another batch. It may take about 3 to 4 weeks for the stems to become well-rooted.
Potting and Repotting Baby’s Tears
Containers are another great option for people who live in subtropical zones, where this plant can get invasive if planted in-ground.
Baby’s tears are hardy in full sun to part shade and grow well in a range of soil types. They are easy to start from seed and quickly establish themselves in containers, but they do need to be planted when the top of the soil is dry and not moist.
Baby’s Tears Plants require a lot of attention to keep them thriving. They like slightly acidic soil. Make sure you are repotting your plants regularly and not letting them dry out between repotings. It is best to use a larger pot and keep your plants in that larger pot.
Place the plant roots in a new potting mix that is twice as big as the old mix. The old mix can be discarded in the compost pile.
The first rule of any kitchen is to always cook the food as it comes out of the package and not to add too much extra stuff that will just end up making it more difficult for you. This goes for anything from cooking to cleaning.
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