Baby tears plant, also called angel’s tears,is a mat-forming tropical perennial with myriad tiny leaves.
Often confused as a bang out of moss, it comes from thenettlefamily.
Lower-light conditions, a warmer climate, and rich, moist soil will enable this plant to thrive.
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Baby tears plants are easy for beginners to grow but require regular attention to look their best.
They look their best in bright, filtered light.
Baby tears plants can thrive underartificial lightsindoors.
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Place it in a shadier location outdoors.
Soil
A rich soil amended withmanure, humus, or compost is sufficient for baby tears plants.
It will also help to regulate the plant’s moisture level.
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Commercial potting soil is suitable for growing baby tears as a houseplant or in a container garden.
Water
A baby tears plant is thirsty and never likes to dry out.
The plant will dramatically wilt if you allow your plant to dry out.
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Water the plant as soon as you notice wilting and within a day it should recover.
A baby tears houseplant requires slightly less water in the winter months.
However, do not let the roots sit in water, which can promoteroot rot.
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check that the soil stays moist but drains well.
The higher the ambient temperature, the more attention the gardener must pay to light and humidity.
The plant can regenerate after the transitional climate warms up again.
Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)dmf87 / Getty Images
Baby tears appreciate high humidity with at least 75% humidity.
These plants are ideal for a steamy bathroom or kitchen.
If you live in a drier environment, these plants will appreciate life in ahumid terrarium.
Tip
Baby tears is the ultimate terrarium plant because it prefers high humidity and low light conditions.
it’s possible for you to grow baby tears in both closed and open terrariums.
Note that it may outcompete other terrarium plants with time.
Fertilizer
A balancedplant fertilizerwill keep the foliage of baby tears plants bright green and dense.
Give the plant liquid fertilizer through spring and summer every two weeks.
The liquid form is easier to apply than spike inserts or granular fertilizer when no bare soil is visible.
Types of Baby Tears
Pruning
The green color is dominant across all varieties.
Although it isn’t necessary to trim baby tears,pruningwill improve its appearance, encouraging new growth.
Pruning is prudent insmall terrariums.
Wherever stems touch the soil, they will form roots.
Plants can spread without limit.
These plants are seldom propagated by seed.
Baby tears plants are best propagated via division and cuttings.
As a potted plant, baby tears grow easily in a standard potting mix.
Baby tears plants adapt well to life in containers.
In a small hanging basket, the spreading plants can spill attractively over the sides.
In a terrarium, the plants can creep to the edges of the glass, hiding the bare soil.
In a mixed outdoor planting, baby tears plants work great as an edging plant.
Baby tears plants grow quickly and need to be repotted regularly.
Place the roots in the new potting mix.
Bring these plants indoors before the weather approaches freezing temperatures.
Frost will begin killing off the outer layer of leaves first.
The plant should be able to bounce back if briefly exposed to frost.
This plant is also susceptible to root rot if the soil becomes waterlogged.
Use amoisture meterto help you decide when to water.
The plant will bloom continuously for a month or two from late spring to early summer.
What Do Baby Tears Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Baby tear plants produce tiny, creamy white, sometimes fragrant, otherwise insignificant flowers.
These petal-less blossoms are less than an inch in size.
How To Encourage More Blooms
Baby tears rarely flower when kept indoors or cultivated.
Deadhead any spent blooms and foliage to make room for more and keep the plant neat and healthy.
You’ll notice continued wilting in plants that need to be repotted.
Divide the plant and transplant the division into a new pot.
Browning Leaves
Plants growing in full sun may develop brown, scorched leaves.
Move the plant to a shadier location or offer some cover if it’s in-ground.
Blackening Leaves and Foul-Smelling Soil
Root rot can kill a plant if not caught in time.
Overwatering causes this deadly disease.
If you notice a few blackening leaves and a foul smell, the soil is likely soggy, too.
However, all may not be lost; you still might be able to rescue the plant.
Unearth the root ball, and repot it in a better-draining soil amended with perlite.
Prune off the blackened leaves.
Cut off any rotten or blackened root sections.
Look for fungus gnats or aphids on your plant, too.
They often infest plants that are weakened by root rot.
Aggressive, Weedy Growth
Baby tears is a vigorously growing plant.
The plant is weedy and can have aninvasivegrowth habit when grown outdoors in mild climates with regular rainfall.
However, it is usually easy to uproot.
Baby tears are a fast-growing creeper in perfect growing conditions.
Baby tears plants are sometimes confused withIrish moss(Saginasubulata).
Both plants have the same bright green foliage and low-growing characteristics, producing tiny white flowers.
Irish moss has fine, thread-like foliage, while baby tears have teardrop-shaped leaves.
Irish moss is hardy down to USDA zone 4.
Yes, baby tears plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
North Carolina State University Gardener Extension.
