Basic Baby’s Tears Care
Also grown outdoors, Baby’s Tears plants are great for houseplant beginners as they are pretty easy to care for. Below you’ll find everything you need to know help your Baby’s Tears plant thrive!
Light |
Bright Indirect LightI love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves. |
Water |
Water FrequentlyI like my soil to be moist so make sure to water me often. |
Humidity |
High HumidityI thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often. |
Soil |
Potting SoilI need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water. |
Bright, indirect light is best
Baby’s Tears plants don’t do so well with bright direct light as this can damage their delicate leaves. Instead, you want to find a spot with plenty of bright but indirect light. They can also grow well under artificial light if needed.
Water them regularly!
Baby’s Tears plants don’t like to dry out so need regular watering to keep the soil moist. Cut back on watering slightly over winter but less than you would other houseplants.
Average room temperature is fine
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.
They need high humidity levels
Another really important thing to take into account when caring for a Baby’s Tears plant is humidity. They like a high level of humidity in the air so mist regularly and invest in a humidifier to keep them happy. You can also place in a well-lit bathroom as the natural stem from showering will lift the humidity level in the room.
Fertilise in spring/summer
You don’t want to fertilise at all during the colder darker months as your plant will be in a dormant period. Use a water-soluble feed once a month during spring and summer to support healthy growth.
Baby's Tears plants are quick growers
One thing to consider before buying a Baby’s Tears plant is that they grow rapidly. They will quickly become root bound and need repotting to continue healthy growth. Prune back regularly if you want to control growth.
Propagating Baby's Tears plant couldn't be easier
Baby’s Tears plants actually form roots wherever stems touch soil which is why they grow so quickly. So all you need to do to propagate them is take cuttings and place in soil. It really is that easy!
Baby's Tears plants are safe for pets
Luckily Baby’s Tears plants are completely non-toxic and pet friendly so you don’t need to worry about having them around your beloved furry friends.
Baby's Tears FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Baby's Tears.
Is the Baby's Tears plant poisonous?
Baby’s Tears plants are safe and non-toxic.
How much sunlight does the Baby's Tears plant need?
Because Baby’s Tears plants have such thin delicate leaves, you want to keep them away from intense light and heat. Find a spot with plenty of indirect sunlight. They can also grow well under fluorescent light if needed.
Is the Baby's Tears plant a good beginner houseplant?
Although they do need tending to fairly often, the Baby’s Tears plant can still make a good plant for beginners. They grow relatively quickly and can adapt to a range of environments and homes.
How much water does a Baby's Tears need?
Baby’s Tears plants don’t like to dry out so need regular watering to keep the soil moist. Cut back on watering slightly over winter but less than you would other houseplants.
How do I care for a Baby's Tears plant?
There are a few main things to consider to best care for your Baby’s Tears. Firstly, water them frequently and supplement this with frequent misting. You also need to find a spot with plenty of sunshine but no direct light.
Common Problems with your Baby's Tears
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
Why is my Baby's Tears plant wilting?
Baby’s Tears plants can wilt very quickly if their potting soil dries out at all. They are quite dramatic in the way in which they wilt but with a top-up of water, they should come back to life within hours. No matter how wilted or dead your Baby’s Tears plant may look, a bit of water usually gets them back to normal!
Why does my Baby's Tears plant have brown crispy leaves?
Brown dry and crispy leaves on a Baby’s Tears plant is often a result of a lack of water or humidity. We recommend that you check the soil of your Baby’s Tears plant immediately so that you know if you need to increase watering to prevent any more brown leaves from developing on your plant.
A lack of humidity can also cause your Baby’s Tears plant to turn brown as they have such small delicate leaves. The best way to increase the humidity and prevent more brown leaves from forming is to mist your plant daily and invest in a humidifier.
Unfortunately, you can’t reverse the issue of brown leaves so we recommend trimming away the worst affected areas of your Baby’s Tears plant so that all energy can be focused on new healthy foliage.
Why does my Baby's Tears plant have yellow leaves?
If the leaves on your Baby’s Tears plant are turning yellow then this is often a sign of overwatering. Baby’s Tears plants need a lot of water but if they aren’t getting enough light, they won’t require as much which can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot. Replace the soil if still waterlogged and trim away the yellow leaves so your plant can focus on new healthy growth.
Why is my Baby's Tears plant losing leaves?
The most common reason why Baby’s Tears plants lose their leaves is improper watering habits. This can be both over and underwatering. The reason for this is once the root system is damaged, your plant won’t get the nutrients and oxygen it needs to thrive and will need to shed some of its leaves.
It’s important that you diagnose the issue of leaf drop correctly as you don’t want to water and overwatered Baby’s Tears plant more and vice versa as this will just cause more leaves to fall from your plant. You’ll need to check the moisture levels in the potting mix immediately and adjust your watering habits accordingly to prevent your Baby’s Tears plant from losing any more leaves.
Why is my Baby's Tears plant drooping?
If you notice that your Baby’s Tears plant has started to droop, then this commonly means it needs more water. Drooping is luckily an early sign of unhappiness so if you can’t see any other issue with your plant then it should be fairly simple to bring your plant back to full health.
Check the soil to confirm that your Baby’s Tears plant is being underwatered and slowly reintroduce water to your plant. Be careful not to drown your Baby’s Tears plant as this can cause them to go into shock. Instead, water your plant once a day for a week and this should make your Baby’s Tears plant less droopy.