You love the look of Monstera deliciosa or banana tree plant, but maybe you don’t have the room for these large, dramatic houseplants. No worries!
There are plenty of easy-care houseplants that don’t take up a lot of real estate in your home. If you need a plant for more compact spaces, baby’s tears may be the right choice for you.
The tiny rounded leaves give this adorable plant its name. The plant also is known as angel’s tears or Paddy’s wig, perhaps because it looks like a head of curly hair. The foliage is lime green, though several varieties have gold or silvery foliage.
Native to the Mediterranean, including Italy and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, baby’s tears is actually a vigorous perennial ground cover. It grows in USDA Hardiness zones 9 and warmer and can spread up to 6-feet-wide in the garden. (Find your zone here.)
In fact, it is considered invasive in some regions because it roots itself wherever the creeping stems contact soil.
But indoors, baby’s tears is better behaved and makes a charming houseplant that stays compact in its pot. It looks beautiful cascading from a hanging pot, and it’s also a good choice for terrariums.
Ahead, here’s what you need to know to grow baby’s tears plant:
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Baby’s Tears Plant Basic Info:
- Common Name: Baby’s tears, angel’s tears, Paddy’s wig
- Botanical Name: Soleirolia soleirolii
- Plant Family: Urticaceae
- Type of Plant: Perennial, houseplant
- Native Origin: Mediterranean, including Italy, Sardinia and Corsica
- Sun Exposure: Dappled shade outdoors, indirect light indoors
- Mature Size: 3 inches tall by 3 to 6 feet wide, though it stays compact indoors
- Toxic to pets: No
What is Baby’s Tears Plant?
Baby’s tears plant is a creeping, mat-forming ground cover that spreads vigorously in the right conditions. Its tiny, round, drop-like foliage give it its common name. It’s actually in the nettle family, but it will not sting like some other kinds of nettles.
Several other plants also go by the common name of baby’s tears, including Hemianthus callitrichoides, an aquatic plant, and Pilea depressa, a trailing plant with tiny rounded leaves. But these are entirely different plants, though they have similar appearances.
How Do You Grow Baby’s Tears Plant?
Baby’s tears loves high humidity and bright, indirect light, but it will tolerate lower light levels.
Keep this plant slightly moist at all times. If it dries out, it will quickly decline. Water the plant from beneath by placing it in a sink of water and letting it soak up water through the pot's drainage holes. This prevents the foliage from getting matted down. Or you can use a self-watering container to give it a steady supply of moisture.
If you like, fertilize with any balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month during the spring to summer growing season. This is not entirely necessary. Baby's tears is a fast-grower as long as it's getting the correct light and moisture levels.
If baby’s tears starts to look shaggy or leggy, simply give it a haircut all around! It will fill out again quickly.
Most importantly, make sure to give baby’s tears high humidity levels. Because most homes hover around 40 to 50 percent or lower in winter, it may be best to grow this plant in a terrarium to keep a more consistent moisture level.
In this case, you will not need to water as frequently—you’ll probably be able to spritz plants inside a terrarium just once a week. Trim baby’s tears back as it grows, so that it doesn’t crowd out the other plants in your display.
How Do You Propagate Baby’s Tears Plant?
Baby’s tears is super-easy to propagate. Simply chunk off the edges of the plant, place the section in moist potting soil, and keep in bright, indirect light. The pieces will root in a few weeks to a month and start taking off! It’s a great pass-along plant for this reason.
Is Baby's Tears Plant Toxic to Pets?
According to ASPCA, baby's tears is not toxic to pets. However, any plant can cause GI distress if enough of it is ingested. Always call your vet ASAP if you think your pet has ingested this plant.
Common Issues with Baby’s Tears Plant
The biggest challenge with baby’s tears is letting it dry out. It prefers constant light moisture and high humidity. If you can meet these needs, it will grow rapidly. Otherwise, this plant has no serious issues such as diseases or pests.
Winter Greenhouse Baby's Tears, 3-inch pot
