Grow Well Guides

Baby's Tears

Baby's Tears, scientifically known as Soleirolia soleirolii, is like a living carpet of lush greenery for your garden. Its dainty, cascading leaves create a soft blanket that adds a touch of enchantment to any space. Perfect for ground cover or as a charming addition to hanging baskets, this delightful plant thrives in moist, shaded areas, making it an inviting choice for gardeners looking to add a cozy, welcoming atmosphere to their outdoor retreat.

Planting Calendar

Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring

Babies Tears can be grown indoors in all seasons but is best planted from spring to autumn when grown outdoors.

Prepare

Soleirolia soleirolii has small, dainty, bright-green leaves that grow along slender stems, creating a loose, lush mat. Baby’s Tears is a great choice for a terrarium or houseplant! Grows best in moist, rich soil with regular water. Beautiful when used as a shady groundcover, in miniature gardens or allowed to naturalize in a woodland setting

Position

Baby's Tears does best when planted areas that are shaded and with moist soil. When grown indoors place in medium to high indirect light.

Soil

When planted into the ground Baby's Tears prefer a free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. To improve the organic content in your soil, break up the soil and add Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together well. When growing indoors plant into Kings House Plant Mix.

Plant

When planting into the ground, gently tap the plant out of its pot. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant’s root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Kings Sheep Pellets, then mix together. Backfill the hole with this soil, so that when planted the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground. Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. In heavier clay soils, where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum Clay Breaker into the bottom of the hole, this helps slowly condition the soil and help to break down the clay.

Care

Watering

Water slowly and deeply so that water sinks down to the root zone. Aim to keep the soil moist and don't allow it to dry out.

Feeding

When planted in the ground liquid feed every month with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, from Spring through to the end of Autumn, this encourages root growth and increases the microbial activity in the soil. Monthly applications of Kings Sheep Pellets will help with soil conditioning and plant health.

Protecting

The worse thing that can happen to Baby's Tears is allowing the soil to dry. Keep moist at all times.

Pruning

Cut back to maintain size and spread.

Beginner Tip

Babies Tears is very easy to grow from cuttings, tease out individual stems with some roots attached and replant.

Frequently Asked Questions