Baby's Tear Care - How To Grow A Baby's Tear Houseplant

The Helxine soleirolii is a low growing plant often found in terrariums or bottle gardens. Usually referred to as the baby's tear plant, it may also be listed under other common names such as Corsican curse, Corsican carpet plant, Irish moss (not to be confused with Sagina Irish moss) and "mind-your-own-business" plant. Baby's tear care is easy and this houseplant will provide additional interest to the home.

Growing Baby's Tear Plant

Baby's tear has a moss-like appearance with small round green leaves on fleshy stems. Mostly sought out for its low growing habit of 6 inches (15 cm.) tall by 6 inches (15 cm.) wide) and strikingly green foliage, this plant lacks a truly vibrant bloom. The flowers of the baby's tear tend to be rather inconspicuous. This member of the Urticaceae group loves an elevated humidity level with moderately moist soil, perfect for terrariums and the like. Its spreading, creeping form also works well draped decoratively over the edge of a pot or can be pinched off to create a small dramatic mound of tight apple green leaves. Due to its spreading propensity, the baby's tear plant works well as a ground cover too.

How to Grow a Baby's Tear Houseplant

The dainty baby's tear requires medium to high humidity, which can be accomplished easily in a terrarium environment as they tend to retain moisture. The plant flourishes in a medium exposure setting, moderate daylight. Baby's tear houseplant can be planted in regular potting soil kept lightly moistened. Although the baby's tear houseplant enjoys higher humidity, it also needs good air circulation, so consider this when adding the plant to a terrarium or bottle garden. Do not cover the terrarium if including this plant. Baby's tear is simple to propagate. Press any attached stem or shoot into the moist rooting medium. In fairly short order, new roots will have formed and the new plant may be cut from the parent plant.