Baby's Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a carpet in a pot: thousands of tiny, round, bright-green leaves packed so densely that you can barely see the soil. It spills over the edges of its pot in a soft green waterfall, and it is one of the prettiest trailing plants for a hanging basket or a terrarium.
It is a moisture lover, and that is the whole secret: baby's tears wants constantly moist soil and humid air, and it will crisp and die back quickly if it dries out. That makes it a poor choice for a forgetful waterer, but a superb one for a terrarium, a bathroom, or anyone who enjoys a daily check-in with their plants. It is non-toxic to cats and dogs. This guide covers light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
Baby's Tears at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Soleirolia soleirolii |
| Light | bright indirect |
| Water | every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry |
| Humidity | moderate |
| Temperature | 65–80°F (18–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your Baby's Tears bright indirect light. A spot near an east- or west-facing window is usually ideal, or a metre or so back from a bright south-facing window. In the right light the plant grows steadily and keeps its colour; in too little light growth turns weak and stretched, and the plant loses the look that makes it worth growing. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough.
Bright indirect light keeps the growth dense and the leaves a vivid green. In too little light the stems stretch and the carpet thins; in direct sun the tiny leaves scorch. A north- or east-facing window is ideal, and it also does well under a grow light.
Watering
Water: every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. The golden rule is to check the soil before you water rather than watering on a fixed day — push a finger into the mix and water thoroughly only when it has dried to the depth the plant prefers, letting the excess run out of the drainage holes. Then empty the saucer so the plant never sits in standing water. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Keep the soil lightly moist at all times — never let it dry out. Water when the surface begins to dry, and water thoroughly. In a warm room this may mean watering every few days in summer. The dense mat of leaves can hide dry soil underneath, so check the soil itself, not just the surface.
Humidity and temperature
Baby's Tears needs moderate humidity and temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C). Humidity is the care factor most homes get wrong: heated indoor air in winter is far drier than most houseplants like, and the first sign is usually brown, crispy leaf edges. Grouping plants together, a pebble tray under the pot, or a small humidifier near the plant all help; a humidifier is the only method that reliably lifts humidity enough. Misting does very little — the water evaporates in minutes. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant.
Moderate humidity is the minimum, and higher is better. Dry air turns the leaf edges brown and thins the carpet, so a terrarium, a humid bathroom or a pebble tray underneath all help. Misting the leaves lightly can help, but keeping the soil moist matters more.
Soil and potting
Indoors, Baby's Tears needs a rich but free-draining potting mix. Standard potting soil on its own can hold too much water and compact over time, so mix it with perlite and orchid bark to keep air around the roots while still holding some moisture. A pot with drainage holes is not optional; without one, water has nowhere to go and root rot follows. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size.
Use a moisture-retentive mix — standard potting soil with coco coir and a little perlite. The mix should stay damp without turning waterlogged, and the pot must have drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size — a pot that is too big holds wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is a fast route to rot. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Repot in spring when the roots fill the pot, moving up only one size. Baby's tears grows fast, so it may need repotting every year or two, and repotting is a good moment to divide the mat into pieces.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots, which often shows up as brown leaf edges. If you have been feeding heavily, flush the soil with plain water occasionally to wash the salts out. Our fertiliser calculator can help you get the dose right.
Feed monthly at half strength in spring and summer. A little food supports the dense growth, but overfeeding burns the tiny leaves, so do not push the dose.
Propagation
Baby's tears is propagated by division, and it is almost comically easy: tear or cut the mat into pieces, each with roots attached, and press each piece onto moist potting mix. Keep the pieces humid and out of direct sun, and they root within a week or two.
You can also lay a trailing stem on moist soil, where it roots at the nodes, then cut it free. A single pot can be divided into many new plants in spring.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering | Let soil dry more between waterings; check drainage. |
| Brown leaf tips | Low humidity | Trim brown tips; raise humidity; use filtered water if tap water is hard. |
| Slow growth | Too little light or pot-bound | Give more bright light; repot if pot-bound. |
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: overwatering. Yellow leaves most often mean the soil has stayed wet for too long. Let the top of the soil dry out before watering again, check that the pot drains freely, and remove leaves once they are fully yellow. If several leaves yellow at once, check the roots — soft, black roots mean rot, and you should cut the rot away and repot in fresh mix. Water less in winter, when the plant grows more slowly and the soil stays wet for longer.
Brown leaf tips
Likely cause: low humidity. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's shape, and raise the humidity around the plant — a pebble tray or humidifier helps more than misting. If your tap water is hard, switch to filtered or rainwater, since salts can also crisp the edges. Check the humidity with our humidity and temperature checker and move the plant away from radiators and hot, dry draughts.
Slow growth
Likely cause: too little light or pot-bound. First check the light: move the plant a little closer to a bright window and see whether new growth picks up over the next month. Then check whether it is pot-bound — roots circling the drainage holes mean it is time to repot into a pot one size larger with fresh mix. Do not try to force growth with extra fertiliser; a plant that is short of light or root room will not use it, and the salts can burn the roots.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Baby's Tears?
Every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. Check the soil with your finger before watering rather than watering on a fixed day — pots dry out at different rates depending on light, pot size and the season.
How much light does Baby's Tears need?
It needs bright indirect light. Too little light gives weak, stretched growth, while harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves, so a bright spot out of direct midday sun suits most plants in this guide.
Is Baby's Tears safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants, and if a pet eats any of it, contact your vet.
When should I repot Baby's Tears?
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size so the fresh mix does not stay wet for too long.
Why is my baby's tears plant drying out and going brown?
It dried out — this plant needs constantly moist soil and humid air, and it crisps fast when either is missing. Water thoroughly, trim away the dead growth, and move it to a more humid spot. New growth usually follows quickly once the soil stays moist.