How to Grow and Care for Baby’s Tears

Prune off the green-leaved stems as close to their level of origin as potential to inhibit reversion.

Repotting

Repot your child’s tears each two years or so into a bigger pot if wanted, or into the identical one to refresh the soil, accommodate progress, and keep away from overcrowding.

Set the plant on the similar degree it was within the earlier container, and remember to water the day earlier than to make it straightforward to take away from the pot.

The place to Purchase

You’ll be able to normally discover child’s tears out there at good backyard facilities, plant nurseries, and on-line.

Simply bear in mind to examine the species title to be sure to’re buying the right plant!

Child’s Tears

You could find child’s tears in three-inch pots out there from Winter Greenhouse by way of Walmart.

Along with the species, there are just a few cultivated types of S. soleirolii with completely different coloured leaves.

Listed below are some you’re certain to like:

Aurea

‘Aurea’ has eye-catching chartreuse or yellow-green leaves.

Show it as a stand-alone or mix with different cultivars for a colourful combine.

‘Aurea’

You could find ‘Aurea’ vegetation in two-inch starter pots out there from Winter Greenhouse by way of Walmart.

‘Golden Queen’ boasts gold leaves that set it aside from different varieties, the place ‘Silver Queen’ has shimmery foliage with a silver forged.

S. soleirolii ‘Variegata’ boasts inexperienced leaves richly accented by white margins for a two-tone impact that creates distinctive depth.

Propagation

The very best time to propagate child’s tears is from spring to summer season, throughout essentially the most energetic rising interval of the yr.

The species isn’t usually grown from seed however by way of cuttings, by division, and layering.

Let’s think about every technique:

From Cuttings

To propagate child’s tears from stem cuttings, first sterilize your backyard scissors or pruners.

1. Minimize a two-inch stem measuring from the tip and snip off the underside leaves to disclose an inch of naked stem.
2. Fill a well-draining three-inch container three-quarters filled with all-purpose potting soil. 
3. Calmly moisten the soil.
4. Dip the lower finish into rooting hormone powder. That is an non-compulsory step to assist promote rooting.
5. Use a chopstick or pencil to poke a one-inch gap into the middle of the soil.
6. Place the stem into the outlet an inch deep, maintaining the bottom leaves above soil degree.
7. Backfill to carry it firmly upright.
8. Cowl the pot with a plastic dishevelled and safe it with a rubber band to create a mini self-watering greenhouse. Loosen it if the soil turns into soggy.
9. Place the pot close to an east- or west-facing window, avoiding direct daylight.
10. Take away the plastic wrap when new leaves develop.

After eradicating the plastic wrap, be sure to water the brand new plant when the floor of the soil is sort of dry to the contact.

By Division

In case you have a mature child’s tears plant, it’s very straightforward to divide it to create new specimens.

Start by spreading newspaper or an previous plastic tablecloth over your work floor.

1. Tip the pot on its facet and use a knife or different implement to loosen the soil across the edges.
2. Take away the plant, and gently tease the roots aside to tell apart separate stems.
3. Separate and take away as many stems as desired, taking care to not harm the hooked up roots.
4. Set every rooted stem right into a gap an inch deep.
5. Tamp the soil firmly to carry the stems in place.

If you see new leaves, the divisions have rooted efficiently.

Layering

Layering is the simplest propagation technique and it really works properly when you have a plant with lengthy trailing stems cascading over the facet of a dangling planter.

1. Select a trailing stem and discover a naked patch of soil within the pot the plant is presently rising in, or higher nonetheless, put together a small pot that may be located adjoining to the present container.
2. Snip sufficient leaves to have about an inch of naked stem over the floor of the soil.
3. Loosen the patch of soil a bit and lay the naked stem on prime of it.
4. Use a U-shaped floral pin or small rock to safe the stem towards the soil.
5. The stem ought to readily root.
6. In just a few weeks, carry the pin or rock and examine if the stem stays in place. If that’s the case, roots have possible grown.
7. Snip the stem simply above the patch of soil to launch it from the mum or dad.
8. Dig under the rooted stem to carry it out of the pot.

Transplant the rooted stem to a pot of its personal if you have to. Set it on the similar depth as within the authentic container.

Managing Pests and Illness

Whereas child’s tears isn’t vulnerable to pests or illness, there are just a few to concentrate on, particularly when cultivating houseplants in environments that won’t absolutely replicate a species’ pure habitat.

Pests you might encounter embrace:

Aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies are sapsucking bugs that desire dry situations.

They feed on plant juices, secreting sticky honeydew and inflicting foliar discoloration and disfigurement.