| Light: | MEDIUM LIGHT | | Plant Care: | | | Baby Tears need good drainage and evenly moist soil. Do not let the soil completely dry out. Grow in partial to full shade, and protect from full sun and direct sunlight, but place it in bright places. Baby Tears is relatively hardy; the winter minimum temperature is 45 degrees. Feed every one or two months with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. Propagate by dividing and repotting the roots. | | Facts: | | | Baby Tears' botanical name comes from Captain Joseph Francois Soleirol, who collected many Corsican plants in the early 19th century. Soleirolia soleirolii comes in at least 3 forms, with the most common being the basic green. It is a very low-growing mat-former, not more than 2 inches high, but with indefinite spread. In its native habitat, it grows in shady places around the Mediterranean.
Best known as an indoor plant, Baby Tears also makes an attractive and maintenance-free ground cover alternative in moist, shady areas. The mass of tiny leaves covers the stems, which root as they run, forming a dense carpet. As it covers the ground it will run over rocks, fallen logs, and so on, clinging to their shape so the features of the landscape are picked out. Quick to establish, it survives periodic dry spells and recovers quickly afterwards. It is a superb substitute for moss in a Japanese garden or shady courtyard. |
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