Add a Splash of Color to Your Home with This Beautiful Houseplant
Baby's Tears originate from Madagascar. It is a plant that is suitable for inside the home or a greenhouse and provides a very low maintenance way to have colorful beauty in your home. Although this plant has no flowers, the leaves provide more than enough color to please anyone's eye. It is best kept in temperatures between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit and requires a space with very high humidity.
Here are some tips to keep your Baby's Tears in it's most beautiful condition:
Light
You will see this plant do best if it is in an indirect sunlight. It will do even better if the sun comes form the South, East or West positions. Leaving it in direct sun can cause it's leaves to burn up and lose it's beautiful coloring.
Soil
You should use a good general purpose potting soil for this plant. The soil should retain water but also needs to drain well so that the plant isn't over watered. You will also want a well aerated soil to allow the root to have some breathing room. If the soil is packed tightly you can add some sand or perlite along with some peat moss to give the roots plenty of room. You can mix your own soil as well. Here is the recipe: 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a little bit of lime. Keep in mind to use a pot with a hole in the bottom so that excess water can drain out.
Water
The soil should be barely moist at all times. You should always use warm water for your plants. Rainwater can be very acidic. If you choose to use rainwater, make certain that it is optimum for your plants growth.
Fertilize
You do not need to fertilize this plant. It is actually suggested that you don't.
Pests
This plant is known to get whitefly, aphids and scale. You should always be sure to check the plants before you purchase them so that you don't introduce these pests to your other houseplants.
Making New Plants
You can easily make new plants from the one that you already have. Simply gather the seeds or use stem cuttings to do so. You should do this in the Spring through the late summer months. Place the stems or seeds in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot with a plastic bag. You can seal it at the top with a rubber band to seal in the moisture. This will give the plant its much needed humidity. Place it in an area that has indirect sunlight or you can use fluorescent lighting to help it grow.
Other Tips
You should make sure that Baby's Tears are kept watered during the Winter months. You should purchase a bottle with a sprayer on it so that you can mist your plant. You will want to do this often to keep it looking its best at all times. Pinch off the dead leaves and keep it pruned well in order for the plant to keep its bushy appearance. It servers this plant well to place pebbles or stones in a dish under the pot. This allows the excess water to place humidity back into the plant without it getting over watered. You must be sure that you place the pot on top of the stones or pebbles. You do not want the pot sitting directly in the water. Baby's Tears should be repotted in the Early Spring.
This is a beautiful plant and will give you years of service if you care for it well. Enjoy your baby's tears.
