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Pilea Baby Tears

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 01/08/2025

4.7 out of 5 (15 experiences)

Fast grower

Survivor

About Pilea Baby Tears

Pilea plants are native to regions worldwide, and often have succulent, water-storing leaves. A handful of them are grown as houseplants, but the rest of the 600+ species are wild plants. Their name comes from the Latin for 'felt cap' which refers to the unique way that their fruits are protected. Fossils of Pilea species have been found dating back over 5 million years ago!

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Pilea depressa

Genus

Pilea

Family

Urticaceae

Order

Rosales

Also known as

Kiereweed, Artillery Plant, Baby's Tears and Tiny Tears

How to care for Pilea Baby Tears

💦 Water

How often to water your Pilea Baby Tears

Pilea Baby Tears needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Pilea Baby Tears in your home

Pilea Baby Tears may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Pilea Baby Tears in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Pilea Baby Tears

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Pilea Baby Tears: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Pilea Baby Tears after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Pilea

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Pilea Baby Tears is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Pilea Baby Tears →

Benefits of Growing Pilea Baby Tears →

Common Pilea Baby Tears Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Pilea Baby Tears →

Outdoor Care Guide for Pilea Baby Tears →

💦 Water Needs

Pilea Baby Tears prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Pilea Baby Tears Water Frequency →

Pilea Baby Tears Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Pilea Baby Tears may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Pilea Baby Tears Light Requirements →

Pilea Baby Tears Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Pilea Baby Tears is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Pilea Baby Tears doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Pilea Baby Tears Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Pilea Baby Tears does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Pilea Baby Tears →

Best Pots for Pilea Baby Tears →

When and How to Successfully Repot Pilea Baby Tears →

What Are Healthy Pilea Baby Tears Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Pilea Baby Tears should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Pilea Baby Tears →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Pilea Baby Tears to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Pilea Baby Tears is native to Worldwide.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Pilea Baby Tears has long, trailing foliage which makes them a great addition to a hanging planter. The newest growth will emerge from the tip of the stems.

Pilea Baby Tears Lifecycle →

Pilea Baby Tears Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Pilea Baby Tears →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Pilea Baby Tears can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Pilea Baby Tears Temperature Tolerance →

Pilea Baby Tears Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Pilea Baby Tears →

When to Plant Pilea Baby Tears →

How to Plant Pilea Baby Tears →

Where to Plant Pilea Baby Tears →

Winter Care for Pilea Baby Tears →

Best Companion Plants for Pilea Baby Tears →

Is Pilea Baby Tears a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Pilea Baby Tears can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Pilea Baby Tears →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Pilea Baby Tears, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.