One of my window plants’ most enjoyable and dearest is Baby’s Tears, Helxine soleiroli. Visitors often ask me, “How do you care for your plant? Mine dies after I’ve had it for about a year.”
After carefully observing Helxine’s habits over time, I have concluded that these plants rest about once a year.
During that stage, they seem to be dying slowly to all appearances. While in active growth, Helxine takes an almost unbelievable amount of water, but when the leaves start turning brown, I gradually decrease the supply.
If they have been well tended otherwise, this browning foliage indicates they are ready for a rest.
The plants should never become bone dry, but they only need enough water to keep the soil barely moist while they are inactive.
Siesta Time For Helxine
When siesta time arrives for Helxine, those who do not know its habits view the brown leaves with dismay and immediately conclude they have allowed the plant to become too dry.
Unfortunately, instead of cutting down the water supply at that time, the tendency was to apply a greater amount than before, to save the plant.
I give mine a rest when browning leaves indicate weariness, no matter what the season.
The dry leaves are sheared away around the pot, and the soil is watched carefully to see that it remains just a little moist at all times.
Before long tiny new leaves begin to grow out from the center of the plant. As they develop and multiply, I increase the amount of water until the plant is in active growth.
Baby’s Tears As Ground Cover
Baby’s-tears are used as a ground cover along walks and under benches in greenhouses.
It makes a dense mat of mossy green in shady rock gardens where the climate is mild. In colder sections, the plant may be set outside, in a moist, shady spot during summer, but in winter it likes a light window.
Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings roots quite easily. If they seem inclined to wilt, they may be covered with glass jars or a cellophane cap for a few days. Helxine may also be divided for additional plants.
The tiny leaves are arranged alternately on almost threadlike stems. I have never seen blossoms, but I have been told they are like silk tassels in the leaf axils and must be looked for with a reading glass.
Acid soil is recommended, but my plants appear so contented with loam from the garden that I have not bothered to add anything to increase the acidity.
Helxine From Corsica and Sardina
Helxine came to us from Corsica and Sardinia and belongs to the nettle family or Urticaceae, which means “to burn.”
I have never heard a baby’s tears accused of any unpleasant characteristics that some weed members of this family have.
Other common names, less frequently heard, are creeping nettle and Paddy’s wig.
44659 by Olga Rolf Tiemann