
How Can You Take Care Of Dwarf Baby Tears?
- Lighting Do not play around with lights in the case of dwarf baby tears. They are sensitive about darkness and shadows. ...
- Water Temperature Water temperature needs to be within the ideal range. ...
- Substrate The roots of dwarf baby tears are very weak and sensitive that’s why it is important to choose a light-porous substrate. ...
- Fertilizers ...
- Carbon dioxide (CO 2) Supplementation ...
- Trimming ...
How much light do dwarf baby tears need?
The small size of the dwarf baby tears makes growing them in smaller but well-lit tanks ideal. In fact, lights that are at least 2 watts per gallon of water should be used in order to keep the plants growing near the bottom of the tank. If less light is used, the plants will grow upwards and mimic how they grow in the wild.
Can you plant dwarf baby tears in an aquarium?
Dwarf Baby Tears can be purchased in small pots or as already grown and rooted plants in coco fiber mats. The later is usually chosen by people who need the plant immediately. This article will teach you how to plant dwarf baby tears in your aquarium and how to properly care for them. What type of tank works best?
How to care for a baby tear plant?
Dwarf baby tears is not really an easy plant to maintain, you have to carry out adequate maintenance activities to ensure its survival. Extra care and attention should be given to this plant if you are keen on it not dying off as it is often problematic.
What is Killing my dwarf baby tears?
Algae: It can overrun and kill the plant. Keep in mind that Dwarf Baby tears is a slow grower that requires a lot of light. Higher light, CO2, and fertilizers make algae harder to manage.

How do Dwarf Baby Tears grow?
They need a stable tropical water temperature between 68-82° F (20-28° C), KH between 0-10, and pH between 5.0-7.5. Suggested water flow if moderate to high. If used as a floating plant, surface water current should not cause the leaves to sink or overly bump into the side of the aquarium.
Does Dwarf Baby Tears spread?
Dwarf baby tears will spread across your aquarium with runners until it forms a thick carpet. This provides an excellent place for shrimp to graze or for spawning fish to hide their eggs.
How often do you water baby tears?
every 5 to 7 daysWater every 5 to 7 days depending on light and temperature. Keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy wet.
Can you grow Dwarf Baby Tears without CO2?
A lot of people say it's difficult or impossible to grow dwarf baby tears without CO2. That's not true, it's just slooooooow. For some, it's unbearably slow. But if you really don't feel like messing with CO2, it'll grow.
How much light does Dwarf Baby Tears need?
10-12 hours dailyLighting Conditions Dwarf Baby Tears are photophilic, which means they can't sustain growth in dark lighting. Thus you'll need to provide medium to high lighting, 10-12 hours daily, for this plant to grow healthily.
Can you grow Dwarf Baby Tears out of water?
Dwarf baby tears don't need to be submerged in water to grow successfully, even though it is commonly believed otherwise due to their popularity as carpeting in aquariums.
What kills baby tears plant?
An inexpensive way to kill baby's tears is by mixing sulfate of ammonia and water in a two-gallon sprinkler can with an attached nozzle and sprinkling this solution on the leaves. Sulfate of ammonia is an inexpensive (about $3), quick-acting source of nitrogen and is sold in twenty-pound bags.
How do you keep baby tears alive?
It grows best outdoors in moist, well-drained soil in a partial to full shade spot. Despite its reputation for aggressive growth, baby's tears do not respond well to harsh sunlight or dry conditions. But in rich, well-drained, moist soil, the plant sends out runners and spreads throughout the area.
Is baby tears easy to grow?
Baby's tears is a charming houseplant that forms a dense mat of lush, rich green leaves and creeping stems that grow horizontally over flat surfaces or trail like a full head of hair from hanging baskets. Popular for generations, baby's tears is easy to grow.
How long does it take for dwarf hair grass to spread?
In moderate-high light intensity, it will reach its maximum height in about 4 weeks. This means that it can grow at a rate of 1 to 1.5 inches per week. If you are growing the plant from seeds rather than shoots, it will take about a week or two extra to reach its full height.
Can you put baby tears in a fish tank?
Its delicate, small, round leaves will add texture to any aquarium and and contrast nicely against larger-leafed plants. Baby Tears makes a great foreground to midground plant due to its smaller size.
Is baby tears a carpeting plant?
Hemianthus Callitrichoides aka Dwarf Baby Tears or simply HC, is the epitome of carpet plants. This is one of the smallest aquatic plants available and just the right flora for creating that lush foreground seen in many stunning aquascapes.
Does dwarf grass spread?
Dwarf Hairgrass is a popular and easy to use foreground plant that can produce a grass like lawn of carpet. This plant is really like an aquatic grass, with thin stalks growing from roots that spread horizontally by sending our runners.
Can Dwarf Baby Tears grow in gravel?
The dwarf baby tear is ideal for the foreground, and people use it as a mat in their tanks. However, you would be shocked after knowing that it can grow on hard surfaces like rock and wood. You can also use the rock as a substrate, or any other substrate can also be used, but this plant also prefers hard substrate.
How do you attach Dwarf Baby Tears to driftwood?
Anchoring to driftwood. Hemianthus callitrichoides can easily be attached to driftwood by tying small patches to the driftwood and letting it spread by itself. Adding sand with substrate in the holes and cracks of the driftwood also works, as Dwarf Baby Tears will have a place to extend their small roots.
Do Dwarf Baby Tears have seeds?
3:234:26Adding Dwarf Baby Tear Seeds In All My Aquariums - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the dwarf baby tier seeds seem to work pretty well in this tank it's only been about five daysMoreSo the dwarf baby tier seeds seem to work pretty well in this tank it's only been about five days and it looks like i'm starting to grow a carpet. So the seeds were not as lucky in the bulb tank.
What is dwarf baby tears?
Dwarf Baby Tears is a great plant for foregrounds or carpeting of fish tanks. It is safe for shrimps, Goldfish, Betta, and Guppies. All it takes is a good care guide and it will thrive and gently cover the bottom of the tank. Its bright green is a great feature that will enhance the aqua space by refreshing and vitalizing it.
How to propagate a dwarf baby?
Propagation is the process of stem cutting. It’s done by cutting Mature Dwarf Baby Tears and splitting them into many small pieces to plant them back in the tank.
What to cover a tank with to keep it from peeling?
Cover the tank with glass or plastic (not completely, start peeling day by day)
Can baby tears grow in a tank?
Dwarf Baby Tears so far is the most elegant plant to grow in a tank. In appearance, it has smaller leaves, is delicate, and is harder to grow. Meanwhile, Monte Carlo is a more invasive/aggressive plant that can penetrate driftwood. It has larger leaves and is so much easier to grow even in low-light conditions. Baby Tears plant requires substrate and CO2 to thrive, meanwhile, Monte Carlo can grow without them. Monte Carlo is resilient in overcrowding, therefore, the Dwarf Baby Tears is not.
Can dwarf baby tears be used as a playground?
Dwarf Baby Tears does require a good caring guide, which is not as easy as it looks. This little plant is very elegant when meeting an environment with the proper condition, also very delicate to keep up with.
Can dwarf baby tears be planted in water?
Dwarf Baby Tears are also great as floating plants. It is the same as the planting process of carpeting, except for the trimming part. In this case, you should not trim the plant, you should let it thrive up to the surface of the water to create the floating effect.
Can dwarf baby tears survive without CO2?
CO2 is vital for Dwarf Baby Tears, it can survive with a lack of CO2 but it can’t grow and will slowly die.
What temperature should I water dwarf baby tears?
Dwarf baby tears water temperature. Baby dwarf tears are very sensitive to temperature. Grow this plant in a tank that maintains a constant temperature of 78 degrees and below. Anything over that will just make this plant melt. As far as compatibility, I found dwarf baby tears to be a very very hardy plant, compatible with most fish ...
How many light fixtures do dwarf baby tears need?
Dwarf baby tears light requirements is at-least 2 light fixtures on your tank or growing this plant in a short aquarium, where it sits close to the light fixture, is best to provide adequate lighting for this plant. Co2 is a must as well.
What happens when you have a dwarf baby tears carpet?
When you have a full dwarf baby tears carpet, you fill the tank with water and the tank looks good immediately from day one. But then you have again to make a cycle, because the biology is not yet there, and the filter is not running.
Do dwarf baby tears need Co2?
Conclusion. so in conclusion, I think dwarf baby tears are a great carpeting plant, by far the most sought after, the most requested and I think just the most beautiful carpeting plant. They do however require Co2, nutrients and high light.
Can you replant dwarf baby tears?
Let’s move on to propagation, once dwarf baby tears establishing your aquarium, simply cut small sections out of the original portion and replant them. yes, it’s pretty much that easy. Replanting individual stems, however, isn’t necessary and can be time-consuming. So removing small portions and replanting them is best.
Can dwarf baby tears be planted in a tank?
As far as compatibility, I found dwarf baby tears to be a very very hardy plant, compatible with most fish that I would deem not suitable for a planted tank. Even nippy fish can’t harm this plant, once it’s established.
Can I grow dwarf baby tears without co2?
In my experience, Hemianthus callitrichoides need CO2 to thrive. I tried to grow this plant with flourish excel, but the growth rate was very slow.
How to keep dwarf baby tears healthy?
A general rule for maintaining healthy dwarf baby tears is regular pruning, however that may not necessarily be the case if you are opting for floating your Dwarf Baby Tears. Although the most common use for dwarf baby tears is for carpeting, some aquarists also opt to float their Dwarf Baby Tears. If you choose to float your Dwarf Baby Tears, It’s best to purchase a floating mat to which your clusters can root and grow as they’re floating in your aquarium. Not pruning regularly during floating will result with thicker, and even at times, more lush “wild” leaves. This can also provide your other tank inhabitants with nice little places to hide and hang out, as opposed to the bottom of the tank.
What is dwarf baby tears?
Dwarf Baby Tears (Hemianthus callitrichoides) and Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis Parvula) are both aquarium plants that can be used as a carpeting plant. Both plants have a lush green coloration, both are known to be used as carpeting, and both require medium-high lighting. However dwarf hairgrass, although green in color, resembles grass more than cluster leaves. Hence its name, hairgrass. Unlike monte carlo, dwarf hairgrass is easier to tell the difference between that and DWARF BABY TEARS due to the grass-like imagery. Dwarf hairgrass can grow arguably taller than MC, standing approximately 6 inches tall. Dwarf hairgrass also grows at a faster speed than both DWARF BABY TEARS and MC, however, this isn’t necessarily a good thing as it can be harder to manipulate the propagation process. With dwarf baby tears you are able to regularly prune the leaves, and place them back on a substrate, in which they will begin to root again, and grow anew. However this technique doesn’t work with dwarf hairgrass because once cut, they won’t be able to grow their own roots. Keeping in mind the fast growth rate of the dwarf hairgrass makes it nearly impossible to house other plants in your aquascape, as it can quickly overpower and essentially kill off other plants nearby. Therefore dwarf hairgrass is best kept as the only carpet in an aquascape. Not only because it’s competitive growing nature can make it nearly impossible for other plant species to successfully thrive, but also because the shade provided from nearby plants may block the light, essentially making it harder to photosynthesize and grow. Lower lighting with dwarf hairgrass causes the plant to grow taller, but at a slower rate, while the higher light content causes a faster horizontal growth.
Can dwarf baby tears be used as carpet?
There are various uses of dwarf baby tears, however the most common use has been for carpeting in planted aquariums. Pleasing aesthetics aside, dwarf baby tears will grow throughout your aquarium tank, allowing for other fish to graze, as well as hide their eggs for breeding. The importance of high light content and the CO2 requirements allows for each portion of the plant to populate and produce stems that can then branch off and begin to grow alongside the aquarium. Due to the small height of these beautiful plants, they really make for great carpeting in any aquarium. Is it possible to successfully grow dwarf baby tears on any surface, much like in an aquascape? Dwarf baby tears will grow on most hard surfaces, which makes rocks, driftwood, and gravel very popular substrates, but which is the best route to take? It seems to be a matter of preference for most people, as any of these will wield the results of carpeting.
How much light do dwarf baby tears need?
Thus, dwarf baby tears also need a lot of light. The recommended number of hours is 10 – 14 per day. And it’s not a dim light. That should be a perfect brighter light. By giving that much of light makes this plant more green and glossy.
Can dwarf baby tears grow?
You may think like no, it won’t affect much. But remember small things make more significant changes. If you grow that on a specific temperature rather than the recommended level, it will grow. But the thing is, you can’t get the optimum outcome in that way.
How do baby tears grow?
Plants can spread without limit. If you want to keep the plant within its bounds but don't want to kill the overgrowth, move it to a container. These plants are seldom propagated by seed. Baby's tears plants are best propagated via division and cuttings. Here's how to do it:
What temperature do baby tears grow?
As an outdoor specimen, baby's tears plant grows best in temperatures of 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the ambient temperature, the more attention the gardener must pay to light and humidity. Baby's tears plants can tolerate a light frost, but freezing temperatures, as sometimes occur in hardiness zone 9, may kill the top growth of the plant. Be patient; it will come back from the roots in this transitional climate.
What is a baby's tears plant?
Baby's tears ( Soleirolia soleirolii) is a mat-forming tropical perennial with myriad tiny leaves. It is equally valuable as an outdoor bedding plant and as a container plant and potted indoor houseplant. What makes baby's tears plants so special are the myriad tiny leaves, which form a dense mat suggestive of a gnome's green paradise.
How to get a cut of a plant to grow?
Make holes in the potting medium with your finger and plant the cuttings in the holes. For better results, dip the cut ends in water with the rooting hormone before burying the cut tip in the hole.
How to regenerate a plant with roots?
Separate a section of stems with soil and roots using a small trowel. Don't worry about damaging the plant; it will regenerate quickly.
Do you trim baby tears?
It isn't necessary to prune baby's tears plants for good health, but shearing often improves the appearance of the plants or the overall arrangement. When you grow baby's tears as a companion plant to an African violet, peperomia, or another houseplant, you might want to give it a trim to keep it in bounds. Pruning is especially prudent in small terrariums. The cute juvenile plant with dainty leaves can quickly overrun other miniature plants in a confined space.
Can baby tears be planted in a basket?
Baby's tears plants adapt well to life in containers. In a small hanging basket, the spreading plants can spill attractively over the sides. In a terrarium, the plants can creep to the edges of the glass, hiding the bare soil. In a mixed outdoor planting, baby tears plants work great as an edging plant.
How to care for dwarf baby tears?
In terms of caring for dwarf baby tears it is important to have a source of iron because a deficiency will cause the plans to grow yellowish leaves instead of the usual green. Because of this, dwarf baby tears should be planted in a fine-grinded substrate that is rich in minerals, particularly iron, but various nutrients are important to the growth of dwarf baby tears. There also needs to be some type of CO2 supplementation as well as constant fertilization to help speed up the growth rate.
How to keep dwarf baby tears in aquarium?
You can use cotton thread to attach the plants instead of using rubber bands of fishing line. This is because cotton thread is harder to notice as well as because it will dissolve over time but the roots will remain attached to the object. Some aquarium enthusiasts will cover the dwarf baby tears with moss in order to keep them anchored because of the weight of the moss. Not only does the moss help hold the plants in place, but it also provides extra nutrients for the plant life.
Why do aquariums cover baby tears with moss?
Some aquarium enthusiasts will cover the dwarf baby tears with moss in order to keep them anchored because of the weight of the moss.
Why do dwarf baby tears need to be pruned?
This is because new stems will grow on the tops of old ones and suffocate the plant. This type of plant will kill itself if it is left unattended for too long. You can use small scissors to trim the plants in order to keep them healthy.
Why do people like dwarf tears?
People love Baby Dwarf Tears because they cover the base of the tank with what looks like a green carpet. Dwarf Baby Tears can be purchased in small pots or as already grown and rooted plants in coco fiber mats. The later is usually chosen by people who need the plant immediately.
Where do dwarf baby tears come from?
Dwarf Baby Tears, officialy called Hemianthus Callitrichoides, is easily one of the most popular plants used in aquariums. The plant originally comes from Cuba, where it can be found in planted tanks worldwide due to its tiny green leaves that grow quickly.
Can dwarf baby tears reproduce?
While dwarf baby tears have a long growth process, it can still be relatively easy to reproduce them. Most people will simply cut off small sections of large plants and then plant them in your tank. As long as your substrate is rich in iron and other materials and nutrients, you can expect new baby dwarf tears to grow from those small parts.
