Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)
Care, watering, light and tips for Job's tears on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Poaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Job's tears
Coix lacryma-jobi, commonly known as Job's Tears, is an annual or short-lived perennial grass native to Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its robust stems and hard, shiny, tear-shaped fruits, which range from white to dark gray. This plant is excellent for rustic-style gardens, pond edges, or as an ornamental plant of interest due to its unique fruits, which are also used in crafts and food.
Native range
Tropical and subtropical Asia, from India to Malaysia and China
Care tips
It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Regular watering is needed to keep the substrate consistently moist, especially in warm climates and during flowering and fruiting. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils but thrives best in slightly acidic to neutral ones. A common mistake is allowing the soil to dry out completely, which can stress the plant and reduce fruit production.
How to save a dying Job's tears
- Warning signs
- Rolled, yellowing or brown leaves, stunted growth.
- First aid
- Check soil moisture, repot if waterlogged. Provide direct sunlight.
- What kills it
- Prolonged drought or constant waterlogging, insufficient light.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not rotten or completely dry. It's resilient.