Job's Tears Plant Care
Coix lacryma-jobi L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Job's tears, also known as adlay or adlay millet, is a tall grain-bearing perennial tropical plant of the family Poaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Northern China and India in remote antiquity, and elsewhere cultivated in gardens as an annual.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
65–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Job's Tears?
Water Job's Tears every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Job's Tears Native To?
What Is the Job's Tears?
Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Coix genus. Job's Tears is native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Northern China and India in remote antiquity, and else. Job's Tears is also known as Tear Grass, Coix Seed, Meditation Mala.
Job's Tears displays a tall, grass-like growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Job's Tears produces inconspicuous spikelets.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Job's Tears?
Coix lacryma-jobi requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Job's Tears Need?
Job's Tears thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Job's Tears Prefer?
Coix lacryma-jobi grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Job's Tears prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Job's Tears?
Well-draining sandy loam. Good drainage is essential for Job's Tears to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Job's Tears?
Feed Job's Tears every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Job's Tears?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Job's Tears?
Job's Tears can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to adlay plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Job's Tears Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Job's Tears, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Job's Tears?
Job's Tears is susceptible to grasshoppers, cutworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Job's Tears Need?
Job's Tears grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Job's Tears is native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Northern China and India in remote antiquity, and else. In cooler regions, grow Job's Tears as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Job's Tears is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Coix genus — compare its care with other Coix species on PlantoScan.
Coix is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Job's Tears thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Coix lacryma-jobi L., family Poaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. 2: 972. 1753 [1 May 1753]) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Job's Tears, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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