Chamomile, recognized for its small, daisy-like flowers and calming properties when brewed into tea, is a rewarding herb to grow indoors from seed. Starting chamomile inside before the final frost allows for an earlier harvest of the fragrant blooms. The process requires attention to detail, particularly regarding the tiny seeds and their specific light requirements for germination. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to successfully starting chamomile seeds in pots.
Preparing the Container and Media
Successful seed starting begins with selecting the proper vessel and medium. Small starter pots (three to four inches in diameter) or dedicated seed-starting trays are ideal for the initial phase of growth. Excellent drainage holes are necessary to prevent the growing medium from becoming waterlogged, as excessive moisture can lead to fungal issues like damping-off disease.
The media should be a fine-textured, sterile seed-starting mix, which is lighter than standard potting soil. Chamomile seeds are extremely small, and coarse soil can impede the delicate root hairs of emerging seedlings. Before sowing, the media must be thoroughly pre-moistened to the consistency of a wrung-out sponge, ensuring uniform dampness. This preparation stabilizes the surface and provides immediate moisture without the risk of dislodging seeds during initial watering.
The Sowing Process and Seed Quantity
Because chamomile seeds are fine and not every one will germinate, it is standard practice to sow multiple seeds per container. For a typical three-inch pot or individual seed cell, scattering between five and ten seeds is appropriate. This high-density strategy accounts for variable germination rates and allows the grower to select the most vigorous plants later.
Chamomile seeds exhibit positive photoblastism, meaning they require light exposure to trigger germination. After the soil is pre-moistened, the seeds should be lightly sprinkled across the surface of the growing medium and gently pressed down. They must not be covered with soil, as this will block the necessary light and reduce the chances of sprouting.
Once the seeds are settled, the initial moisture must be maintained carefully without disturbing them. Instead of using a watering can, which can wash the seeds away, the surface should be misted gently with a spray bottle. Alternatively, pots can be watered from the bottom by placing them in a shallow tray until moisture wicks up to the surface. Germination typically occurs within seven to fourteen days.
Managing Seedlings After Germination
As soon as the tiny seedlings emerge, they must be immediately moved to a location that provides intense light. A south-facing window can be sufficient, but supplemental grow lights positioned three to four inches above the plants are often necessary to prevent the seedlings from stretching and becoming weak. This stretching, known as etiolation, results in tall, spindly stems unable to support the mature plant.
The most important step after germination is thinning, which removes the weaker seedlings to reduce competition for resources. This process should be executed once the seedlings develop their first set of true leaves. To prevent damaging the roots of the remaining seedlings, the less vigorous plants should be snipped at the soil line using small scissors rather than being pulled out.
Thinning allows the remaining one to three strongest plants per pot or cell to develop robust root systems and adequate air circulation. Crowding leads to poor growth and increased susceptibility to fungal diseases, so this step ensures the plant has space and nutrients. Once established, the watering method should transition from misting to bottom-watering or gentle top-watering to encourage deep root growth.