Knowing how to grow chamomile indoors is a great skill for aspiring gardeners. This friendly little member of the daisy (Asteraceae) family is super easy to grow. Read on to learn how to start cultivating it today!
Materials You’ll Need
A Container
Select a pot that’s wider than it is tall, which will allow your plants to spread out happily. Make sure it has drainage holes on the bottom.
A Handful of Clean Rocks or Large Gravel
These will provide drainage at the bottom of the container. You can either buy stones at a nursery/greenhouse, or gather them from your garden. Just make sure to wash them in soapy water before using them.
Potting Soil
This herb needs well-draining, slightly sandy soil. As a result, choose a container-specific potting soil mix like this one with perlite and sand mixed into it. Alternatively, you can use potting soil made specifically for succulents.
Chamomile Seeds
There are two types of chamomile you can grow: Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), and German (Matricaria chamomilla). Choose Roman chamomile seeds to grow indoors, as this plant spreads out horizontally rather than growing tall.
Related Article: What does Chamomile Tea Taste Like?
A Watering Can
It’s always better to have a small watering can for indoor plants. It’ll allow you to add a bit of water right where it’s needed.
Spray Bottle
This is for adding just a bit of moisture, rather than a full watering.
How to Grow Chamomile Indoors Step by Step
Step 1: Prepare Your Container
Step 2: Add Rocks
Step 3: Pour the Potting Soil
Step 4: Add Water
Step 5: Sow the Seeds
Step 6: Water Lightly
Step 7: Give it a Sunny Home
Chamomile Care Tips
Thin the Plants as Needed
Since you’re planting several seeds in your container, some will inevitably grow bigger and stronger than others. Leave the large ones in place, and remove the thinner, weaker ones. You can either discard these, or transplant them to other containers to give them a chance.
Feed Your Plants Once a Month
Wrap Up
If you’re learning how to grow chamomile indoors for tea, that’s wonderful! You can enjoy it fresh, or harvest and dry it to brew later.
To try your chamomile flowers, use clean scissors to snip the blossoms free. Make sure their stems are removed, and then spread them out on a screen in an electric food dehydrator. Run it at its lowest setting possible for six hours, or until the blooms are dry. You’ll know they’re ready if they crumble between your fingers.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a food hydrator, you can use a standard oven. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, and scatter the flowers on top. Put them in the oven at 150F for a few hours, turning them often with a spatula so they don’t scorch.
Additional Notes
Chamomile has several beneficial medicinal properties. In addition to its sedative (calming) effects, it’s also carminative, which means that it helps to prevent and/or alleviate gas pain. It has mild analgesic (painkilling) properties, as well.
Just make sure that you speak with your healthcare practitioner before taking chamomile therapeutically. It’s not recommended for pregnant women, as it may trigger miscarriage. Additionally, it may interfere with certain medications, such as anti-coagulant drugs (blood thinners).
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
