What Is the Flower Language of Chamomile? A Guide to Keeping Potted Plants Alive

Chamomile, also known as Roman chamomile or German chamomile, is a flower with white petals and a yellow center. Chamomile is cultivated in many parts of our country and not only has ornamental value, but can also be used to extract chamomile essential oil for making health care or medicinal products. Let us take a look below at what the flower language of chamomile is and whether potted plants are easy to keep alive.

1. What is the flower language of chamomile?

Chamomile represents strength in the midst of suffering, symbolizes an indomitable spirit, has a mild antidepressant effect, and can soothe uneasy and irritable emotions.

The Egyptians offered this herb as a sacrifice to the sun, because chamomile can treat fever; some literature also holds that it belongs to the moon, because it has a cooling effect.

When Egyptian priests dealt with nervous problems, they especially praised the soothing properties of chamomile. In history it has been honored as the “physician of plants,” because it can also indirectly treat other shrubs planted around it.

2. Are potted chamomile plants easy to keep alive?

Potted chamomile is easy to keep alive, but only under proper care.

Chamomile is propagated by seed. Because its seeds are tiny, with a thousand-grain weight of only a few grams, the seeds are thoroughly mixed with fine sand before being broadcast when planting, so that seedlings come up evenly and do not emerge in patches. For ground planting, they can generally be broadcast directly on the soil surface; after broadcasting, a light covering of soil can effectively prevent the seeds from being pecked by birds, and under natural conditions, not covering the soil will not affect seedling emergence the following year. After sowing, water evenly with a watering can; seedlings generally emerge within a week. During the seedling stage, be careful to prevent birds from pecking the young shoots. Once the plants are slightly larger, there is no need to worry.

However, for potted plants, please plant it in loose, fertile soil that drains well and is rich in humus, which is more favorable for its growth; even without later topdressing, it can still grow well.

Care is even simpler. Chamomile likes a warm, humid climate and a sunny environment. It is very cold-tolerant and also has a certain drought tolerance. Usually keep it on a balcony, give it plenty of light, and keep the potting soil slightly moist without waterlogging.

Chamomile likes light; this is a common trait of plants in the Asteraceae family. Compared with other Asteraceae plants, chamomile is more tolerant of strong light and does not need shade in summer. However, those growing it in pots should still try to avoid direct strong summer sunlight, otherwise the potting soil may heat up too quickly and water in the soil may evaporate severely, causing the plant to become short of water and dry up. In general, if conditions allow, it is best to grow it in the ground, because plants that receive sufficient light are stronger, have more branches, and produce brighter flowers with a richer fragrance.

Chamomile rarely suffers from pests and diseases. For ground planting, controlling density and ensuring ventilation and light transmission will prevent disease. If disease occurs because the planting density is too high or prolonged overcast and rainy weather causes excessive environmental humidity, fungal diseases may appear, which can be treated by spraying Bordeaux mixture or chemicals such as thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim.