What Is Wrong With My Chamomile?

Are the seedlings dying and the stems are girdled or rotted at soil line?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold, leaves may be blotched or discolored?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Are the leaves yellow and wilting, whole branches may become brown and die?

Are the leaves discolored, fine webbing may be present?

Are the leaves curled and distorted?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

If your seedlings are falling over and the stems are girdled or rotted at the soil line, the most likely cause is a damping-off disease. Remove and destroy all infected plants. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

Gray mold on flowers is probably caused by fungal disease - Botrytis blight. You can prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Severely infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Appropriate fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Several pathogens can cause root and stem rots. These problems are common when plants are kept overly wet or are grown in poorly drained soil. Remove and destroy infected plants and surrounding soil. Let the soil dry somewhat between waterings, and incorporate organic matter to improve soil drainage. Avoid overwatering and overcrowding. Keep winter mulch away from the crowns to prevent excess moisture.

Spider mites are known to cause problems for chamomile. Hose off plants when symptoms first appear. A strong stream knocks mites off plants and may give control. Introduce predatory mites. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

Distorted and curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mango mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

If the leaves are covered with small bumps the culprits are scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.