This here, my friends, is Artemisia annua. I’m now carefully distributing these tiny little seeds here. If all goes well, there will be about ten plants per pot.
So there may be around 500 plants in total. This is the next sowing of the year.
Artemisia annua has an unusual history. The plant was used for a long time in traditional Chinese herbal medicine and gained major scientific significance in the 20th century through the discovery of artemisinin.
A controversial international debate later developed around the use of the whole plant. Questions of local plant production, regulation, development cooperation, and modern pharmacology intersect in this discussion. I have been involved with this debate for many years—just as I have with growing the plant here in Tenerife.
But today, we’re focusing first on something very practical: How do you actually grow strong plants from these tiny seeds?
These are very small seeds, and they require light to germinate. They need light and consistent moisture. That’s why we use these pots and moisten them from below, so the seeds aren’t washed away when watering.
This is a hands-on task that requires a little knowledge of how it works. This was the cultivation guide.
We show how the sowing eventually becomes the finished harvest in Artemisia annua Harvest 2024 – from the Field to the Tincture. You can read more about Artemisia annua in our Adaptopedia.