Thyme is an herb that can be used to season a lot of different foods. A lot of people choose it for their home herb gardens because it is easy to grow and take care of. But even tough thyme plants can have trouble if the conditions aren’t right. Don’t give up on your thyme plant just yet if it looks sad and blank. With some love and care, you can often bring a thyme plant back to health.
Signs Your Thyme Needs Reviving
How can you tell if your thyme plant needs a little help? Here are some common signs that your thyme is struggling:
Dry, brittle leaves
Leaf drop
Lack of new growth
Leggy or sparse appearance
Wilting despite adequate water
If any of these things happen to your thyme, it’s time to bring it back to life. If you take good care of thyme, it can survive and even grow back better than you thought.
Causes of Unhealthy Thyme Plants
Before attempting to revive your thyme, it helps to understand what may have caused its decline in the first place Common culprits include
Improper watering Thyme hates having “wet feet” and is prone to rot if overwatered. On the flip side insufficient water can lead to dry, stressed plants.
Poor drainage: Thyme needs soil that drains well. Wet, compacted soil can quickly damage thyme roots.
Insufficient sunlight: Thyme thrives in full sun. Too much shade will cause spindly, weak growth.
Extreme weather: Harsh winter cold, summer heat, or drought can stress thyme.
Pests or diseases: Insects, fungi, or other pathogens may infect struggling thyme plants.
Old age: Thyme has a lifespan of 3-5 years. Older plants naturally decline.
Root damage: Transplant shock, disturbed roots, or girdling roots can all affect thyme health.
Correct any care issues first when attempting to revive ailing thyme. This gives the plant its best shot at recovery.
How to Revive a Thyme Plant
Follow these tips to help bring your thyme plant back to life:
Assess and Address Growing Conditions
Make sure the plant gets enough sun—at least six hours a day is best. If needed, move it to a sunnier spot.
Ensure the soil drains well and doesn’t stay soggy after watering. Improve drainage by amending soil with compost or perlite.
Rule out pests or diseases. Inspect closely for signs of infestation and treat accordingly. Common thyme pests include spider mites, aphids, and thrips.
Test soil pH with a kit. Thyme prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 6.5-7.5. Add lime if soil is too acidic.
Fertilize lightly if soil seems nutrient deficient. Use an all-purpose or herb fertilizer.
Prune Aggressively
Prune back any dead or damaged growth. This directs the plant’s energy toward new growth.
Prune leggy stems halfway to encourage bushier regrowth.
Remove any overgrown woody stems, which hamper growth.
Snip a few sprigs for cooking to make room for new shoots.
Water Thoroughly
Give the plant a deep watering to saturate soil if dry. Take care not to overwater.
Water at soil level rather than from overhead to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.
Allow soil to partially dry between waterings. Thyme prefers slightly dry conditions.
Add mulch around the plant to help retain soil moisture.
Transplant If Needed
Carefully dig up the plant and assess its root ball and overall root health.
If roots are crowded, diseased, or show signs of damage, transplant into a larger container with fresh potting mix.
Water in well after transplanting and shelter from direct sun until established.
Harvest conservatively the first year after reviving thyme to allow the plant time to re-establish.
Monitor soil moisture and fertilize lightly to support recovery without overdoing it.
With proper care, most thyme plants can make a full comeback within one growing season. But some long-neglected plants may require extra time to regain their vigor. Don’t give up too soon! As long as some healthy stems remain, thyme stands a good chance of revival.
When to Replace Thyme Plants
While thyme is a hardy herb, occasionally a plant reaches the point where revival is unlikely. It’s best to replace the plant in these cases:
The entire plant is dry, brittle, and dead. No healthy stems remain.
The root system is badly rotted or decayed.
The plant is 5+ years old. Older thyme has a slower recovery rate.
Serious disease or pest infestation has compromised the plant.
Multiple attempts to revive it over a season have failed.
Fortunately, thyme is inexpensive and easy to source. Replacement 4″ potted plants are readily available at garden centers in spring. You can also take stem cuttings from healthy thyme plants to propagate new ones.
Tips for Preventing Unhealthy Thyme
While reviving thyme takes effort, prevention is easier. Here are some tips to keep your thyme thriving year after year:
Choose disease-resistant varieties like English, German, or French thyme.
Plant in well-draining soil amended with compost.
Allow thyme to establish for one season before harvesting.
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to partially dry out between waterings.
Mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilize lightly 1-2 times per year with a balanced organic fertilizer.
Prune regularly to promote new growth. Don’t let plants get overgrown and woody.
Monitor for pests like spider mites and treat promptly if found.
Cover plants or bring indoors if temperatures drop below 10°F.
With proper site selection, planting, and care, it’s easy to maintain thriving thyme for years of bountiful harvests! Paying attention to thyme’s basic needs will help you avoid having to revive sad, stressed plants.
Reviving thyme may require some effort, but with a little TLC, most plants can make a full recovery. Address any care issues, prune back damaged parts, replenish soil moisture, and transplant if needed. Be patient, as revival takes time. With the right approach, you can nurse your thyme plant back to being a productive, vibrant part of your herb garden again.
Thyme plants can die due to a variety of reasons, including improper watering, poor soil drainage, insufficient sunlight, and nutrient deficiencies. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can cause leaves to droop and wither.
How to get thyme to grow back?
Simply place sprigs of thyme in water and after two weeks they will have rooted.Dec 1, 2023
How to revive overwatered thyme?
Wilted, overwatered plants are not always a lost cause.
Move your plant to a shady area even if it is a full-sun plant. …
Check your pot for proper drainage and, if possible, create additional air space around the roots. …
Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it get too dry. …
Treat with a fungicide.
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I love to grow, particularly herbs and medicinal plants but also fruits, vegetables and plants for the home. I work as a horticulturist, specifically with plants for indoor spaces, and I study in my spare time. Even though I live in the city, I look for green spaces and places where people can enjoy nature and grow. Favourite fruits: fresh peaches and blueberries Favourite vegetables: leek, spinach, kale, mushrooms.
Thyme makes a valuable addition to any herb garden. Thyme care is not complicated, and with our tips, your thyme plant is bound to thrive.
Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a popular, low maintenance herb that requires little attention once established. Thyme prefers well-draining soil and lots of sunlight but can tolerate a range of conditions. Read on to find out all the necessary tips and tricks when it comes to thyme plant care.
Thyme prefers dry soil, so it is important not to overwater. So, how often to water thyme? Check the soil moisture with your finger. Poke your finger into the soil about 2 to 3cm deep, and if it is dry, then water your thyme plant. In high summer, thyme will most likely need water a little more frequently; about once a week if it is hot and dry. Just ensure that the soil dries out completely between watering. The soil of thyme in pots dries out more quickly than when planted in the bed, so you may need to water it more often. Again, check with your finger if the soil is dry and if it is, water it.
Be careful here as potted thyme tends to be more susceptible to overwatering as excess water cannot drain away as easily. To avoid overwatering, choose pots with drainage holes and use a well-draining potting mix.
Tip: aim at the base of the plant when watering thyme as wet leaves can promote fungal growth.
Thyme requires little additional nutrients in order to flourish. In fact, too much fertiliser can cause thyme to produce more foliage than the essential oils that give thyme its aroma and flavour. When overfertilised, thyme tends to quickly shoot up and lose its low, creeping habitat. It is sufficient to simply mix a handful of compost into the growing medium when planting in the bed or pot. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is an excellent choice for this. Because it has the right amount of all the nutrients your thyme plant needs, it will grow strong and healthy.
Perfect for all your house, garden & balcony plants
For strong
Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Pruning is an important part of thyme plant care, as it helps keep the plant in shape and encourages new growth. The easiest way to do this is just by regularly harvesting thyme throughout the growing season. Thyme leaves are most aromatic in summer just before flowering, so this is the best time for harvesting thyme to dry and store for the year to come. When pruning in late summer or early fall, don’t cut back too much. This can make the plant less winter-hardy.
It is also important to prune thyme in spring, just before it resprouts. Remove any frostbitten and dead, withered shoots at the base. To rejuvenate the remaining healthy thyme plant, cut the shoots just above the woody parts of the stems. This stimulates the formation of new shoots and prevents the thyme plant from becoming woody and leggy. When pruning thyme, use a pair of clean scissors and cut just above a set of leaves or a node.
Tip: there are many varieties of thyme, each with its own fragrance. Check out our article on the most popular thyme varieties to decide which ones you want to plant at home.
Thyme benefits from repotting every 1 to 2 years or once the plant has outgrown its pot. The best time to repot thyme is in early spring. Thyme forms an extensive root system and accordingly needs a lot of space. Choose a new pot that is at least a third larger than the root ball. Thyme thrives in a well-draining soil that mimics its native Mediterranean habitat. A specialist herb soil such as our Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost is an excellent choice for repotting your thyme plant. Its loose structure and low nutrient content provide the ideal conditions for thyme to flourish.
Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Incorporate 30% sand or perlite into the herb compost to increase water permeability. Additionally, add a drainage layer of pebbles or clay shards to the bottom of the pot to prevent waterlogging.
How to Rejuvenate Thyme : Garden Space
FAQ
How to bring thyme plants back to life?
It’s a Hail Mary, but: chop off all the leaves and stems, down to about one inch from the soil, and discard them (don’t leave the debris in the pot). Water it lightly, if the soil is dry. Put it outside and forget about it for a month. If you see green, it’ll come back.
Why is my thyme plant dying?
Some of the things that can kill thyme plants are not getting enough sunlight, water, or nutrients, or the soil not draining well. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can cause leaves to droop and wither.
How to get thyme to grow back?
Simply place sprigs of thyme in water and after two weeks they will have rooted.Dec 1, 2023
How to revive overwatered thyme?
Wilted, overwatered plants are not always a lost cause. Move your plant to a shady area even if it is a full-sun plant. Check your pot for proper drainage and, if possible, create additional air space around the roots. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it get too dry. Treat with a fungicide.
