Do you also like cooking with fresh herbs? Then we recommend a potted garden that can be created even if you don't have your own garden. Mediterranean herbs such as thyme thrive in the right location and, with appropriate care, even in pots - provided the container offers enough space for the fast-growing plants.
How do you care for thyme in a pot?
To successfully cultivate thyme in a pot, you need permeable and sandy soil, a pot with drainage and a drainage hole, and a sunny location. Water regularly and fertilize occasionally, but avoid waterlogging.
Cultivating thyme in a pot
Like so many Mediterranean plants, thyme needs lean, dry soil and a spot that is as sunny as possible. However, the herb feels most comfortable not on the windowsill, but in the fresh air - for example on a balcony, no matter how small. However, the pot in which you want to plant your thyme should by no means be small. The plant develops very widely branched and very deep roots, which ensure it has an adequate supply of water and nutrients even in dry times.
Care for potted thyme properly
While thyme planted in the garden usually does not need to be watered or fertilized, you should water thyme in the pot regularly and also fertilize it a little from time to time. However, it is important to find the right balance, because the hunger artist cannot tolerate an excess of water and nutrients. Waterlogging in particular causes the roots to initially rot and then the entire plant to die. As soon as your thyme turns brown on the bottom and - paradoxically - looks dried out, it is most likely too wet. In this case, the only thing that helps is to repot the plant into a new pot and fresh substrate as quickly as possible and carry out a root cut.
Potting thyme
Thyme feels much more comfortable in pots made of natural materials - such as clay - than in plastic pots. Excess moisture can simply evaporate from such permeable materials, while it has no way of escaping from plastic. You should also ensure good drainage within the pot to prevent waterlogging from forming in the first place.
- Fill several centimeters of expanded clay (€19.00 on Amazon) or small pebbles as the bottom layer.
- Mix commercially available potting soil with sand or gravel, preferably in a ratio of 1:1.
- Plant the thyme there, but not too deep.
- Press the plant well and water it.
- The pot should have a drainage hole at the bottom and also stand on a saucer.
Tips & Tricks
Herb pots with various herbs are often available in the supermarket. However, these plants tend to die very quickly - they have usually been grown too quickly with too much fertilizer. Instead, you can simply sow thyme seeds yourself and grow your own plants.