I need advice on how to revive a Thyme plant.

10 years ago

Hello there!

I saw a sad-looking thyme plant sitting on the second shelf of a rack full of herb plants at the grocery store. I missed my opportunity to grow Thyme this year, so I figured it was a good idea to to grab a plant, and perhaps revive the little guy to give it a second chance at life. Before I first bought it yesterday, the soil was bone-dry, and it was sitting in the dark (I'm not sure how long it was sitting there in the dark). The leaves looked dried out (still do). I immediately planted it in a bigger plastic pot with potting mix, and watered it, then placed it in a spot that would get full sun. Here are some photos of it in its new container:

I'm wondering if I made a mistake buying it. I'm not even sure if its still alive. I've heard Thyme is almost impossible to kill, so I'm hoping it will perk up soon. Is there anything else I can do for it? Or should I just buy a new plant?

Thanks for reading.

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Comments (5)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
10 years ago
I would place the whole pot in a bucket or basin of water and leave it there until the surface of the mix is wet. You need to absolutely saturate the mix. Then let it drain and cross your fingers.
SW (Sydney, USDA 10b)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
In the long term, thyme likes the soil to be on the dry side. Not bone dry, but moist soil can cause thyme to rot. Just be careful with the watering, and it might still come back.

I would have suggested introducing it to more sun gradually, rather than immediately putting it in full sun. While it's recovering, it might cope better with a bit of shade in the middle of the day...?
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
10 years ago
Yes - I should make it clear that the saturation is only to rewet the mix and revive the plant. After that it must drain completely and you need to be very careful with the water.
Brandy (Zone 6a, CT)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I am going to try soaking the soil in water and lay off the watering after that, then gradually introduce it to full sun over the next week or so. Fingers crossed!
TaraMaiden
10 years ago
I would also suggest cutting it back by 2/3rds. (You can use the cut sprigs as a herb in your kitchen - let them dry completely by placing them in a paper bag, on a sunny windowsill.) Cutting the plant back will help the roots and plant establish because too much top growth will sap the plant's energy. It will also be easier to see new growth emerging...