How to Propagate a Thyme Plant

Generating new growth does not always require another trip to the nursery or seed store. Plant propagation, in layman's terms, is the process of growing more plants of a specific species from a single plant. Propagation offers gardeners a very affordable technique for increasing the size of their gardens. Thyme is a simple plant to propagate, as all the common methods apply. You can use seeding, cutting, dividing and layering to bring about more aromatic shrubs from your existing plant.

Things You'll Need

• Thyme seeds
• Seedling tray
• Seed-raising mix
• Water
• Garden shears
• Soil
• Pot
• Garden trowel

Instructions

From Seed

1. Plant seeds into a seedling tray filled with seed-raising mix and make sure each seed is covered with mix. Follow the spacing instructions listed on the seed packaging.

2. Keep the seeds in warm indirect light and mist daily with water.

3. Transplant the seedlings in about 2 weeks or when they have grown 4 cm high. Select a patch of garden or container that is well drained and exposed to full or partial sunlight.

Cutting

1. Cut a piece of young stem about 3 inches long and place in moist soil in a sunny location.

2. Water regularly during the first 2 weeks while the cut stem takes root. Make sure the soil drains well. Add mulch if the soil is too soggy.

3. Pay close attention to the moisture levels of the thyme for the first month after propagation and water as necessary. After that the thyme should be very well acclimated to the garden.

Layering

1. Remove the leaves from the stem of a thyme plant.

2. Bend the stem downward toward the soil and cover the bottom section of the naked stem with a mound of soil.

3. Use a rock to anchor the stem into place beneath the soil.

4. Leave the upper 6 inches of the stem above ground and still connected to the mother thyme plant.

5. Cut the stem away from the mother plants once it has taken root in the soil.

Division

1. Dig up the thyme plant. Be careful not to damage the plant.

2. Divide the plant into sections.

3. Plant each section separately in a sunny location and treat them as individual plants.

4. Watch the moisture levels closely in the first few weeks after dividing to assure that each plant acclimates itself.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to plant thyme in the spring and enjoy their small lilac flowers in June and July.

• If you choose to plant thyme in containers, make sure there are adequate drainage holes in the bottoms of the pots. You may also want to consider adding an inch of rock to the bottom of the containers to enhance drainage.

References

• Gardens Ablaze
• Horticulture Purdue