thyme

Thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus) prefers a warm, sunny location with well-drained, sandy soil. It should be watered when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely, as Thyme is drought-sensitive. In the heat of summer, Thyme should be watered once a week. During cooler months, it can be watered every 10 to 14 days. If the soil is extremely sandy, it may be necessary to water more frequently to keep the soil from drying out.

Thyme thrives best in full sunlight and prefers to be in a warm spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. During hotter, summer months, it is beneficial to give thyme a little shade, as it can become scorched if exposed to long hours of direct sunlight. It does well when planted in an area that is exposed to morning light and afternoon shade. During winter, plants may require slightly less direct sunlight than in the summer.

The timing and amount of pruning for Thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus) depends on the type of pruning you plan to do. Most thyme plants should be lightly trimmed back in late winter or early spring. Lightly trimming the stems will encourage new shoots to grow and will keep the plant bushy in appearance. During the growing season, you can also prune any dead wood or flowers as they appear. If you plan to do more extensive pruning, such as removing entire stems, then the best time to do this is in early summer. If you decide to prune more regularly throughout the growing season, you should only remove 1-third or less of the stems in each session. Pruning too severely in any given season can negatively affect the growth and health of the plant, so it is best to take a more conservative approach.