How to Propagate a Thyme Plant

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

• 4

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

• 5

  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.

• 6

  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

• 7

  Remove the leaves from the stem of a thyme plant.

• 8

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

• 9

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

• 10

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

• 11

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

Division

• 12

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

• 13

  Divide the plant into sections.

• 14

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

• 15

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