Grow thyme in a pot that drains. Use a gritty mix, water when the mix is dry, and move the pot before a hard freeze.
Use a draining pot and a gritty mix
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | A container with a drainage hole; terracotta dries faster | Do not use a pot with no hole, or a saucer that stays full |
| Mix | A gritty, soilless mix that drains | Do not pack garden soil into a tub |
| Water | Water when the top of the mix is dry, then empty the saucer | Do not keep the mix wet |
| Light | Full sun on a patio, or a bright south window indoors | Do not leave the pot in a dim, damp room |
A pot with a drainage hole works on a patio or a sill. common thyme and lemon thyme both do well in a container indoors or outside. [1] Use a prepared mix, keep it on the dry side, and give the plant a bright, sunny spot. [2] Thyme pairs in a pot with rosemary, which wants the same sun and the same dry interval. [3] Sun for an in-ground plant stays on How to Grow Thyme.
Can I grow thyme in a pot?
Yes. Use a pot with a hole and a mix that drains. Water when the mix is dry.
Water when the mix is dry, and move the pot before a hard freeze
A pot dries and freezes faster than a bed. Water when the top of the mix is dry, then dump the saucer. Before a hard freeze, move the pot to a bright, cool spot and keep the mix on the dry side. [4] You can pot a plant in fall and grow it through winter in a sunny window that way.
- Choose a pot with a hole. Add a gritty mix, not garden soil.
- Set the crown at the same height it grew in the nursery pot.
- Water until it runs out the hole, then empty the saucer. Wait until the top of the mix is dry before you water again.
- Before a hard freeze, move the pot to a bright window. Keep the mix on the dry side through winter.
How often should I water potted thyme?
Water when the top of the mix is dry. Empty the saucer. A pot in full sun dries faster than one in a cool window.
If the mix stays wet, dump the saucer and switch to a grittier pot — rot starts at the crown.
FAQ
Can I grow thyme indoors all year?
Yes, in a bright south window, with a mix that drains. Growth slows in low light. Move it back outside after frost.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thymus-vulgaris/ - [2] Illinois Extension -
https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/thyme - [3] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/thyme - [4] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thymus/
This note is part of Thymus Guides.
More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors