The soil should be kept moist but not soggy. Make the hole first with your finger so you don’t rub the rooting hormone off in the soil, submerge the cutting, gently tamp the soil around it, and water. You can use sterile sand mixed with one-third potting soil or vermiculite, for example, or cactus potting soil. To prevent any bacterial or fungal infections, plant the cuttings in a well-draining, sterile potting medium one inch deep. Whether you use gel or powder, remove just enough from its container to dip the bottom third of the cutting in so as not to contaminate your rooting hormone. While not mandatory, rooting hormone can be applied, which will increase the speed of rooting and your chances of success. Simply take a three-inch cutting from the tip of a stem and remove the lower third of leaves from the cutting. Thyme can be propagated easily from cuttings, layering, divisions, or seeds. vulgaris has also been hybridized with other species in the genus to create new varieties including my own personal favorite, lemon thyme ( T. What was little understood then can be confirmed by science today, with the active ingredient thymol showing distinct antibacterial activity in studies. Later, in the Middle Ages, soldiers were often given bouquets that included thyme as they were sent into battle.Īnd prior to the advent of modern medicine, due to its natural antiseptic properties, thyme oil was used to medicate bandages. It was also during this era that it was established as a symbol of courage.

Emperors would often include this herb in their meals and even scented their baths with it. One of the earliest known uses of this herb was in ancient Egypt, where it was used for embalming the dead and was thought to assist them on their way as they passed on to the next life.Īncient Romans believed it to be a useful antidote to poison. Thyme has been utilized by humans for over two millennia, and its existence as a species predates homo sapiens, with evidence discovered in fossil remains that are over five million years old.

Thyme fresh