Easy growing thyme on a windowsill
Thyme or thyme are two names for the same spicy herb with many benefits and health benefits. Since ancient times, this plant has been added to food to improve taste and has been used as a remedy, therefore, growing thyme on the windowsill is so important for modern housewives. Moreover, this process is not complicated, you just need to know some points.
Description of the plant
This plant grows throughout Russia. His most favorite place is the sunny foothills of the Caucasus. Thyme prefers open meadows and glades.
Thyme is a fragrant low shrub growing up to a maximum of 30 cm. It has a slender stem, woody at the base and creeping. Its leaves are small, oval with white villi around the edges.
The two-lipped flowers of thyme are pink or purple in color. The fragrant bloom occurs between June and August.
Benefits of thyme and its uses
Thyme is often called the herb of shamans and sorcerers. The ancient Slavs revered thyme as a divine plant. It was used in pagan rituals, burning at the stake to attract the grace of the gods. They fumigated cowsheds and stalls, pots for milk, and even frightened children to drive away evil spirits.
Thyme is an amazing plant with a pleasant taste and many properties beneficial to the human body. In addition, this herb has some decorative effect, which is an additional plus to its cultivation in an apartment.
You can use thyme at home in the following cases:
- baths and inhalations with thyme will help to cope with colds due to the essential oils contained in the herb;
- thyme has antispasmodic properties, antimicrobial and expectorant effects, so it can be used as a medicinal tea;
- the famous Pectussin contains thyme extract;
- thyme compresses can be used to relieve pain in damaged joints with arthritis, arthrosis, radiculitis;
- thyme is often added to tea to add a special taste to the drink;
- as a spice thyme is perfect for cooking meat dishes, cheeses, cottage cheese, marinades, baked goods.
When using thyme for cooking, it should be added in moderation due to the herb's strong natural flavor.
Growing thyme on a windowsill, the necessary rules
Grow thyme on the windowsill easy and not burdensome. Its roots are small, so huge containers are not required. It has a beautiful bloom that will give the windowsill an elegant look. Thyme only needs a sunny window and regular airing.
It is recommended to grow thyme using two methods: seed and cuttings.
Seed method of growing thyme
This method is most convenient for apartment conditions. Details on how to grow thyme from seeds on a windowsill, below.
To do everything right, you must adhere to the following plan:
- prepare a container for seedlings, for which a size is suitable, about 15 cm of the height of the sides;
- be sure to place a 2 cm layer of expanded clay on the bottom for drainage;
- mix the soil with a baking powder, both perlite and vermiculite are suitable, which will facilitate air access to the roots;
- shed the finished soil;
- at a distance of 2 cm from each other, place seeds on the soil surface;
- cover planting material with 1 cm of earth;
- moisten again, but now with a spray bottle, so as not to expose the seeds;
- before emergence, ensure that the soil is always moist.
Do not keep the thyme seed container in the open sun. Tender seedlings can quickly burn out and die.
Thyme seeds are famous for their excellent germination. The first shoots will appear approximately on the 10th day after sowing, subject to all recommendations for growing thyme in an apartment from seeds.
Method of growing from cuttings
As usual, grafting of thyme occurs with the onset of autumn. When the plant has faded, you can start cutting the shoots.
To do this, you need to perform the following manipulations:
- it is better to neutralize the cutting tool with a manganese solution;
- with a sharp knife, cut off the required number of shoots;
- remove all the foliage at the bottom of the cutting, leaving three or four leaves;
- place a drainage layer in a container, then soil;
- how to shed;
- place the stalk in the prepared soil and moisten again;
- water the cuttings every day until a new leaf grows, which will mean the appearance of roots and the survival of the plant.
With the knowledge of how to plant thyme in a pot using the cuttings method, you can achieve faster results than using the seed method.
After rooting the cuttings, keep watering in moderation. And overflow and overdrying of the earthen coma will lead to the death of the plant.
If, however, already rooted shoots are planted in a room container, then you should select pot a couple of centimeters more than an earthen coma, but more than that, so that the roots do not rot.
Home care for thyme
Growing thyme on a windowsill will not be difficult if you know the rules for caring for a plant and adhere to the knowledge gained:
- The temperature of the environment should not be allowed to drop below the 10 ° C mark.
- Air access to the roots should be facilitated by regularly loosening the top layer of soil in the pot, while not loosening it too deeply, since the roots are close to the surface.
- The southern and sunny side of the apartment is the most optimal place for growing thyme on the windowsill in winter.
- Provide the plant with regular feeding. mineral fertilizers once a month.
- You can sow seeds in both spring and autumn.
- With the onset of the second year of life, the thyme bush should be planted.
- With the beginning of flowering, you can start harvesting, while the leaves can be used throughout the year, leaving a sufficient number of them on the bush for photosynthesis.
- Optimal soil for growing thyme on the windowsill: 1/3 of the volume is black soil humus, and the rest is ready-made soil for cacti from the store.
In winter, it is better to supplement the plants with a phytolamp, extending the daylight hours at least up to 12 hours so that the thyme grass does not stretch and retain its unique smell and taste.
Contraindications for use
Having learned how to grow thyme on the windowsill, you need to familiarize yourself with the contraindications for using the spice.
Thyme should be used with extreme caution if:
- any heart disease exists;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- with renal and hepatic insufficiency;
- individual intolerance, allergic reactions to thyme.
The uniqueness of thyme is undeniable. It has been used for cooking and as a treatment for certain diseases long before our time. The ability to grow thyme on the windowsill at home is a nice additional bonus for lovers of this spice.