Thyme Bonsai Care Guide

Thyme Bonsai should be provided full sun where they are placed. While a hardy species they do require protection from frost. When planted in small pots be vigilant for temperatures below -5 degrees C, as this could demand moving to a more suitable insulated area, conservatory or greenhouse. 

Considering the dwarf scale of Thyme, you need to be mindful of the smaller body of soil it’s kept in and the speed at which this can dry out. In a temperate region like the UK, Thyme Bonsai need watering regularly but be sure not to overwater. Judge watering by the moisture of the soil. 

Using a balanced feed, Thyme bonsai should be fed every two weeks across the growing season. 

Thyme Bonsai’s smaller size and foliage mean continual clipping of leaves is needed to shape the tree. Any hard pruning should take place after the plant has flowered. 

Thyme is only suitable for extra small Bonsai styles. It is a lot more commonly used as an accessory or accent plant.  

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Thyme can be repotted every year at any time, like most Bonsai spring is the ideal time. Consider soil mixes, Thyme heavily dislike acidity and take well to a dash of lime in their soil. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.