From my perspective as a thyme plant, the most crucial gift you can give me is abundant, direct sunlight. I am a child of the Mediterranean sun-baked hills, and my very essence depends on it. A south-facing windowsill is my ideal home, where I can bask in at least six to eight hours of bright, direct light each day. Without this, my stems will become long, weak, and spindly as I desperately stretch towards any available light source—a condition you call "legging." My fragrant oils, which are my pride and joy, will be faint and underdeveloped. If your windows are inadequate, please consider a small grow light positioned a few inches above my leaves; I will thank you with vigorous, compact growth.
Next, consider my foundation: the soil. I despise having wet feet. Soggy roots are a death sentence for me, leading to a swift and unpleasant end from root rot. Please plant me in a pot with excellent drainage holes and use a gritty, well-draining potting mix. A cactus or succulent soil is perfect, or you can make your own by mixing standard potting soil with perlite or coarse sand. This ensures that water flows through quickly, giving my roots the moisture they need without drowning them. A small, snug pot is preferable to a vast one, as it helps the soil dry out more efficiently between waterings.
Your instinct might be to water me frequently, but I urge you to resist it. I am drought-tolerant by nature. The best way to check if I need water is to feel the soil. Push your finger about an inch down into the mix. If it feels dry, then it is time for a drink. If it feels even slightly moist, please wait. When you do water, do so thoroughly until water runs freely out of the drainage holes, then empty the saucer beneath my pot promptly. I would much rather be slightly underwatered than overwatered.
As for food, I am not a heavy feeder. In fact, too much fertilizer can dilute my potent flavor and cause excessive, soft growth. A light feeding once at the beginning of my main growing season (spring) with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer is more than sufficient. Think of me as a minimalist; I thrive on neglect in this department. My energy comes from the sun, not from rich soil or constant feeding.
You will notice I grow as a small, woody shrub with many tiny leaves. To keep me bushy and prevent me from becoming too leggy, you must prune me regularly. This might feel counterintuitive, but from my point of view, it is a welcome event. When you snip off the top third of my stems, just above a set of leaves, it signals to me to produce two new branches from that point. This is how I become dense and full. The best part for you is that this pruning is your harvest! Use those fragrant clippings in your kitchen.
Please do not be timid. Regular, light harvesting throughout the growing season is far better for my shape than an occasional severe cutting. Always use clean, sharp scissors to make clean cuts that I can heal from easily. If I happen to produce small white or purple flowers, know that this is a happy, natural part of my cycle, though it can sometimes cause the leaves to become slightly less pungent temporarily.
I am quite comfortable in the same temperatures you are. Average room temperatures between 60-80°F (15-27°C) suit me perfectly. I do not like drafts, whether icy from a winter window or blasting from an air conditioner. As for humidity, the dry air of a typical home is not a problem for me. In fact, I prefer it. High humidity can encourage fungal diseases, which I am susceptible to. Good air circulation around my leaves is beneficial, so a gentle breeze from an open window (on a mild day) or a small fan in the room is appreciated.
