Thyme keeps on Dying

Question

I live in the inner parts of southern California…so I would say a zone 9. With summer temperatures averaging in the mid 90 degrees. I buy pregrown German/French thyme from Home Depot and often transplant it to a pot on the same day. The soil is definitely well drained.

I have tried several scenarios:

1) part shade and water every 3 days
2) full sun and every 3 days
3) part shade water once a week
4) full sun water everyday

All scenarios ended with the death of the thyme. I am at my wits end. Rosemary, Basil, and Oregano seem to always survive but the thyme just starts wilting then dies. Is it perhaps the transplanting that is hurting the thyme? I don’t break the roots. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Overwatering and underwatering are both possibilities. The amount and frequency of water required depends on the size of the plant compared to the pot, its location, and how humid or dry the climate is. The top inch or two of soil should be dry before you water again, but if the whole pot is bone-dry then you are underwatering.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/signs-of-plants-affected-by-too-much-water.htm

Repotting can weaken plants for a few days while they are adjusting, so it’s best to not give them full sun until a few days later.

You may also want to find a new supplier. Since the thyme bought from the same store always dies, maybe there is a disease problem or the plants are just poorly cared for. Thyme can also be grown from seed.