Thyme dying

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
darimini Kensington, NY Aug 17, 2012

I have a thyme plant that shares a window box with a rosemary plant. In the past week, the thyme plant has changed dramatically. The leaves are yellowing and thinning out, and the entire box is absolutely crawling with those reddish-brown centipedes.

There's been no change in water, sunlight, or the introduction of any new foods / soils / chemicals since this started happening.

I've been doing some reading, and it seems that the centipedes are PROBABLY not eating the thyme roots, but may be eating other root-eaters. But if that's happening, why aren't they taking care of the problem? And why is the rosemary perfectly fine?

I'm getting food grade diatomaceous earth delivered to me on Wednesday, but I'm afraid the plant will be dead by then.

Can anyone help me figure out what's going on and what I should do? Thanks in advance!!

Post #9244712
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 17, 2012

Can you post some pictures of the centipedes (and the thyme)? The centipedes may just be a coincidence and not related to the problems you're having. In my personal experience, thyme seems to be more sensitive to excess moisture than rosemary, so it's possible you've been watering the window box a little too much and the symptoms are showing up with the thyme first. Just because you haven't changed your watering habits doesn't mean that you haven't been watering a bit too much all along and it's just starting to catch up to you--unless you're totally drowning them, plants will sometimes seem to be fine for a while before they start to show symptoms of overwatering.

Post #9244740
Quote
kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 19, 2012

Cool weather, stop watering, and they need trimmed to encourage growth, buteo be planted too closely together, the yellowing does sound like a moisture issue.

Post #9246855
Quote
trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 24, 2012

yes, too much moisture and centipedes will take advantage of that environment.

Post #9252087
Quote
kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 24, 2012

Need good air circulation, the roots of the plants could be crowding each other out as well- we like to give our Rosemary room- for the sake of the other plants needs!

Post #9252206
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Garden Pests and Diseases Threads

Go to all Garden Pests and Diseases threads
BACK TO TOP