Introducing Oregano!
I challenge you to find a pantry that doesn’t have dried oregano in it. This is an essential herb to so many different types of cuisines, so imagine how wonderful it would be to be able to pluck some fresh leaves right off the plant?
The genus oreganus is part of the mint (lamiaceae) botanical family, making it relatives of basil, thyme, lavender, rosemary, sage, and lemon balm. The neat thing is that all of these herbs can be grown together in one herb garden in an indoor container.
Growing oregano is superbly easy and their growing conditions are just as easy to maintain. Read on to get the complete guide to all that it takes to grow oregano indoors!
What do Oregano Plants Look Like?
Oregano is a woody perennial plant. It starts out its life as a ground hugging rosette of leaves of only 8 or so inches, and eventually grows branching, erect stems that can be around 2 feet tall!
Oregano bears evergreen leaves is southern, more mild locations, where the leaves will persist and remain green all year long regardless of the time of year. In cooler climates the leaves will fall away.
Each oregano leaf is quite small and spade shaped. Oregano leaves are a robust, olive green color and some species are covered in tiny hairs.
Oregano leaves are highly fragrant and produce a ton of oil. This foliage is said to have an earthy quality to it, while being a warm, a tiny bit spicy, and quite bitter.
Accompanying these leaves are tiny erect spikes of purple flowers that will bloom in the summer. These are a great source of nectar for beneficial pollinators.
What are some Notable Oregano Types?
Common Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) – common oregano is well, the most commonly known oregano species. It’s best known variety is Greek oregano (origanum vulgare var hirtum) which is commonly used on pizza and in tomato sauces.
Syrian Oregano (Origanum Syriacum) – Syrian oregano is an impressive perennial herb that can grow to an astonishing 4 feet in height! It is best known for being used for za’atar.
Syrian oregano has small and soft silver leaves that are accompanied by tiny white flowers. They’re said to have a very earth flavor and smell to them.
Mexican Oregano (Lippia Graveolens) – Mexican oregano isn’t actually part of the origanum genus, though it has a very similar flavor and look and is used in the same was as oregano is.
Mexican oregano can grow to be over 5 feet tall and it bears small and fragrant fuzzy leaves that smell just like oregano but with a citrus-twist. This perennial herb also bears small yellow flowers.
Cuban Oregano (Plectranthus Amboinicus) – Cuban oregano is also not part of the origanum family but is used in a similar fashion as Greek oregano.
Cuban oregano grows to be 12-18 inches tall and bears thick fuzzy leaves with serrated margins and a very strong odor. It also bears white, pink, or lavender flowers.
Where do Oregano Plants Come From?
Oregano is originally a Mediterranean herb but has become widely naturalized in all sorts of temperate climates throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
When growing wild, it can be found growing in super sunny locations with dry, rocky, and very well draining soils. It loves growing at high altitudes for this reason.
Oregano is grown as an annual plant in much cooler climates as it cannot survive harsh winter temperatures. It can exist happily outdoors all year long in USDA growing zones 4 through 10.
How is Oregano Used?
Culinary Herb – first and foremost, oregano is used as a culinary herb and it is a staple in many different types of cuisines. Fresh oregano is used in classic dishes like za’atar, soups, and pasta dishes, and dried oregano is very common in the average pantry.
Companion Planting – outside of being a tasty fresh herb, oregano is also great for companion planting. Growing rosemary, growing thyme, and growing oregano are all great solutions to deterring unwanted insects and attracting beneficial pollinators.
Ornamental Plant – indoor oregano isn’t only great to have as a fresh herb for cooking but it’s also very lovely to look at! Their easy care and long last leaves will bring ornamental to your windowsill herb garden or to your outside garden!
Medicinal Plant – another very appealing aspect to growing oregano is the fact that it has a ton of medicinal benefits. Oregano is great for warding off colds as it is antibacterial, and antifungal. It has been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries.
How do you Grow an Oregano Plant Indoors?
Now for the reason that we are all here: learning to grow oregano indoors. Growing oregano indoors can be done super easily either through sowing seed or through dividing an already mature plant. Here will go through planting oregano seed. First, you will need a few things.
- oregano seeds
- terracotta pots
- well draining potting mix
- grow light (potentially)
Soil Type – it is very important that oregano is planted in a very well draining potting mix. Usually you can achieve this by amending it with compost, but that won’t work in the case of oregano.
This is because when growing wild it is used to growing in poor soil that is low in nutrients. Rich soil can actually reduce the potency of the oregano oil, so instead amend the potting soil with sand to achieve proper drainage.
Sun Exposure – knowing that oregano is a Mediterranean herb, it’s not hard to guess that it is a sun loving plant and should be living in direct sun exposure for the whole day.
A south facing window that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight is ideal. If you don’t have this type of sunlight exposure, you may need to get a grow light.
Your grow light should be situated about 5 inches the plants and the timer should be set to around 10-12 hours of sun per day. This should be a sufficient amount of light exposure for your oregano plants.
Watering – watering an oregano plant is pretty straight forward. They are pretty drought tolerant plants and therefore should never be over watered. The best rule of thumb of to let the soil to dry out completely before watering again or else the plant can develop root rot.
Pruning – it’s a good idea to prune the leggier and taller oregano stems to encourage a more full and bushy growth habit. You can use those snipped stems as part of your harvest, or use them to propagate a whole new plant.
Potting – using terracotta pots is a great way to ensure that the soil of your plant is able to dry out completely between waterings. Remember that an oregano plant should have about 12 inches of space between one another, so choose pots accordingly.
Harvesting – harvesting oregano will vary according to when it was planted and depending on when its active growing season was. An established plant that is at least 6 inches tall is ready for harvest. Leave a young plant to keep growing before plucking away the leaves.
It’s usually best to harvest oregano leaves just after the growing season as this is when the leaves are most fresh and filled with oregano oil. Simply trim away the sprigs needed for cooking, flip them upside down and slide your fingers down the stem to peel away the fresh leaves.
FAQs
Are oregano plants deer resistant?
A great thing abut growing herbs indoors is that you never have to worry about them being picked apart by larger pests like deer, rabbits, and squirrels.
What are the damaging agents to oregano plants?
One of the more important parts of caring for oregano is knowing how to water one properly. They really don’t like to receive too much water or have wet feet as this can quickly lead to root rot or powdery mildew.
Are oregano plants perennials?
Oregano is a perennial plant type, meaning that it will continue to grow and produce flower blossoms each year as long as its ideal growing conditions are met and maintained.
What USDA growing zone can oregano plants grow in?
Oregano is grown as an annual plant in much cooler climates as it cannot survive harsh winter temperatures. It can exist happily outdoors all year long in USDA growing zones 4 through 10.
How often should an oregano plant be watered?
Watering an oregano plant is pretty straight forward. They are pretty drought tolerant plants and therefore should never be over watered. The best rule of thumb of to let the potting soil to dry out completely before watering again or else the plant can develop root rot
When is the best time of year to plant oregano?
The best time of year to plant oregano outdoors is in the early spring or you can start seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date is expected. They can then be transplanted outdoors.
Should an oregano plant be pruned?
It’s a good idea to prune the leggier and taller oregano stems to encourage a more full and bushy growth habit. You can use those snipped stems as part of your harvest, or use them to propagate a whole new plant.
Do oregano plants prefer full sun or partial shade?
Knowing that oregano is a Mediterranean herb, it’s not hard to guess that it is a sun loving plant and should be living in direct sun exposure for the whole day.
A south facing window that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight is ideal. If you don’t have this type of sunlight exposure, you may need to get a grow light.
Your grow light should be situated about 5 inches the plants and the timer should be set to around 10-12 hours of sun per day. This should be a sufficient amount of light exposure for your oregano plants.
Where can I buy oregano seeds?
Oregano seeds are super common and can be found for sale in any garden centre or nursery or they can even be ordered online!
What is the ideal soil type for an oregano plant?
It is very important that oregano is planted in a very well draining potting mix. Usually you can achieve this by amending it with compost, but that won’t work in the case of oregano.
This is because when growing wild it is used to growing in poor soil that is low in nutrients. Rich soil can actually reduce the potency of the oregano oil, so instead amend the potting soil with sand to achieve proper drainage.
What is the easiest way to propagate an oregano plant?
It is super easy to start seeds indoors in the early spring to get an oregano plant ready to be transplanted outdoors. Alternatively you can take an established plant and divide the root ball every few years to keep propagating new plants.
How tall do oregano plants get?
Oregano is a woody perennial plant. It starts out its life as a ground hugging rosette of leaves of only 8 or so inches, and eventually grows branching, erect stems that can be around 2 feet tall!
