HOW MUCH WATER DOES OREGANO NEED?

Oregano is a low-maintenance plant to care for. However, it needs a lot of sunlight, so one would think that it also needs plenty of water. However, is that the case? How much water does oregano need to thrive? This article will answer that question and more. But, first, we’ll talk about what oregano is and why you should grow it. 

Then, we’ll go more in-depth about the watering needs of oregano. We’ll also explain the signs and symptoms of overwatering and underwatering oregano. Finally, we’ll share some tips about caring for oregano through sun, soil, fertilizer, harvesting, and more.

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Why Grow Oregano?

There’s a lot to love about oregano. You can quickly grow this plant if you’re a beginner gardener because it’s hardy and low-maintenance to care for.

For instance, you can grow it in your garden or keep it inside the house. It can also survive the winter if left outside and protected well enough so that it’ll keep growing for a few years to come.

Despite it being easy to grow, why should you grow oregano? You can use every part of the oregano plant for various needs.

For example, you can harvest the oregano leaves to use within your cooking. The fresh leaves can be used or stored. Alternatively, you can dry out the leaves and use them as such or store them for later.

Even the flowers on the oregano plant are edible and can be used for many different purposes.

Finally, oregano is a great companion plant for other plants in your garden.

So, when it comes to growing oregano, how much water do you need to give it for the plant to thrive?

How Much Water Does Oregano Need?

Believe it or not, oregano doesn’t need too much water, unlike some other plants.

This herb prefers to be more dry than wet, but it still needs a drink once in a while to grow well.

How Much Water Does Oregano Need In The Garden

When planting oregano in the garden, make sure that you place it near plants with similar soil and watering needs. For example, oregano prefers to have soil that drains water well. So, you can use sandy or loamy-like soil.

You want to use soil that drains well because oregano doesn’t like to get too wet. So you don’t need to water it often. For example, when in the garden, if you notice that the top of the soil is dry to the touch, then you can water it.

Also, you can poke your finger about an inch deep into the soil to see how moist it is under the surface. If that’s dry, be sure to water the plant thoroughly. You won’t want to soak the plant, but the soil will drain the water enough that your oregano can get the drink it needs without being oversaturated.

How Much Water Does Oregano Need When Grown In Pots

Growing oregano in pots is similar to being in the garden. Of course, it has less room, but you’ll only want to water it when the top of the soil is bone dry. Once you water it, you can place the pot in the bathtub or sink and let some of the water drain out of the bottom of the pot.

Again, the oregano plant will drink what it needs.

Signs Of Overwatering In Oregano

Is it possible to overwater your oregano plant? Yes, it is.

In fact, your oregano will tell you if it’s being overwatered. So, you’ll want to look out for the following signs:

• The leaves will turn dark, black, or yellow before falling off
• Fuzzy mildew will appear on the plant
• The plant will have stunted growth
• The stems and roots will break off easily
• The roots will rot (they’ll become slimy and dark)
• The plant will not perk up after being watered
• Edema will appear on the leaves (blisters and lesions)

Of course, you don’t want any of these signs to occur for your oregano plant. So, how can you prevent overwatering?

How to Prevent Overwatering Oregano

First, check the soil to make sure that it’s bone dry before watering. Even if the soil is moist, your oregano is not ready for another drink. Also, make sure the plant can drain well, especially if it’s in a pot. Use well-drained soil and use a pot with small holes at the bottom so the water won’t collect and sit at the bottom of the pot. 

Signs Of Underwatering in Oregano

On the other hand, it’s possible to underwater your oregano. Since it doesn’t need regular watering, it can be easy to forget to check on or wait too long to give the plant a drink.

If your oregano plant isn’t getting enough water, it will slowly die. Some of the signs of this are:

• Root rot
• Crown rot
• Stems will dry up
• Leaves will turn reddish or brown

Eventually, the whole plant will die, and you won’t revive it. Should you notice any of these signs, check the soil. If it’s too dry, then certainly give your oregano plant a good drink. 

Does Oregano Need Fertilizer or Feeding Regularly?

No, oregano doesn’t need fertilizer. However, if you grow it in a pot, you can add a little fertilizer to help the growing process start.

However, if you’re growing oregano in a garden, it doesn’t need the extra nutrients from the fertilizer.

Oregano is hardy and does a great job growing on its own when given enough sunlight and ample watering.

Does Oregano Need Full Sun?

Yes, oregano needs full sunlight to thrive. In a nutshell, oregano needs at least six to eight hours of full sunlight per day.

So, if you plant oregano in a pot, then you’ll want to keep it inside a sunny room in the house. Alternatively, if it’s spring or summer, you can leave the pot outside. Then, you can bring it inside at night if the temperatures drop.

On the other hand, if you plant your oregano in the garden, be sure to pick a spot that gets optimal sunlight during the day. In addition, oregano can grow to be up to two feet tall. So, you can place it around shorter plants to ensure that your oregano gets the sunlight it needs.

More Maintenance Tips For Growing Oregano

Oregano can grow well in both the garden and a pot or container as long as it has enough room to grow since oregano can grow and spread up to two feet.

In the garden, place the oregano near like-minded plants, also known as companion planting. Together, they’ll help each other grow and thrive under similar growing conditions.

You can learn more about oregano companion planting here.

Alternatively, if you grow it in a pot, you can leave the container in the garden. Companion planting will still work, but your oregano won’t grow into other plants by accident.

If you plant your oregano outside, do so right after the final frost of the season. Then, at the latest, you can plant it about eight weeks before the first frost of the season. That will allow the oregano to grow enough so that it’ll be strong to withstand the winter.

However, if you decide to plant your oregano indoors, you can begin planting it at any time during the year. When your oregano plant is about four to six inches tall, that’s when you can harvest your first oregano leaves. Or, right before the flowers bloom, you can harvest the leaves for the best-tasting herbs.

Final Words On Oregano Watering Requirements

Overall, oregano is low-maintenance when it comes to being watered. However, it is possible to overwater the plant, and it’s easy to accidentally underwater the oregano plant. If you notice that your oregano isn’t growing well, turning color, or not producing healthy leaves or flowers, then it’s probably telling you it’s not getting enough to drink.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn where to plant oregano or here to learn how long oregano takes to grow. You can also find all my oregano guides here.

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The post How Much Water Does Oregano Need? appeared first on Gardening Chief.

2024-04-20T06:08:39Z dg43tfdfdgfd