Oregano is a very popular plant both for its medicinal properties and for its value as a condiment: for example, Italian cuisine marks it as an essential ingredient in the most classic pizzas, but it is also very important in the cuisine of many other Mediterranean countries. .
It is a very easy plant to grow both from seed and if you get seedlings in any specialized store. If you want to learn how to grow oregano at home, join us in this practical guide from Ecologist Verde on the oregano care and what it is for.
What is the oregano plant like - characteristics
Oregano, with a scientific name Origanum vulgare, is a plant that has its origin in the mediterranean region and in southwestern Eurasia. It is an evergreen herb that grows into bushes of about 50 cm in height, with stems that frequently take on reddish tones and that accumulate their leaves at the top. It produces small white or pink flowers that appear formed in inflorescences protected by small reddish leaves. There are a large number of varieties of oregano, but the most common and cultivated is the green leaf oregano. Others, however, may have yellow or green leaves or have striking pink bracts.
If you like aromatic plants to use in the kitchen and to improve health, such as oregano, we offer you this guide on the Types of aromatic plants and we advise you to read this other article about How to grow aromatic herbs at home.
Oregano plant care - practical guide
Although it is a fairly resistant plant that requires little care, if you know all its needs well, your oregano plant will grow faster and stronger. Let's see what are the main care of the oregano plant:
Substratum
Regarding the earth or the substrate, it does not require very specific soils, but it develops better in limestone soils, mainly due to the good drainage they offer. It does not suit you either that they are excessively acidic or alkaline soils. For growing in pots, the universal substrate tends to be a good option, although we recommend using our own mixture with a part of worm humus, another of peat and another of coconut fiber, to which we will add some perlite and vermiculite.
Compost for the oregano plant
As far as compost is concerned, oregano does not need it, but it will do better in soils enriched with organic matter, as long as it is not abused. We recommend the occasional use of organic organic fertilizer, such as worm castings, which provides a large number of benefits. This will help the stems of the plant to recover sooner after harvest, as only the top is harvested.
Climate and watering of oregano
If we talk about climates, oregano prefers slightly humid climates, with a mild Mediterranean-type climate, or even somewhat warm. We finish the oregano care with watering. In addition to not requiring a lot of water, it is a plant that does not withstand excess humidity or puddles well. Bearing this in mind, it is preferable to carry out regular and little abundant waterings, so that the substrate or soil remains slightly damp and waiting for them to dry a little before watering again. Of course, after planting and harvesting it is convenient to increase the irrigation a little.
In this other Green Ecologist article we explain when and how to plant oregano, in case you buy seedlings or reproduce the plant you already have and need a guide to plant the new plants in a way that ensures their growth.
What is the oregano plant for - properties and benefits
Oregano is a medicinal plant which has a large number of beneficial properties for the human body. It is usually used dry to make infusions, although its oil is the one that contains the highest concentration of active ingredients. These include: essential oil with thymol, borneol, carvacrol and caryophylleno, rosmarinic and chlorogenic acids, tannins and flavonoids.
Thanks to this composition, these are the main properties of oregano:
- Digestive: oregano is very good for practically the entire digestive system, helping to treat stomach heaviness or poor digestion, gastritis or heartburn problems.
- Anti-inflammatory: It also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is often used on inflamed muscles or bruises without open wounds.
- Antiseptic, antifungal and antibiotic: Oregano is considered to be one of the best natural antibiotics out there, as well as a natural antifungal and antiseptic, thanks to its essential oils and acids. This, for example, makes it very suitable for skin cleansing and for treating some of your conditions, such as dandruff and acne.
- Analgesic: Mainly thanks to the oils it contains, it has properties that soothe pain.
In addition, it is attributed more beneficial properties for health, such as that it is a choleretic, carminative, aperitif, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, healing, diuretic and expectorant plant.
In general, and taking into account the properties of oregano and all the benefits mentioned, it can be said that oregano infusions and rubs with its oil can be used to treat mainly:
- Digestive problems.
- Skin problems
- Period pains.
- Muscle pains.
- Toothaches.
- Headaches.
Here below we leave you a video about oregano oil so you can learn about it.
If you want to read more articles similar to Oregano plant: care and what it is for, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
Bibliography- Cebrián, J., (2012), Dictionary of medicinal plants, Barcelona, Spain, Integral RBA Libros.
- Festy, D. and Pacchioni, I., (2016), Aromatherapy Guide, Barcelona, Spain, Ediciones Obelisco.
- Worwood, V. A., (2022), Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Madrid, Spain, Gaia Ediciones.
