Italian Oregano

[malissa1578]

Hi I am in need of advice. I am growing a garden on my back patio. I live in Arizona, Glendale to be exact... Lots of dry intense sun. I have a pot of Italian Oregano and it is not doing so well. Very dry leaves, browning, and brittle. At first it had said to have in full sun and I did some research further in to it and for areas such as mine it recommended that I keep in partial sun/shade as the dry heat and intense sun is bad for Italian oregano... any suggestions on how I can possibly bring back my herb? My mints are doing exceptional as are my peppers and Purple Ruffle and Riviera Mix flowers and marigolds... Just cannot get the Stubborn Italian Oregano plant to come back. Thanks for any and all advice/help.

[Marlingardener]

May I suggest that you cut back the oregano to get rid of the dry leaves, water it well, and put it where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade? We are in Central Texas with heat and humidity (you probably don't have to contend with humidity) and my oregano does well with the sun/shade.
There is also Mexican oregano (poliomintha longiflora), which you might like to try if the Italian doesn't do well for you. The flavor is very similar, and it also is attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies when it gets its small lavender blooms.
Growing herbs in the Southwest is challenging, but very rewarding when they thrive!

[malissa1578]

"May I suggest that you cut back the oregano to get rid of the dry leaves, water it well, and put it where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade?"

Thanks I may try out the Mexican Oregano... I cut back the leaves and have trimmed it repeatedly... this plant is just so stubborn. I keep it well watered in nice pot with great drainage so it doesnt get completely saturated but can soak up excess water if it needs it... I am just not sure what to do with it. The leaves just keep turning and becoming brittle. I just think that maybe it was kept in a greenhouse instead before I got it from the farmers market and its not liking my porch garden. Its so dry out here and I am going to be building a green house very shortly... just not in time for this plant I am afraid. I am going keep trying with the plant. I am not giving up...

[malissa1578]

I wanted to give an update on my troubles with the Italian Oregano. So it seems I have saved the plant. It is coming back. I ended up building a mini greenhouse for it and trimmed it back even more. It of course got worse before it got better and now I have new growth and it is doing well.

[Marlingardener]

Good for you! Perseverance pays off with so many plants. I'm glad your oregano is responding to TLC.
Also, thank you for the update. So many times advice is given, and then we hear no more, so we don't know how things worked out.

[Tonio]

Good to hear your Italian oregano is doing good.

I got a 4" starter , and transplanted into a gallon pot, and its in 6hrs of sun here on the coast and is growing like gang busters. I think I'll have to repot into a bigger pot.

As suggested Mexican oregano is good too, but Italian or vulgaris v. is milder and does good with partial shade setting.

[malissa1578]

Ya mine was not liking our intense dry sunlight, so I had to alter its sun exposure with a mini greenhouse and now its growing and gaining new growth daily. It had to take a few days to get adjusted and it got worse before it got better but now it is doing great. I cannot wait for it get big. All of my other herb plants are doing wonderful. And I do plan on getting a mexican oregan plant.