How To Grow Oregano From Cuttings [Quick And Easy]

Growing oregano from its cuttings rather than seeds is a process, but it’s a unique gardening method. In this article, I’ll talk about whether you can grow oregano from cuttings or not and why you should. Then, I’ll share a step-by-step guide on how to plant oregano from cuttings, from cutting the oregano from another plant, beginning the rooting structure, and putting it in soil. Also, I’ll discuss what you’ll need and how long the process takes. Finally, I’ll share how to care for your new oregano plant once it grows and matures. 

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Can You Grow Oregano From Cuttings?

The short answer is yes. You can grow oregano from cuttings.

Planting cuttings means you take a cutting from one plant and regrow it to create another.

This is also called propagating oregano when you grow a plant genetically identical to its parent.

Planting an oregano bush from cuttings takes patience, and it might not work the first time, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, oregano is a hardy plant and is relatively low-maintenance.

So, it’s not impossible to grow oregano from cuttings, but why should you bother?

Why Grow Oregano From Cuttings?

Growing oregano from cuttings is an excellent idea if you already have an oregano bush.

For example, you won’t need to go to the store to buy oregano plants or seeds.

If you have a healthy oregano bush at home, you can simply use its cuttings to recreate that bush as best as you can.

Oregano plants have an average lifespan of about five to six years. So, if your oregano bush has been around for four or five years and you don’t know how many more harvests you’ll get from it, you can take a cutting and plant a new one. 

So, let’s talk about how to plant oregano cuttings. 

How To Grow Oregano From Cuttings

Now that we know it’s possible to grow oregano from cuttings and why it’s a good idea to do so, let’s get in-depth about how to begin this process.

This process takes time, but it’s easy enough once you get the hang of it and you know how to properly care for an oregano plant. 

What You Need To Start Growing Oregano From Cuttings

You won’t need too many materials to get started. However, you will need the following:

• A three-inch potting plant (it can be larger, but three inches is a good minimum) or a spacious area within your garden
• Potting soil
• Water
• Rotting hormone (optional)
• Oregano

Whether you have an oregano bush already or you buy some from the store, you’ll need to take a cutting from an oregano bush.

How To Take An Oregano Cutting

If you already own an oregano plant that’s in good health, you can take a cutting from that bush.

For instance, cut a sprig off that’s about four to six inches long of the bush. Make sure it doesn’t have flowers on it and that it’s healthy.

The best time to get cuttings from your oregano bush is when the cold season comes. The stems will become woody at the ends, and you can easily get a sprig from them.

However, you can cut sprigs at any time you need to. 

On the other hand, if you don’t own an oregano bush already, you can easily buy oregano from the store. You can get fresh oregano in bunches, so grab as many as you want.

How To Propagate Oregano From Cuttings Step-By-Step

Keep in mind that you do not have to begin propagating your oregano right away. Instead, you can wrap the sprigs in a plastic bag and store them in your fridge until you’re ready to use them.

For example, if you want to plant them outside and it’s not spring yet, you can wait until ideal weather.

Otherwise, it’s time to plant oregano from cuttings once you have your oregano.

Step 1: Strip The Leaves

Whether you took some cuttings from your oregano plant or you bought them from the store, the first thing you want to do is strip the leaves off.

Of course, you don’t want to strip all of the leaves off. So instead, you only need to strip off leaves at the bottom, leaving about two inches of the stem bare.

Leaving the other leaves on will allow your oregano to continue to care for those leaves once the roots sprout.

Step 2: Begin The Root Structure

Now that you’ve stripped two inches of the leaves from the bottom of the sprig, it’s time to begin the root structure.

There are two ways to go about this.

The first way is optional. It’s to use a rooting hormone. All you need to do is dip the stem’s bottom in the rooting hormone to help the roots grow. This may produce healthier roots, but it’s not necessary.

You can always wait and see if it takes on its own. If not, you can try a rooting hormone later or on another sprig you have.

Keep in mind that if you use a rooting hormone, whether it’s a powder or gel, you’ll need to wait at least a full year before consuming any part of the plant.

If you don’t use a rooting hormone, there’s a more natural way to help your sprig grow its roots before you plant.

This process is simple enough. All you need to do is place your oregano cuttings in water, ensuring that the two inches of the bare stem are entirely submerged.

Then, you need to wait for about three to four weeks. By that time, you should see roots sprouting.

Finally, you can plant your oregano cuttings in the soil.

Step 3: Plant Your Oregano Cuttings In The Soil

Now that you have healthy roots, they’re looking for some soil to dig into. So, you can plant them in a pot with a high-quality soil that’s sandy or loamy in texture.

Alternatively, you can plant it in your garden. If you have other plants in your garden, make sure the oregano cutting has at least 12 inches of space all around it, allowing it plenty of room to grow.

Learn about how tall oregano can grow here.

Also, make sure the cutting is firmly in place in the soil so that the roots have something to grab onto. The soil should be at least 60 to 70 degrees F so that the cutting is comfortable enough to grow.

Finally, if you’re planting outside, the best time to do so is after the last frost.

Step 4: Wait About 6-8 Weeks

Once your cuttings are firmly in their soil, then it’s time to wait. It should take your plant about six to eight weeks to mature a little and truly begin growth.

Be mindful that plants don’t like too much change. Transporting from a pot to a garden or a cup of water to soil could be a shock.

So, if you notice that your oregano bush is turning yellow, there’s no need to be worried. All you need to do is trim the yellow leaves off. The oregano bush will continue growing and, after some time, get used to its new home.

Step 5: Give Your New Oregano Plant Some TLC

Once your oregano bush has grown and you can see it maturing, it’s time to care for it as you would for any other plant.

However, oregano has certain needs similar to other herbs but can be quite different from other plants.

So, when it comes to giving your oregano TLC, research how to properly care for it so you can make the most out of its harvest. 

How To Care For Your New Plant

Now that your oregano cutting has grown and matured, you’ll need to care for your new plant as you would for any other oregano bush.

For instance, you want to ensure that it’s in a sunny spot. Oregano plants need at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day.

Also, they don’t need a whole lot of water. Keeping the soil damp is enough, and you’ll only want to give your oregano a drink when you notice that the soil is dry. Then, add enough water to make the top of the soil moist, but not wet.

In addition, ensure the soil temperature remains between 60 and 70 degrees F so that your oregano plant can thrive.

Final Words on How to Grow Oregano from Cuttings

How to grow oregano from a cutting is easier than it seems. Planting oregano from cuttings of another oregano plant is a great idea. You can recreate an oregano bush you already have and know where it came from. In addition, you’ll get healthy, fresh oregano for many years to come if you keep planting cuttings from your existing plants. 

Want to learn more? Click here to learn how fast oregano grows or here for the best companion plants for oregano. You can also find out when to plant oregano here and all my oregano guides here.

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