Growing Oregano Indoors: Challenges and Light Requirements

Why Oregano Struggles Inside

A gardener tries to grow oregano indoors under artificial light, unsure about light duration.

Expert Advice

Oregano strongly prefers outdoor life—it needs a winter dormancy and resprouts in spring. Indoors, it often fails. If forced inside:

• Use tube lights 6 inches above plants, on for 12 hours daily.
• Prune branch tips by one-third every three weeks.
• Water lightly once a week; no fertilizer.
• If it weakens, move outdoors to a south/east exposure and mulch.

Italian oregano is milder; Greek oregano is stronger. Both can overwinter outdoors.