From my perspective as a Greek oregano plant, the most common reason I become leggy is a simple, fundamental need not being met: sunlight. I am a Mediterranean herb, evolved to thrive under the intense, direct sun of that region. My internal programming tells me to grow compact and bushy, but when I detect insufficient light levels, I must initiate a survival strategy known as etiolation. My stems elongate rapidly, stretching towards any available light source in a desperate attempt to photosynthesize. This rapid vertical growth comes at the expense of lateral (sideways) growth and leaf production, resulting in a weak, spindly appearance with large gaps between my leaf sets. If I am kept indoors on a dim windowsill or outdoors in a shaded spot, this is almost certainly why I am becoming leggy.
Your harvesting habits directly shape my growth form. If you rarely prune or harvest my stems, I receive no signal to branch out. In my natural state, I would be periodically browsed by animals, which would encourage me to grow back thicker and bushier from the point of the cut. Without this intervention, my apical meristem (the dominant growing tip at the end of each stem) produces a hormone called auxin that suppresses the growth of lateral buds further down the stem. This allows me to focus energy on reaching upward, but it leaves my lower parts bare. Regular pruning physically removes this apical dominance, redirecting my energy into producing two new stems from the leaf nodes below the cut, thereby creating a denser, more compact form.
While nutrients are appreciated, an overabundance of nitrogen can be detrimental to my desired form. Nitrogen is a key element for promoting vigorous green, leafy growth. However, when provided in excess, especially in a low-light environment, it encourages my stems to shoot up too quickly. This rapid, soft growth is often weak and unable to support itself, exacerbating the leggy look. It prioritizes stem elongation over the development of the robust, flavorful essential oils I am known for. I am adapted to grow in relatively lean, well-draining soils and do not require heavy feeding to be healthy and productive.
It is also part of my natural life cycle for the base of my stems to become woody over time. As a perennial plant, the older parts of my structure will naturally lignify—become hard and woody—to provide support for new growth. While this process itself is normal, it can contribute to a leggy appearance if not managed. The woody sections typically do not produce new leaves, so the foliage is concentrated on the ends of the stems. Without proactive pruning to encourage new growth from the base, this can result in a plant that looks sparse and top-heavy with long, bare wooden stems.
