How to care for mint plant indoors

These plants prefer to be kept moist but not overly wet. If the upper part of soil becomes dry to the touch, then watering is needed. Otherwise, try to keep it evenly moist. Humidity is another important factor, so mist the plant between watering or set the container on a water-filled tray of pebbles.

Where: Mint performs its best in full sun, as long as the soil is kept moist, but it also thrives in partial shade. Mint is considered an invasive plant, because it sends out “runners” and spreads vigorously.

How much sun does a mint plant need indoors? Your mint plant should not stay shaded all the time but rather be placed by a window for sunlight. The optimal amount of sunlight would be about three to four hours a day. It needs to be direct sunlight in addition to proper air circulation.

Why grow mint indoors

Unlike many other herbs, mint is very easy to grow indoors, as long as you give the plant enough light and consistent moisture (more on both of these in a later section). Mint also makes a surprisingly beautiful houseplant.

A dying mint plant is usually because of under watering or as a result of mint that is planted in a pot that is too small and therefore has limited moisture and nutrients. If your mint is wilting and turning brown this is likely because of dry soil and under watering.

Mint plants require the soil to be evenly moist but not saturated to prevent wilting and avoid root rot. If the top inch of the soil feels dry, give your mint plants a good soak. Typically water 2 times per week. Increase watering in high temperatures or if mint wilts.

Sprinkle the soil with a little time-release fertilizer if you wish. Water in the plants well. Finally, positioning your fingers like mine in the photo at left, pinch off the top two to four leaves on each plant. This will make the mint branch out and become bushy.

Water your mint frequently.

Water your mint at least every 2-3 days, or more if you live in a very dry climate or your mint is getting a lot of direct sunlight. Check the soil with a finger each day to ensure that the soil is moist. Add around 1–2 cups (240–470 ml) to your mint plant at each watering.

Most types of mint take well to container growth, providing lush leaves that you can use in recipes and simply enjoy the scent of. You can even grow mint in a container indoors near a bright window. Or keep a pot on your patio just outside your kitchen for easy access when you’re cooking.

Mint grows best in soil that is medium rich and evenly moist but not soggy. You may not need to water your mint plant every if you are living in a hot, dry environment. Water the mint when the top 1 inch of the soil starts to dry. Allow the excess moisture to drain freely from the bottom of the pot.

Cut off any trailing stems around the base that are growing beyond the pot rim. Deadhead the mint immediately after flowering, if it blooms. Cut back the top 2 to 4 inches of the plant to remove the old, withered flowers and to encourage a flush of new foliage growth.

The most common reason for wilting mint is because of dehydration due to dry soil that drains too quickly or under watering. Mint prefers consistently moist soil otherwise the leaves can droop. Water the mint as frequently as required to keep the soil consistently moist.

An overwatered mint plant has yellowing leaves, weak stems and appears droopy. It’s also more susceptible to diseases such as mint rust, powdery mildew, black stem rot, verticillium wilt, leaf blight and white mold stem rot. Remove damaged areas of the mint plant if the problem persists.

Too Much Fertilizer and Nitrogen

Additionally, too much fertilizer can create scraggly stems. Whereas too much fertilizer will make other plants die, it makes mint scraggly and leggy. Especially if there is too much nitrogen, the mint will continue growing, but the plant will look rather scraggly and less full.

So, make sure you pick the smaller leaves on the top first. Doing so will not only help you enjoy more flavorful leaves, but it will also encourage new growth. With regular pruning, your mint plants will grow bushier and produce more flavorful foliage.

Propagating mint from runners is as easy as transplanting the vigorous shoots into a pot or new bed. Mint (Mentha spp.) … This vigor is what allows a gardener to divide and replant mint shoots to propagate new plants, but it also allows mint to become invasive.

Mint Growth Rate

Growing at 4 inches per month, a single plant would spread to 2 feet in about six months. However, as the rhizomes creep away from the original plant, new plants are created, increasing the size of the mint area. Spearmint, which is more vigorous than peppermint, has an even faster growth/spread rate.

If the green growth is consistent across the surface of the soil, the plant doesn’t really need repotting. But if the center of the pot has no new growth, with new green sprouts ringing the edges, it definitely needs to be moved to a larger pot.

Mint. Mint is one of the best choices for a shady spot. … For best results, make mint a container plant or pot it before adding it to garden beds. In the shade, mint can sprawl toward sunlight, so keep it trimmed to prevent it from getting leggy.

To transplant and bring mint indoors, simply take off a small section of the roots and place in potted soil. This fast growing herb will take off within weeks! Simply dig up a small portion of roots from and existing plant, and pot it up.

Minimal care is needed for mint. For outdoor plants, use a light mulch. This will help keep the soil moist and keep the leaves clean. For indoor plants, be sure to water them regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.