Mint Plant Growing Tips

If you want to grow mint plants, you need to follow some basic tips. These will help you grow beautiful and healthy mint.

Mint is a versatile herb that grows well in both sun and shade. It also thrives in a moist, well-drained soil. Besides, it is very easy to propagate through stem cuttings.

Soil

Mint grows well in all kinds of soils, but its best when it is planted in a well-drained mix. Soils act as a living filter, breaking down the nutrients in water and transporting them to the different parts of plants, including mint.

Soils have layers, or horizons, such as O (humus), A (nitrogen), B (carbon) and C (soil minerals). Put them together, and they tell the story of the life of the soil.

Most soils contain at least three horizons, and most also have an organic horizon. This organic horizon is usually thin in some soils and thick in others. It provides a rich source of minerals for plants.

Water

Water is a vital component of mint plant growth. Mint thrives in a moist, rich soil with good drainage that is slightly acidic to neutral in pH.

Watering mint thoroughly ensures that all of the soil is evenly moist and allows the roots to access the moisture they need, helping to reduce the risk of root rot.

In the hotter summer months, it is particularly important to water the young mint seedlings daily. This will keep them from wilting or suffering from fungus and mildew.

Potted mint plants require more frequent watering than those growing in the ground because they dry out more quickly. When watering, increase the amount of water if your mint is showing signs of wilting or the top 1 inch of potting soil has dried out, rather than staying evenly moist.

Light

Mint can be grown indoors or outdoors, directly in the soil or as a bonsai plant. Regardless of where you grow your mint, it needs the right amount of light to thrive.

For a healthy plant, provide it with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. This will allow your mint to produce more leaves, which means you’ll have plenty of fresh-spicy leaves on hand for use in your kitchen.

During the growing season, keep your mint well-watered and give it a light pruning mid-season to encourage new leaf growth.

When you’re ready to repot your mint, choose a container that has good drainage. Avoid ceramic pots, which tend to dry out too quickly. Clay pots with drainage holes are best.

Pruning

Pruning is the process of selectively removing parts (branches, buds, spent flowers) to manipulate the plant for horticultural and landscape purposes. The right time for pruning varies, but ideally the process should be carried out during late winter or early spring before the onset of new growth.

Mints can become unruly and overgrown if not pruned regularly. They are also susceptible to mint rust, which can be prevented with targeted pruning.

Mints are vigorous growers, sucking up nutrients from the soil quickly. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, this could indicate a nitrogen deficiency, which can be remedied by adding more fertilizer.

Fertilization

Fertilization is the process by which a plant or animal obtains nourishment from another source, such as a sperm or egg. It is the primary mechanism of reproduction in animals and plants, and occurs through the fusion of two haploid chromosome sets into one diploid cell known as a zygote.

Mint is a perennial herb that grows best in rich, well-drained soil that receives full sun or part shade. It also thrives in a moist, warm area that gets plenty of water and nutrients.

Mint can be grown from seed, transplants, cuttings or from divisions of existing plants. Plant seeds or transplants 1/4 inch deep and thin them as they emerge from the soil. Transplants should be spaced 18 inches to two feet apart outdoors.