How to Grow Mint Indoors
Mint doesn't have to be a seasonal addition to your kitchen. You can grow a pot or bottle of mint year round in a sunny window.Mint is a big favorite in most herb gardens. It is easy to grow, can be used in cooking and crafts and it smells great. It also helps to make a nice presentation when decorating a meal for company. A sprig of mint on a plate makes an unexpected garnish. It can be used as a breath freshener after the meal, too.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Growing Mint Indoors in Soil
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1
Select a 4-inch pot with good drainage.
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2
Provide mint with quality potting mix that includes vermiculite or perlite to help retain moisture.
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3
Fill the pot 3/4 full of potting mix and add mint cuttings or a small plant and top with soil.
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4
Press the soil in place to remove any air pockets.
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5
Mint likes moisture, so include a 1/2-inch layer of mulch on top of the soil.
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6
Keep mint plants uniformly moist at all times. If watering will be an issue, consider adding water-retaining polymers to the soil or add wicks and a dish reservoir.
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7
Offer mint good indirect light from a southern or western-facing window in winter, or an eastern-facing window in summer.
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8
Harvest small sprigs of mint after the first month. Don't take more than half the foliage over the winter season.
Growing Mint in Water
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1
Place 6-inch long mint cuttings in a glass jar filled 3/4 full of tepid water.
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2
Add liquid fertilizer according to manufacturer's instructions.
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3
Place the jar in a window that receives six hours of light each day.
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4
Replace water once a week.
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5
Clean and wipe down the jar if it develops algae growth.
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6
Harvest no more than half the length of the sprig over the winter, and only that if you see new growth sprouting. By spring, the cuttings should have vigorous root growth and can be planted in the garden or into a pot for indoor use.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep indoor mint from getting leggy by making sure it has enough light.
To keep mint bushy, pinch off long, unsightly stems to stimulate new growth.
Not providing enough light and water are the biggest causes of problems with indoor mint. For the first few weeks after bringing the plant indoors, watch it carefully. If it is straining toward the light, it needs a brighter exposure or its light should be supplemented with grow lights. If the soil is pulling away from the side of the pot when you water, you aren't watering the plant often enough. The soil should stay moist to the touch at all times.
Avoid using terra cotta pots for mint. They rob too much moisture from the soil.
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- Photo Credit Courtesy of S. Elliott
