How to Cut a Mint Plant

If you've tried growing mint in an herb garden, you already know what a fast-growing and hearty plant it can be. While you may love having mint springs to add to salads, cocktails and savory dishes, you may not know that you can use mint cuttings to start new plants. Since mint plants need to be trimmed regularly so they don't flower, you can start new plants and continue harvesting mint to eat. Mint plants make great gifts, especially if you plant one or two varieties in the same pot. Warn your friends not to plant mint directly in their garden beds, since the plant is very invasive.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Pot
• Potting soil
• Water
• Vase

Instructions

1. Pull off any unhealthy or bruised mint leaves and discard in the trash. This should be part of a regular maintenance routine to ensure your mind plant is healthy.

2. Inspect the plant for shoots that look ready to flower. You will want to cut these to encourage new offshoots.

3. Cut the mint stem just above a node, which is the place where the leaves emerge from the stem. The mint plant will die back to the node, but send new growth up from this point.

4. Remove cuttings to a vase of water if you are planning to propagate new mint plants. Leave them in the water until they have begun to grow new roots, 1 to 2 weeks.

5. Trim all other mint shoots to a desired height, saving the mint for culinary use or to propagate multiple cuttings.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have mint in containers, you should change the soil annually to ensure your mint plants are receiving sufficient nutrients.

• Container mint can thrive outdoors year round in temperate climates, but should be brought inside during frost conditions.

• Place mint containers in an area where they receive sufficient light and keep the soil moist for optimum growth.

References

• Bonnie Plants: How to Grow Mint
• The Culinary Herb: Mint