Indoor Mint Care Tips for Novice Gardener
Mint is a charming, low-maintenance plant with several uses in cuisine, drinks, and household stuff.Mint spreads swiftly when planted in garden beds, sending out runners to soon take over whatever place it can access (not limited to garden soil, it often creeps into cracks between pavers or in concrete). Mint is an excellent choice for growing indoors in pots because of its prolific nature.If you want to grow mint in your home, all you need to do is buy a mint seedling, re-pot it, and give it some regular attention. This post will simplify your routine for Indoor mint care.
Acquiring Mint Seedling
1.Purchase a healthy seedling
Mint plants are infamous for being difficult to grow from seed. Alternatively, go to your local nursery (or even your local grocery shop) and buy a mint seedling.
2.Grow from stem cuttings
- Cut a 4 in (10 cm) sprig of mint from an existing plant, about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) above a junction.
- Wait about a week after putting the trimming in a glass of water. Under water, little white roots should develop. Let another 2-7 days for the roots to form.
- As needed, fill the glass with water.
- To keep your trimming healthy, change the water every 4-5 days.
3.Use Runners from existing plants
You might be able to use one of your friend’s runners if they already have an outdoor mint plant. “Runners” are lengthy stems that sprout from the base of a mint plant. Because runners form their own roots in the earth, they can be gently removed and transferred into a new pot. Search for a runner and gently remove it from the ground with a trowel.
Indoor Mint Care Tips before Planting
1.Selecting Container
When selecting growing containers, seek for wide, shallow plastic pots with drainage holes.
Plants in the mint family prefer a damp root zone; mint thrives when its “feet” are slightly wet. Plastic containers keep the growing media wetter than porous containers, such as terra cotta, which allow for better air circulation.
Mint is well-known for its rapid growth and errant runners. Spacious containers allow for plenty of room for new shoots to emerge without causing root restriction for proper indoor mint care.
2. Growing media
Coconut coir and potting soil are two of the most popular indoor gardening materials and they are one of the best options for indoor mint care.
They are lightweight and offer great water retention while swiftly draining excess moisture from the growing media. Potting soils are made up of peat moss or coconut coir, pine bark, perlite, and vermiculite rather than soil.
Coconut coir is a sustainable substance formed from the brown and white fibres found between a coconut seed’s shell and outer coating. You can also check out our article on growing media for herbs.
Indoor Mint Care Tips after Planting
1.Light
Mint, unlike many other herbs and houseplants, prefers indirect exposure to full sun and even grows well in partial shade. In the spring and summer, choose east-facing windows, and in the fall and winter, choose west-facing windows. If you’re using grow lights, try to mimic the effects of indirect sunlight as much as possible. Make use of low-intensity lighting at designated times for good indoor mint care.
2.Temperature
Keep mint pots in rooms where the temperature is 65-70°F during the day and 55-60°F at night for the healthiest plants and proper indoor mint care. Safeguard plants from chilly drafts to avoid negative reactions to environmental stress.
3.Humidity
Indoor plants dislike dry air, and herbs are no exception. To keep foliage healthy, maintain a humid climate with appropriate airflow. Plants can be clustered to promote relative humidity, but leave some space between them for air movement. To compensate for living in an arid climate or using direct sunshine, be vigilant with your watering.
4.Fertilizer
When it comes to cultivating mint indoors, this is another simple task. Fertilize your indoor mint plant with a liquid organic fertilizer every three weeks from mid-spring to late summer for a good indoor mint care. Mix it according to the package directions. If you intend to harvest from your plant all winter, fertilize it once every six weeks from early fall to early spring. Unlike most houseplants, indoor mint will continue to thrive throughout the winter, so feeding it is a smart idea. Just don’t go overboard.
5.Trimming
Frequent “haircuts” will keep your mint plant bushy and encourage new development. Trim the stems down on a regular basis, ideally once every few weeks, with herb scissors or needle-nose pruners for proper indoor mint care. When you make the cut right above a set of leaves, two new stems will grow from the leaf nodes, causing each stem to branch in two. Utilise the scraps in the cooking.
6.Harvesting
Remove individual leaves as needed or chop off entire stems for drying or fresh usage to harvest your indoor mint plants. Don’t be scared to prune the plant heavily a few times a year. This promotes the formation of fresh new growth as well as a bushy growth habit for indoor mint care. In the mid-spring, trim plants back all the way to the dirt. A few weeks later, this forces the production of all new deep green and delicious leaves. It revitalizes the plant shortly before its most active growth period.
Ways to Grow Mint Plant Indoors
1.Grow mint in soil
This is the most common method for growing mint indoors. Select a pot with a drainage hole that is at least 8 inches in diameter. I prefer attractive ceramic pots, but plastic will suffice. Clay pots should be avoided since they dry out too rapidly. To pot your mint plant, use a high-quality general potting soil, leaving about a half-inch of head space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot. This serves as a reservoir, preventing irrigation water from evaporating too quickly. Mint plants in pots can persist for years as houseplants.
2.Grow mint in water
Mint can also be grown in water inside. The fundamental advantage of this procedure is the absence of soil. There is no mess, no watering, and no fungus gnats. Unfortunately, mint does not survive in water indefinitely. The leaves will eventually turn yellow, and the plant will stop growing. Keeping a few water-rooted stems in a jar over the sink, on the other hand, means you’ll be able to harvest them on occasion. Simply take some stem cuttings from a mother plant, remove all the lower leaves, and prop the stems in a glass of water to begin growing mint indoors in water. Every five to seven days, change the water and wash the glass.They will form roots quickly and can be grown in the water-filled jar for several weeks or months, depending on the growing conditions.
3.Hydroponics
You may also learn how to grow mind indoors with hydroponics. In reality, mint is an excellent crop for growing in a commercially manufactured or home-built hydroponic system. Although the absence of soil means less mess, hydroponic systems are more expensive than soil-based growing. Nutrient solutions are also more expensive than regular fertilizers. But, if you intend to cultivate a large amount of mint, hydroponics is worth investigating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, growing mint plants indoors is a great way to add freshness and flavor to your home. With proper care and attention, mint plants can thrive in a variety of indoor environments and provide a steady supply of aromatic leaves for use in cooking, tea, or other herbal remedies. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner, growing mint plants indoors can be a fun and rewarding experience that brings a touch of nature and wellness to your daily life.Follow these simple tips for indoor mint care.