If you envision your kitchen to be full of herbs but have never grown herbs before then mint is your friend. Once it starts growing it does not seem to want to stop.
The best way to grow mint indoors is to start with cuttings placed in jars of water but you can also challenge yourself by starting from mint seeds. In both cases, the container needs to be placed in a sunny spot and the soil needs to be kept continuously moist when starting from seeds.
Is Mint a Good Indoor Plant?
Mint is an excellent plant to grow indoors. It is a very resilient plant that grows quickly and doesn’t require much looking after.
If you are a beginner plant parent that growing mint is a great start. Really, mint grows so well that it needs to be kept away from other herbs and plants to avoid them becoming invasive.
Ideal Indoor Conditions for Mint Plants
Mint plants grow best under the following conditions.
Sunlight
Mint plants like a sunny spot with direct sunlight which is why they are often placed on windowsills or a balcony. Make sure it gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day.
Water
This herb requires quite a lot of water so make sure that their soil is always moist. It also helps to keep them in a slightly more humid room.
Soil
As mentioned, the soil should always be moist. Provide mint plants with light fluffy soil that offers both good drainage and adequate soil retention.
Temperature
Ideally, mint is in a room where the temperature does not drop below 55°F at night and doesn’t go above 70°F during the day. Keep in mind how the temperatures change in the room during the different seasons – this may mean you have to move the plant pot to a different room.
Fertilizer
Like with many other herbs, there is no need to add fertilizer to the soil. In fact, it is advised to never add fertilizer to mint plant soil.
Considering these ideal conditions, a mint plant grows really well when placed on a window sill. Many people like to keep their mint plants on the windowsill by the kitchen sink which is a naturally more humid spot.
Ways to Grow Mint Indoors
Want to grow your own mint indoors? You can start growing mint indoors from cuttings or from the seeds. Here is how.
Growing Mint from Cuttings
The easiest way to grow a new mint plant indoors is by starting from cuttings. You can have the roots showing after just two weeks.
- Cut a few sprigs of mint of about 5 – 6 inches long just below the node.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the sprig.
- Place the cuttings in a jar filled with only water.
- Keep the jar in a sunny spot with indirect sunlight until roots start to grow.
- Once the roots are about 2 inches long, you can transfer the plant to a container with soil.
- Fill a container with regular potting soil and water it to make it moist.
- Plant the mint with new roots a few inches apart from each other.
Mint plants don’t grow very long, rather they grow horizontally. Keep this in mind when you transferring them to a container.
Make sure there is enough space in between for them to grow. Before you know it the entire container will become a lush bush of mint.
Growing Mint from Seeds
If you are up for a challenge you can try growing mint indoors starting from the seeds. As with any plant, this is a little trickier but since mint loves to grow you do stand a good chance for success.
- Fill a container with regular potting soil.
- Make small indentations in the top inch of the soil with several inches in between.
- Spread the mint seeds across the indentations.
- Lightly cover the seeds with soil from the container.
- Water the soil frequently so that it stays moist without being soggy.
- Keep the pot in a sunny spot with direct sunlight.
Newly germinated mint seeds are very fragile so don’t rush into moving them to a new container. In fact, if you start with a large enough container your can keep them in the same container until they are ready to be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Grow Mint Indoors All Year?
Yes, mint can be grown indoors all year as long as they get enough sunlight and the room temperature stays within 55°F – 70°F. However, they may go into a dormant state during winter months.
Why Is My Mint Plant Dying?
The most common reason why mint plants die is when the soil is too dry – they love a lot of soil moisture. On the other hand, overwatering could also lead to root rot. If the leaves wilt and become yellow and they are perhaps not getting enough sun.
Is your mint plant dying during the winter? Then there is no reason to panic – it is a perennial plant that can go dormant during the winter. Chances are that it will perk up again during spring.
How Often Should You Water Your Mint Plant?
Because mint plants require a lot of soil moisture, it might be necessary to water them every day or every other day. However, make sure that the plant pot offers enough drainage to avoid root rot.
Summary
It is best to grow a new plant from cuttings of an adult plant. Place these cuttings in a jar of water until it starts to grow roots before transferring to container with moist soil. Alternatively, you can start from the seeds but this requires more patience and skill.
To keep your mint plant alive, place it in a spot with lots of direct sunlight and make sure the soil is always moist, watering daily if necessary.
