Can mint really purify the air?

Mint is an aromatic crop with special economic value, also known as wild mint, night-rest fragrance, silver mint herb, etc. It mostly grows by mountain wetlands and rivers, with rhizomes creeping underground, widely distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and found throughout China. It can be used as medicine, as a vegetable, and also as a potted ornamental. Now let us take a look at whether mint can purify the air!

Can mint purify the air?

Mint can purify the air. Mint gives off mint volatile oil with a cool scent, which can purify the stuffy air in a bedroom, especially after sleeping for a night, when the bedroom contains a lot of stale exhaust air produced by breathing and urgently needs a fresh, natural scent to purify it. Moreover, mint oil can stimulate the nerves, lift the spirits, and refresh the mind. For people who are muddled all day and have no energy for work or study, often smelling the scent of mint leaves can make them feel more energized.

Can mint really repel mosquitoes?

Mint has a certain mosquito-repelling effect. The mint oil, menthone, and menthol contained in mint are easily released and can disperse mosquitoes to a certain extent. In addition, mint also contains insect-repelling essential oil, and the scent of this essential oil is very mild and harmless to the human body. Therefore, it can be used as an indoor insect-repelling plant. Although its mosquito-repelling effect is relatively limited, its advantage lies in being pure and natural, with no harm to the human body.

How do you grow potted mint well?

1. Soil: Mint is not particular about soil, but it likes fertile, loose soil. If the flower pot is too small or there is too little soil, the nutrients cannot keep up and it will grow very slowly. Therefore, use soil with strong air and water permeability and fertility. Ordinary garden soil or leaf mold with a little chicken manure fertilizer added is enough.

2. Sunlight: Mint likes ample sunlight, so it must be placed in a sunny place. There is no need to worry even if the summer sun is strong. Insufficient sunlight easily causes leggy growth, the leaves do not grow large, and the plant becomes especially thin and weak. A whole pot may become smaller and smaller.

3. Water: Mint likes a moist soil environment and is relatively tolerant of moisture. Especially during the growing period, the soil should be kept moist, but the amount of water must not be too large, and waterlogging is strictly forbidden. When watering normally, maintain the habit of “do not water if not dry, water thoroughly when watering”.

4. Fertilizing: Mint likes fertilizer. During its growing period, apply fertilizer once a month, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and appropriately apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. If branches and leaves need to be harvested during the growing period, topdressing should be carried out at the time of harvesting to promote the plant's recovery to a good plant shape.

5. Temperature: Mint has strong adaptability to temperature. Its rhizomes overwinter and can withstand a low temperature of -15℃. Its most suitable growth temperature is 25-30℃. When the temperature is below 15℃, growth is slow, and when it is above 20℃, growth accelerates.

6. Pruning: Mint grows very vigorously, so it must be pruned regularly. Once old plants no longer have a fresh scent, they can be cut. Moreover, mint is very tough. Regular pruning, using its leaves to make tea or for other purposes, is no problem. The more you prune, the more luxuriant it grows.

7. Repotting: Mint grows quickly, so it should be repotted once every spring. Mint is not strict about soil, but likes fertile, well-drained neutral or alkaline soil. The potting medium can be prepared from materials such as leaf mold, garden soil, rice husk ash, or coarse sand.