How do you grow potted mint? The most complete growing guide so you never have to worry again

I often see many friends asking about poor mint growth. Regarding how to grow potted mint, an enthusiastic flower lover shared their own care experience, which is very helpful for beginner flower lovers.

First we need to understand that althoughmintis a perennial herb, the growth speed and leaf quality of old mint cannot compare with new mint grown from seed.

1. How do you tell whether mint was grown from cuttings or from seed?

Mint grown from cuttings has a thicker main stem and a darker color, dark green or dark purple, depending on the variety's color. If it grows for too long, it can even become semi-woody. Generally the leaves are smaller, dry, and dark in color.

Mint grown from seed in its first year has a bright green main stem, with dark green or slightly purple color only near the roots. The leaves are larger, spreading in growth, and tender in color. How should I put it? Just like fresh leafy greens in a vegetable market, tender and watery.

The advantage of buying young mint is that before the plant ages, you can grow it for several more years, the leaves are beautiful, and the plant is healthy.

2. How do you water mint?

Mint loves water very much. Grown outdoors on a balcony, it can be watered every day. Actually, young mint is not afraid of drought or waterlogging; it has good growth ability and adaptability. A sufficient water supply ensures new leaves stay tender. Old mint has aging roots and elongated stems, which affects the water supply to the leaves. You can combine watering with misting the leaves to ensure water supply. For watering, simply spray water directly above the plant with a spray bottle. No need to water at the roots, no need for bottom watering. Different varieties differ in water needs. Those with more and denser leaves need more water; those with fewer and sparser leaves need less water.

3. How much light does mint need?

Generally speaking, mint is a light-loving plant. More light promotes mint growth, and direct sunlight is also no problem. But note that in dry and hot weather you must water enough, and misting the leaves is also good. If it is too dry, hot, and lacking water, mint leaves become smaller, thicker, and too dark in color, and the main stem ages faster.

4. Mint grows slowly in winter. Is that normal?

Under natural conditions, outdoor mint goes dormant in winter, the entire aboveground plant withers, and it grows again the next year. So if grown indoors, in winter, due to light, temperature, and other reasons, mint growth slows greatly. It may even stop growing. In fact, the way that suits mint growth is to prune before winter arrives, remove old leaves and old branches, and reduce meaningless nutrient consumption. Appropriately reduce watering and allow mint to slow its growth. When the weather warms up, start watering and fertilizing again. In this way, mint that has rested through winter will send out more new branches, and the new leaves that grow will be more vigorous. The plant also will not age due to excessive consumption in winter.

5. Should mint be allowed to bloom?

If you want to keep mint branches growing, be sure to remove flower spikes as soon as you see them. Mint usually blooms in autumn. After blooming, leaf growth for that year basically stops. Even if it does not completely wither, it will enter a semi-dormant state. So if you want mint to continue growing in winter, be sure to remove the flower spikes. If you want to collect mint seeds to grow new mint, let the mint bloom. Mint is self-pollinating and does not set seed, so it needs hand pollination.

6. How do you correctly "give mint a buzz cut"?

Many friends mention giving mint a "buzz cut." Giving mint a buzz cut can promote the growth of side buds; otherwise some mint will keep growing to more than half a meter tall. But note that a "buzz cut" cannot cut off all the old leaves at once. You must leave some to synthesize nutrients for new leaf growth. After the side buds and new leaves grow a bit, then remove the previous old leaves. Excessive buzz cutting may be the reason many friends find that after trimming, mint grows slowly.

7. Is it better to grow mint outdoors or indoors?

I only brought mint indoors for one winter. The leaves grown in winter were very small, and because growth was slow, the color was dark green, not good-looking and not tasty. At least peppermint and spearmint do not get pests. I just leave them outdoors to grow freely, and they keep growing like crazy just like grass. Actually, they are grass to begin with.... When the rain is good, I do not even water them. When the weather is dry, I water them a bit as a courtesy, without deliberately trimming them or anything. I just pick a handful of tender leaves when eating, and I guess that counts as trimming.... According to my experience, because mint loves light and likes a well-ventilated environment and does not like stuffiness, if conditions allow, growing it outdoors is better.