7 Indispensable Tips on How To Grow Mint Indoors

One of the best things about choosing to grow mint indoors is having a consistent supply of fresh mint leaves all year round. You’ll also avoid a few potential problems associated with growing mint outdoors, such as having the plants spread rapidly and take over your garden space.

Mint is a perfect candidate for an indoor herb garden. You can use this versatile plant for cooking, making tea and other beverages, or as a garnish. Plus, mint has a cool, refreshing scent that will brighten up a room and improve the air quality inside your home. Keep reading to learn how to grow mint indoors.

Decide Which Mint Variety to Grow

First, choose which kind of mint you’d like to plant. With so many different types available, there are plenty of flavor options. Here are a few of the most popular mint varieties:

• Peppermint – Potent flavor, high concentration of menthol, pleasant cooling effects.
• Spearmint – Sweetly delicate flavor, most common for cooking use.
• Chocolate mint – Spicy flavor with hints of vanilla and cocoa.
• Apple mint – Subtle flavor with a fruity aroma.
• Orange mint – Bright flavor with a bold citrus aroma.

Find the Perfect Location to Grow Mint Indoors

Mint plants grow best in a location that gets bright, indirect light, stays at a moderate temperature, and has good air circulation. A sunny spot near a window that receives ample natural light but stays out of direct sunlight is ideal. Mint plants will also tolerate lower light conditions but at a slower growth rate.

Avoid placing your mint plants in a drafty place or where they may get excessively hot or cold. Extreme temperatures typically stress the plants, causing them to wilt or become stunted. The optimal temperature range for indoor mint plants is 65-70°F (18-21°C) during the day and 55-60°F (12-15°C) at night.

Best Soil for Growing Mint Indoors

The best way to set yourself up for success with container gardening is by using high-quality potting soil that has plenty of nutrients and drains well. That way, your plants will be more productive without requiring as much maintenance. Look for a soil blend with perlite for drainage and aeration, organic fertilizer or compost for nutrients, and coconut coir for moisture retention. Or, if you’re up for a DIY project, you can make your own potting soil and plant fertilizer that’s specifically tailored to the plants’ needs.

Watering and Drainage

Unlike some other plants, it’s best not to allow your mint to dry out completely between watering. They’re moisture-loving plants and tend to wilt if the soil gets too dry. On average, the soil should stay evenly moist and have a similar consistency to a wrung-out sponge. When growing mint indoors, using a container with several drainage holes is beneficial. If water collects in the bottom of the pot, it could lead to root rot and other plant disease problems.

You’ll need to water your indoor mint plants more often in arid climates with low humidity levels. Misting the leaves between watering also helps keep them well-hydrated. Keep in mind that indoor plants’ growth normally slows down in the winter months when daylight hours are shorter and temperatures are cooler, so they’ll need less water than in the summertime.

When To Fertilize Mint Plants

In general, mint plants have relatively low nutrient needs. As such, they don’t usually require any extra fertilizer when planted in high-quality, nutrient-rich potting soil. In fact, overfertilization negatively affects the flavor of the leaves due to diminished oil production. If your potted mint plant needs an extra boost, apply an organic, slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer in the spring when the plant is entering its active growth period.

Pruning and Harvesting

Mint plants usually have a vigorous growth habit and benefit from regular pruning and harvesting. In addition, they sometimes become a bit leggy when grown indoors. Trimming the stems at least once per month during their active growth periods in spring and summer encourages branching and fuller growth. For bulk harvesting, cut the entire plant down to between two and four inches above the soil level two or three times per year. It’s best to do this right before the plant begins flowering. Removing the flowers helps the leaves retain more flavor and last longer.

Alternatively, pick your mint leaves as needed throughout the entire year. The younger leaves and stems are the most flavorful. When you grow mint indoors, you’ll have a year-round supply of fresh leaves because the plant won’t go dormant during the colder months.

If you’re drying mint for long-term storage, harvest long stems just before the plant begins flowering for optimal flavor. Hang the stems upside down in small bunches for two to ten days, until the leaves become brittle and crumbly. For easy harvesting and storage, tie your fresh mint bundles in a paper bag when you hang them up to dry.

Propagating Mint Plants

If you’d like to try propagating plants from cuttings, mint is a perfect candidate. Regrowing mint stems in water is much less time-consuming and labor-intensive than planting seeds.

First, choose several healthy stems that are at least five or six inches long and have several sets of leaves. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle about a quarter-inch below where a leaf set meets the stem for optimal root growth.

Next, remove all of the leaves from the bottom two inches of each stem. Doing so prevents the leaves from rotting in the water while the cutting is rooting. For faster and more uniform root growth, coat the cut end of the mint stem in rooting hormone powder.

Then, fill a clean container with two to four inches of water. A drinking glass or small mason jar works well. Place the container in a brightly lit, warm location that’s out of direct sunlight. Once the roots are two or more inches long, transplant your mint cuttings into small pots with drainage holes filled with pre-moistened, nutrient-rich soil.

Growing mint indoors means you’ll have a year-round supply of fresh mint leaves available whenever you need them. An indoor herb garden is incredibly convenient for cooking your favorite recipes and making herbal teas. Plus, it also improves the air quality inside your home. Whether you’re a newly minted green thumb or have years of indoor gardening experience, it’s worth the effort to grow mint indoors. Do you think growing an indoor herb garden is mint to be?

If you have any questions or suggestions for growing mint indoors, please share them in the comments below! Know someone who wants to become an indoor gardening connoisseur? Please don’t hesitate to share this article with your fellow green thumbs!