Friday, April 8, 2022

How to Grow Mint in a Pot

Mint plants are the perfect starting point for a herb garden. They are usually contained in a pot because they are extremely invasive, sending out runner roots to take over the surrounding soil. Choose one of the 600 varieties of mint, and give it plenty of water and sun to keep your mint plant thriving.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Choosing Mint Varieties

  1. Choose peppermint if you want a brighter, strong flavor for tea or general use.[1]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 1 Version 2.jpg
  2. Pick spearmint if your garden, patio or windows get a lot of light and heat throughout the year. It is used very commonly in the Southern United States.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 2 Version 2.jpg
  3. Plant pineapple mint if you need to plant mint next to other plants. It is one of the less invasive species of mint.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 3 Version 2.jpg
  4. Opt for lemon mint if you like a refreshing citrus flavor in lemonade or iced tea.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 4 Version 2.jpg
  5. Try apple mint for a more subtle flavor with fresh apple hints. This variety is popular in fresh salads and drinks.[2]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 5 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Starting a Mint Plant

  1. Go to your garden supply store to buy a mint seedling. Mint does not germinate from seed too easily, so only the most experienced gardeners should start from seed. Plant directly into potting soil or compost after you bring it home.[3]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 6 Version 2.jpg
    • A garden store will have more varieties of mint; however, you may be able to find mint seedlings and plants at your local farmer’s market and supermarket.
  2. Take a cutting from a mature mint plant. Ask a friend if you can harvest from an existing mint plant or find one in a local garden. Cut approximately above a stem junction with sharp scissors. Make sure the cutting is at least long and remove most of the leaves.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 7 Version 2.jpg
  3. Opt to use a mint that is purchased from the fresh food section in your supermarket. It is not guaranteed that you will be able to grow a plant from each cutting, but it is a good way to use leftover mint if you are willing to experiment.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 8 Version 3.jpg
  4. Fill a clean glass with water. Place freshly cut sprigs in the glass to grow new roots. Keep it in a warm, sunny place and wait for white roots to grow out of the cut stem.[4]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 9 Version 2.jpg
    • Add water as needed to keep the glass full.
  5. Wait until the white roots grow several inches long before planting. They can even extend to the bottom of your pot depth.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 10 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Choosing a Pot

  1. Shop for a pot that is at least 12 inches (30.5 cm) in diameter. A mint plant needs plenty of space to grow.[5]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 11 Version 2.jpg
  2. Choose a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. A mint plant thrives in well-drained soil. Purchase a saucer to place below the pot to avoid staining your windowsill or patio.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 12 Version 2.jpg
  3. Purchase an additional, much larger, pot if you want to pot mint and other herbs together. You can submerge the whole 12-inch pot in a larger pot, next to other herbs. Keep in mind that many species of mint will still find a way to take over the entire pot through the holes in the bottom of the mint pot.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 13 Version 2.jpg
    • If you want to plant it with other herbs, you will want to separate the herbs later in the season.

[Edit]Planting Mint in a Pot

  1. Purchase gritty compost from a local gardening store. You can also combine potting soil with rich compost. Mint plants need rich and well-drained soil to thrive.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 14 Version 2.jpg
  2. Fill the lower third of the pot with compost and potting soil.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 15 Version 2.jpg
  3. Set your mint cutting or seedling in the pot. Curl the roots if they are too long for the pot.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 16 Version 3.jpg
  4. Fill in the area around the mint with potting soil. Pack the area just enough so that the mint stands on its own.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 17 Version 3.jpg
  5. Line a portion of your outdoor garden with plastic if you want to plant your pot in the soil, but want to discourage it from spreading. Then plant the entire pot into the garden soil, allowing the pot to extend five inches above the surface of the soil.[6]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 18 Version 2.jpg
    • If possible, avoid planting it in the garden. Place it on a patio or on a windowsill to avoid spreading the mint plant.
  6. Insert several wooden dowels next to the plant to give it support. These can be removed once the plant is thriving.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 19 Version 3.jpg

[Edit]Caring for Mint Pots

  1. Water the soil so that it sinks down to the roots. Water it whenever it is dry for the first year. It should always have moist soil.[7]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 20 Version 2.jpg
    • If you experience hot weather, you may need to water it several times per day.
  2. Keep it in an east-facing location. It does best with six or more hours of sunlight, but also likes to be shaded from hot afternoon sun. If you have very little sunlight in the winter, it may die back.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 21 Version 2.jpg
  3. Wait until the mint plant is full and the leaves are large before cutting and using the mint. Once it is doing well, frequent cuttings keep the plant full and the leaves strong in flavor.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 22 Version 2.jpg
  4. Cut the top half of the plant with sharp scissors. Cut one cm above a stem junction and below any flower buds. Don’t cut more than one-third of the leaves at one time.[8]
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 23 Version 2.jpg
    • If you allow your mint plant to flower, it will put the nutrients into flower production and slow down leaf growth.
  5. Divide your plant every few years. Cut the soil into fourths, and then plant each section into a new 12-inch pot. It would be best to give them room. If you don’t divide it, the plant will suffer and the leaves will not grow steadily.
    Grow Mint in a Pot Step 24 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Things You'll Need

  • Mint seedlings
  • Sharp scissors
  • Large, mature mint plant
  • 12-inch pot with drainage holes
  • Saucer
  • Potting soil
  • Compost
  • Windowsill
  • Water
  • Glass
  • Wooden Dowels

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary



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