How to Grow Mint Indoors
Mint is an easy plant to grow indoors and can be grown with ease using containers. Mint does not require much sunlight, making it perfect for growing in your apartment or condo. It also smells lovely when growing it.
Indoor Growing Conditions
Mint is an excellent plant for growing indoors next to your other herbs and household plants. Mint requires very little care other than watering.
Indirect Sunlight
Mint does not require direct sunlight; it will thrive in partially shaded areas, making it a perfect plant for growing indoors.
Using grow lights, set them up to a mild intensity setting for the best results, and healthiest plants.
Temperature
The best temperature is between 65 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. During the colder seasons, be sure to protect them from any drafts that could stress them and create a negative outcome.
Humidity
Try to maintain a humid environment when growing your indoors; mint is not a dry air fan. Grouping plants together help increase the humidity also allow for space around the mint for movement and growth. If you live in a dry area or use direct sunlight, be sure to evaluate for dryness in the soil. Spritzing and additional watering of the soil are sometimes needed to be successful.
Supplies needed for Growing Mint
Mint doesn't need much to grow indoors, just a few basic supplies.
Containers
When getting started, you will need containers with proper drainage. Since mint is known for being a rogue runner and has prolific growth, wide and shallow containers work the best. New shoots take over a wide pot if the root isn't constricted by not having available space to grow.
Growing Medium
Potting soil and coconut coir are the two most popular soil mediums used for growing indoor mint. Both of these mediums allow for good water drainage, holding nutrients, and proper air circulation.
Plants
To get your indoor mint garden started quickly, cuttings from an existing mint plant are the best option. If this is not an option, then seeds will work as good.
How to Grow Mint Indoors from Stem Cuttings
Sowing mint from seed can be more challenging than propagating mint from stem cuttings. It might also be less expensive when propagating mint from a stem.
Use a 5 to 6-inch stem cutting just under a node. Remove any of the leaves found at the bottom 2 inches of the stem.
Put the branch's cut end in a jar of water, permitting it to grow until new roots grow and reach a few inches long.
Fill the container with the pre-moistened growing medium of your choice.
Carefully set newly rooted cuttings in the substrate, spacing them around 10 inches apart.
Basic Care for Growing Mint Indoors
Mint thrives when the growing medium of choice is continuously moist. Don't let the surface completely dry out between watering cycles. Mint enjoys wet but not soggy soil.
A good rule of thumb is to rotate the plant every few days to keep it from growing and bending too far toward the light.
Mint does not require any fertilizing and will grow without the need for any nutrients. Adding nutrients can cause them to lose flavor.
If any flowers start to grow, remove them to prevent flavor loss, and encourage leaf growth. Pinching the flowers and buds as they are developing will also promote new foliage.
Harvesting Your Indoor Grown Mint
Harvesting mint can occur two to three times per season, as long as it is healthy and thriving. Merely pulling the leaves off as needed is fine but take care not to compromise the mints stems as you harvest them.
The Different Varieties of Mint
According to Wikipedia, there are more than seven thousand plant family variations with similar flavor and characteristics, and there are roughly two dozen mint species.
Mint has a distinctive menthol-based scent when released. The two most common mint plants are spearmint and peppermint.
Peppermint
Grows great in direct sunlight but will tolerate partial shade
Best used in teas, syrups, infusions, and chocolate desserts
Spearmint
Grows best in indirect sunlight
Best used in salads, meats, drinks, teas, and savory dishes
Apple Mint
Grows best in indirect sunlight
Fruit dishes, sweet dishes, and jelly
Orange Mint
Grows great in direct sunlight but will tolerate partial shade
Dressings, creamy desserts, fruit tarts, and sauces
Pineapple Mint
Grows great in direct sunlight but will tolerate partial shade
Cocktails, fruit salad, water, meat and fish, salsa, and chutney
How to Use Mint
Mint is easy to grow and has a beautiful fragrance, making it a great addition to your indoor garden or windowsill arrangement. Mint is excellent for culinary dishes but is also great for medicate uses.
Culinary
Leaves from a fresh mint plant are commonly used in drinks like tea, lemonade, mojitos, juleps, simple syrup, and even plain water. They bring a sense of freshness to many drinks.
Mint also pairs well in various foods ranging from the jelly spread for lamb, grain salads using couscous, and even tzatziki sauces.
Medicinal
Mint is known for containing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds and can help relieve indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. This plant is also rich in fiber, vitamin A, Iron, Magnesium, and Folate.
Conclusion
Mint is a calming herb that people have used for thousands of years to relieve an upset stomach or indigestion. You can find mint in many drinks, desserts, candles, and medicines. Have fun, and enjoy the many benefits from growing your mint indoors.
