Mint plants are a good starting point for a herb garden.They are contained in a pot because they are very aggressive and can take over the surrounding soil.Give your mint plant plenty of water and sun, and choose one of the 600 varieties of mint.
Step 1: If you want a stronger flavor for tea or general use, choose peppermint.
Step 2: If your garden, patio or windows get a lot of light and heat, spearmint is a good choice.
In the Southern United States, it is used a lot.
Step 3: If you need to plant mint next to other plants, plant pineapple mint.
It is one of the less aggressive mints.
Step 4: Lemon mint is a great flavor for lemonade or iced tea.
Step 5: Fresh apple hints make apple mint a more subtle flavor.
The variety is popular in salads and drinks.
Step 6: You can buy a mint seedling at your garden supply store.
Mint does not grow easily from seed, so only the most experienced gardeners should start.After you bring it home, plant directly into the soil or compost.You may be able to find mint plants at your local farmer's market or supermarket if you go to a garden store.
Step 7: There is a mature mint plant.
If you can find a mint plant in a local garden, ask a friend if they can harvest it.Cut above a stem junction with sharp scissors.Make sure the cutting is long enough to remove most of the leaves.
Step 8: You can buy a mint from the fresh food section of the supermarket.
If you are willing to experiment, using leftover mint is a good way to grow a plant from each cutting.
Step 9: The glass should be filled with water.
Plants can be placed in the glass to grow.Wait for the white roots to grow out of the cut stem and keep it in a warm, sunny place.Water is needed to keep the glass full.
Step 10: Wait until the white roots are several inches long before planting.
They can extend to the bottom of the pot.
Step 11: You should look for a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter.
A mint plant needs a lot of space to grow.
Step 12: There are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
A mint plant thrives in well-drained soil.To avoid staining your windowsill or patio, purchase a saucer below the pot.
Step 13: If you want to pot mint and other herbs together, you should purchase a larger pot.
Next to other herbs, you can submerge the whole 12-inch pot.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.You should separate the herbs later in the season if you want to plant it with other herbs.
Step 14: Purchase compost from a store.
You can combine soil and compost.Mint plants need rich soil to grow.
Step 15: The lower third of the pot should be filled with compost and soil.
Step 16: Cut your mint in the pot.
If the roots are too long, Curl them.
Step 17: The area around the mint should be filled with soil.
Pack the area so that the mint doesn't fall apart.
Step 18: If you want to plant a pot in the soil but don't want it to spread, Line a portion of the garden with plastic.
The entire pot can be planted into the garden soil, which will allow it to extend five inches above the surface of the soil.Don't plant it in the garden.If you want to avoid spreading the mint plant, place it on a patio or windowsill.
Step 19: The plant will benefit from the wooden dowels being placed next to it.
Once the plant is thriving, these can be removed.
Step 20: If you want the soil to sink to the roots, water it.
For the first year, water it whenever it is dry.It should have moist soil.You may need to water it several times a day if you experience hot weather.
Step 21: It should be kept in an east-facing location.
It likes to be shaded from the hot afternoon sun.It may die back if you don't have a lot of sunlight.
Step 22: Before cutting or using the mint, wait until the plant is full and the leaves are large.
Frequent cuttings keep the plant full and the leaves strong.
Step 23: Use scissors to cut the top half of the plant.
Below any flower buds, cut one cm above a stem junction.Don't cut more than one-third of the leaves at the same time.If you allow your mint plant to flower, it will slow down leaf growth.
Step 24: Your plant needs to be divided every few years.
If you want to plant each section into a new pot, cut the soil into fourths.It would be best to give them space.The plant will suffer if you don't divide it.