Mint plants are an excellent choice for starting a herb garden. Mint plants are often grown in pots because if they are planted in large areas of land together with other plants, the roots of the mint plant will spread to the surrounding area and cause interference with the absorption of other plants' nutrients. Choose one of the 600 types of mint plant species available, water regularly, and provide enough sunlight for plants to grow well.
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Part 1 of 5: Choosing a Mint Jenis
Step 1. Choose peppermint if you want to add a more distinctive and strong flavor to your tea or for a more general use
Step 2. Choose spearmint if your garden, patio, or window gets scorching sun all year round
Spearmint is most commonly grown in the southern United States.
Step 3. Choose pineapple mint if you are going to grow mint along with other plants
Pineapple mint is one of the few types of mint that has more docile roots (they don't extend too much into the soil of other plants).
Step 4. Choose lemon mint if you want a refreshing lemon flavor in your lemonade or iced tea
Step 5. Try apple mint for a lighter flavor and give it an apple scent
This type of mint is very often used in lettuce and drinks.
Part 2 of 5: Start Planting Mint
Step 1. Purchase mint buds at a garden supply and supply store
It is not easy to grow mint from seed, so usually only experienced gardeners grow mint from seed. Purchase mint buds from a gardening store and plant them directly in your potting soil or composted soil when you get home.
The large garden shop sells many varieties of mint; however, you can buy mint buds and plants at local gardening stores and supermarkets
Step 2. Plant stems of mature mint plants
Ask for mint pieces from mature plants from your friends or buy them at a local farm. Cut about 1 cm above the trunk branch using sharp scissors.
Step 3. You can also try growing the mint you bought in the fresh groceries section
There's no guarantee that a planted mint will grow well, but if you have leftover mint that you don't use anymore, you can use it to experiment with growing mints.
Step 4. Fill a clear glass with water
Put the stalks you have got into the glass to stimulate the growth of new roots. Place the glass in a warm, sunny area, wait for new roots to grow from the stem.
Make sure you add water if the water in the glass has decreased
Step 5. Wait until the white root of the mint stalk is a few centimeters long before you plant it
Mint plant roots can grow even to the bottom of the pot.
Part 3 of 5: Choosing a Pot
Step 1. Buy a pot with a diameter of about 30 cm
Mint plants need a large area to grow well.
Step 2. Choose a pot with a hole in the bottom
Mint plants grow quickly and do well in loose soil. Buy a large plate to cover the pot to avoid rusting on your windowsill or patio.
Step 3. Buy a much larger pot too if you want to grow mint and other herbaceous plants together
You can put a 30 cm diameter pot into a larger pot, where other herbaceous plants are planted. Keep in mind that some mint species with more "aggressive" roots are still possible to creep into other plants' soil through holes in the bottom of the pot where the mint was planted.
If you want to grow it together with other herbs, you may need to separate the other herbs later when the season comes
Part 4 of 5: Growing Mint in a Pot
Step 1. Purchase fine compost at your local garden store
You can also mix potting soil with compost that is rich in plant nutrients. Mint plants need rich, well-drained soil to grow quickly.
Step 2. Fill one third of the bucket with a mixture of potting soil and compost
Step 3. Plant the mint stalk or bud into the pot
Curl the roots if they are too long in the pot.
Step 4. Cover the hole where the mint was planted with potting soil
Cover the hole so the mint plant can stand up properly.
Step 5. If you want to plant mint in your garden, but don't want the roots to spread haphazardly, plant the pot into the soil
Plant the pot into the soil, until only 5 cm of the top of the pot appears above the soil surface.
Do not plant potted mint plants in your garden whenever possible. Just place the pot on the patio or window sill, because if planted in the garden, mint roots tend to spread haphazardly
Step 6. Insert some dowels to help the plant grow
You can remove the dowels when the plant is mature enough.
Part 5 of 5: Care for Potted Mint Plants
Step 1. Water the plant until all the roots are submerged in water
For the first year, water the mint whenever the soil in the pot looks dry. The soil in which mint is planted should always be moist.
If the weather is hot, you may need to water it several times a day
Step 2. Place the pot on a place facing east
Mint is best for mint if it is exposed to sunlight for more than 6 hours, but also protected from the intense midday sun. Mint plants are more susceptible to disease if they get little sunlight, especially in winter.
Step 3. Harvest the mint once the mint is mature enough and the mint leaves are wide
When the mint is mature, regular cutting will give the new mint leaves a chance to grow and produce a more delicious taste.
Step 4. Cut the top half of the plant with sharp scissors
Cut in sections 1 cm above the branches and stems of flower buds. Never cut more than a third of the mint leaves in one harvest.
Don't let the mint plant bloom. This will cause the distribution of nutrients to be focused on flower production, so that leaf growth will slow down
Step 5. Divide the plant every few years
Divide the plant into quarters, and plant each part into a new 30 cm diameter pot. If you don't separate them, the mint plant will suffer in a cramped pot and the leaves won't grow steadily.
