How To Easily Grow Mint Plants In Pots – Delicious Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, And Pineapple Mint!

Growing mint in pots is one of the easiest ways to kickstart your herb garden. Growing potted mint is also highly rewarding! Mint is a resilient, fragrant herb with many benefits, notably tasty homemade tea, herbal infusions, culinary uses, and natural remedies. This potted mint guide shares everything about growing mint from seed or plant cuttings. We also include five of the best mint cultivars for growing in pots.

Does that sound enticing?

Then let’s grow some potted mint!

Germinating Mint Seeds In Pots (In 5 Easy Steps)

Growing potted mint from seed lets you experience the journey from speck to aromatic herb. Use this easy 5-step mint seed germination process for the best results.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Container

Choose a pot with drainage holes (mint hates soggy feet!) and fill it with a light seed-starting mix. Don’t use garden soil. It’s too heavy for delicate mint seedlings and might harbor unwanted fungi. Moisten the mint’s soil until it feels like a wrung-out sponge – mint plants want it damp but not waterlogged.

Step 2 – Sow Those Tiny Seeds

Mint seeds are tiny! Sprinkle them lightly across the soil surface, then barely cover the mint seeds with a whisper-thin layer of soil. Think “dust” rather than “bury”. Mint seeds need light to germinate. Mix the mint seeds with sand before sowing for even distribution.

Step 3 – Create A Mini Greenhouse

Cover your mint pot with plastic wrap or a clear plastic dome to create humidity that mint seeds love. This mini greenhouse effect creates a cozy sauna-like environment that encourages mint seed germination. Place the mint seeds in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. A sunny windowsill works perfectly as long as it’s not scorching hot.

Step 4 – Keep Moist And Be Patient

Mist the surface whenever it starts to dry out. A spray bottle works wonders here. Mint seeds typically germinate in 10 to 15 days, but don’t get discouraged if it takes longer. Gardening is all about patience! Once mint seedlings emerge, remove the plastic covering.

Step 5 – Thin And Strengthen

When tiny seedlings grow their second set of leaves, thin your mint plants about 6 inches apart. Removing perfect mint plants is hard, but overcrowding leads to weak, spindly mint. To strengthen your mint seedlings, run your hand gently over them once a day to simulate an outdoor breeze. Doing so helps develop stronger mint stems!

Once your seedlings are about 3 to 4 inches tall with several sets of true mint leaves, they can move to their permanent home. (Or, if they’re already growing in your favorite pot, all the better.)

And remember, mint grows like it’s trying to take over the world, so choose your planting location wisely!

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Propagating Mint From Cuttings

The best thing about growing mint in pots is that you can easily clone your best-performing adult plants. Here’s how to multiply your mint collection with minimal effort.

Step 1 – Select Perfect Cuttings

Choose healthy, non-flowering stems from established plants about 4 to 6 inches long. Use sharp scissors or pruners to make mint leaf cuts just below a node (those little bumps where the mint leaves emerge).

Remove mint leaves from the bottom few inches of each cutting, leaving 2 to 3 sets of mint leaves at the top.

Pro tip: Morning cuttings typically have the highest moisture content and root most successfully!

Step 2 – Root In Water Or Soil

Place cuttings in a clear glass with 1 to 2 inches of room-temperature water for water rooting, ensuring no leaves touch the water (they’ll rot).

Change the water every few days to prevent sliminess. If you prefer to root your mint in soil, dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional but helpful) and insert into moist potting mix or a 50/50 perlite/peat mixture.

Either way, keep your cuttings in bright, indirect light.

Step 3 – Create Humidity

Put a clear plastic dome (or plastic baggie) around your soil-rooted cuttings to create a mini greenhouse effect. For water-rooted cuttings, no covering is necessary. Mist soil cuttings daily and keep them consistently moist but never soggy. Both methods benefit from warmth. A seedling heat mat underneath can speed success dramatically.

Step 4 – Watch For Root Development

Water-rooted cuttings will show white roots within 7 to 14 days. Wait until they’re about an inch long before chucking them into pots.

Soil-rooted cuttings take slightly longer (14 to 21 days).

You know they’ve rooted successfully when you feel resistance when tugging or new leaf growth appears. Patience pays off here!

Step 5 – Transition To Permanent Home

Once roots establish, plant water-rooted cuttings into potting soil, burying the roots and a small portion of the stem. Move the entire root ball to a larger container for soil-rooted cuttings.

Keep newly potted cuttings in partial shade for a week before gradually exposing them to their permanent lighting conditions. Water thoroughly but allow the mint’s soil to dry slightly between waterings to encourage deeper plant root growth.

Within 3 to 4 weeks of propagation, your new mint plants will be ready for light harvesting, growing vigorously into productive herbs genetically identical to their parent plant. The best part? You can repeat this process indefinitely, creating an endless supply of free mint plants to expand your collection or share with friends!

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Mint In Pots Growing Requirements

Follow these simple guidelines to enjoy an endless supply of aromatic leaves for your teas, cocktails, and culinary adventures!

Sunlight

Mint enjoys partial shade to full sun, making it adaptable to most locations. Provide morning sunshine with afternoon shade for the lushest growth, especially in hot regions where intense midday rays can scorch the leaves. In cooler climates, mint will happily bask in full sun all day.

Climate

This versatile herb thrives in USDA zones 3 to 11, performing best in moderate temperatures between 55°F and 70°F. Mint laughs in the face of cold snaps (many varieties survive frost) but may need extra water and partial shade during heat waves.

The good news? Growing in pots means you can relocate your mint to optimize conditions as seasons change.

Soil + Fertilizer

Mint prefers rich, loose soil with good drainage and a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0). Use a quality potting mix enhanced with about 25% compost for best results.

Only feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength once monthly during the growing season. Mint isn’t a heavy feeder. And too much fertilizer reduces essential oil concentration and flavor.

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy. Mint enjoys dampness but hates waterlogged roots. Water when the top inch of the mint’s soil feels dry, typically every 1 or 2 days in summer and less frequently in cooler weather.

Yellow leaves often signal overwatering, while wilting and crisp edges indicate thirst. Morning watering provides all-day humidity that mint leaves adore.

Harvesting

Begin harvesting when the mint plants reach 3 to 4 inches tall, pinching stem tips regularly to encourage bushiness.

Collect the mint leaves in the morning, just before flowering, when essential oils peak for maximum flavor.

Never harvest more than one-third of the mint plant at once, and cut stems just above a mint leaf node to prompt new growth.

Regular harvesting keeps your mint productive and prevents the leggy, woody growth when mint plants focus on flowering.

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Mint In Pots Planting And Growing Schedule

Here are the critical dates all mint growers should know.

April – Awakening & Planting

Start minting seeds indoors or purchase healthy transplants from your local nursery. Refresh established potted mint by trimming dead growth and refreshing the top inch of soil with fresh compost. For overwintered plants, this is the perfect time to divide and repot if they’ve become rootbound.

May – Establishment & First Harvest

Your mint should be actively growing now. Transplant seedlings to their permanent containers once they have 2 to 3 sets of true leaves. Begin light harvesting from established plants, pinching growing tips to encourage bushiness. Watch for aphids as they love tender spring growth! A strong blast from the garden hose usually sends them packing.

June – Peak Growth

Mint hits its stride this month with rapid, lush growth. Implement regular harvesting (every 2 to 3 weeks) to prevent flowering and maintain flavor intensity. If temperatures rise above 85°F, move pots to afternoon shade and increase the watering frequency to avoid stress.

July – Maintenance & Moisture Management

Hot summer days mean vigilant watering, potentially daily in very hot regions. Consider a shallow water tray beneath pots (without letting roots sit in water) to increase humidity. If plants begin flowering, trim flower stalks promptly to redirect energy to leaf production and prevent self-seeding.

August – Rejuvenation

Late summer is perfect for rejuvenating tired mint with a more substantial pruning. Cut back by about one-third to stimulate fresh growth for fall harvests. August is also an excellent time to take cuttings for propagation if you want to expand your mint collection or share with friends.

September – Preparation & Preservation

Begin preparing mint for cooler weather by reducing fertilizer and slightly decreasing water. Harvest generously before the first frost and preserve your bounty by freezing in ice cube trays with water, drying bundles upside down, or making mint-infused oils and vinegars.

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Choosing The Best Mint Varieties And Cultivars For Growing In Pots

While dozens of mint varieties exist, these five cultivars top our list for versatility and sheer garden delight. Each brings a distinctive personality to your potted herb collection!

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)

Peppermint is a cooling herb with the highest menthol content of all mints, delivering that signature icy-hot sensation that tingles your senses. This natural hybrid between watermint and spearmint boasts distinctive purple-tinged stems and dark green leaves that make it easy to identify.

• Size: 12 to 36 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Compact and upright growth habit.
• Appearance: Dark green, serrated leaves with reddish-purple stems. Slightly fuzzy texture with prominent veining.
• Taste: Strong, cooling, and intensely minty with high menthol content. Creates a cooling sensation in the mouth.
• Days Until Harvest: 90 days from seed. 30 days after planting established seedlings.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 11. Overwinters successfully in zones 4 to 9.

Peppermint is perfect for therapeutic teas, desserts, and holiday treats. Its intense flavor makes it the preferred choice for essential oil production and natural remedies for digestive issues.

Chocolate Mint (Mentha × piperita ‘Chocolate’)

It is not chocolate-flavored but features a remarkable aromatic quality reminiscent of an After Eight dinner mint when crushed. The leaves have subtle brownish-purple undertones on stems that distinctly resemble the color of dark chocolate.

• Size: Roughly 12 to 24 inches tall by 18 to 24 inches wide. Somewhat more restrained growth than common peppermint.
• Appearance: Dark green leaves with purple-brown stems and subtle bronze undertones. Smooth leaves with a slight sheen.
• Taste: Complex peppermint flavor with subtle chocolate-like undertones. More aromatic than chocolate-flavored.
• Days Until Harvest: 60 to 90 days from cutting. Rarely grown from seed as it’s a sterile hybrid.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 11. Benefits from winter protection in zones below 5.

Chocolate mint creates extraordinary desserts, particularly chocolate-mint ice creams and mousses, where the authentic mint flavor enhances chocolate notes without artificial extracts.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

The gentler, sweeter cousin to peppermint with a softer flavor profile that children and mint newcomers typically prefer. Its bright green, distinctively crinkled leaves contain carvone rather than menthol, giving it that familiar clean, fresh taste without the intense cooling effect.

• Size: 12 to 24 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide. Slightly more sprawling habit than peppermint.
• Appearance: Bright green, wrinkled leaves with pointed tips. Distinctly crinkled texture with less prominent veining.
• Taste: Sweet, fresh, and mild without the cooling sensation.
• Days Until Harvest: 90 days from seed. 30 to 40 days after planting from established seedlings.
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11. Remarkably heat-tolerant compared to other mints.

Spearmint shines in the kitchen. It’s beneficial when cooking Mediterranean dishes, mojitos, and classic mint jellies. And its milder nature makes it perfect for savory applications where peppermint might overwhelm.

Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens)

The gentle giant of the mint world with exceptionally soft, fuzzy, rounded leaves that can grow larger than a quarter. Its subtle apple-like sweetness and fruity undertones create a more delicate, less assertive flavor perfect for fruit salads and summer beverages.

• Size: 24 to 40 inches tall and up to 36 inches wide. The largest of the standard mint varieties.
• Appearance: Soft, round, gray-green leaves covered in fine hairs. Distinctly woolly texture, unlike other mints.
• Taste: Mild, sweet, and fruity with subtle apple undertones. Gentler mint flavor with no cooling sensation.
• Days Until Harvest: 90 days from seed. 40 to 50 days from established plants.
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11. Shows better heat tolerance than peppermint varieties.

Apple mint also boasts exceptional ornamental value with its woolly texture and bushy growth habit, making it both a conversation piece and a tactile delight in sensory gardens.

Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’)

Pineapple mint is the showstopper of the gang. It has striking cream-and-green variegated leaves, making it as much a visual treat as a culinary one. This decorative apple mint cultivar features a subtly tropical aroma with delicate hints of pineapple that emerge when leaves are bruised or steeped.

• Size: 18 to 30 inches tall. Around 18 to 24 inches wide. It grows more slowly than standard apple mint.
• Appearance: Cream and green variegated leaves with irregular white margins. Retains the woolly texture of apple mint.
• Taste: Delicate mint flavor with subtle fruity notes. The fresh aroma carries more pineapple scent than the actual taste.
• Days Until Harvest: Not typically grown from seed. 50 to 60 days after planting, established cuttings.
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 11. Less cold-hardy than other mint varieties and may need winter protection.

The only downside of pineapple mint is that it grows somewhat more slowly than other mints. Luckily, its slow growth makes it slightly better behaved in garden settings.

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Common Problems With Growing Mint In Pots

Even though mint has a reputation for being nearly indestructible, pot-grown mint can still present a few challenges. Here’s how to overcome the most common mint-growing blunders and keep your potted herbs thriving beautifully.

Outgrowing Their Pots

Mint’s aggressive root system will quickly fill any container, resulting in stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and plants that seem to wilt no matter how much you pamper them.

To prevent this root-bound disaster, repot your mint annually in early spring, moving to a container at least 2 inches larger or dividing the plant into multiple pots. When repotting, trim away approximately one-third of the roots to rejuvenate the plant and create space for fresh growth.

The telltale sign you’ve waited too long? Roots circling the drainage holes or pushing the plant upward out of the soil.

Runaway And Escaping Mint Plants

You might not believe me. But your mint plant can even escape! Determined mint will send runners over the pot’s edge that take root wherever they touch soil, or push roots through drainage holes to colonize nearby areas.

Prevent these jailbreaks by elevating pots on stands or decorative feet, and place a saucer beneath to catch any adventurous roots attempting a prison break through drainage holes.

Inspect your containers regularly and ruthlessly trim any stems trailing too far over the edges.

Overwatering

The number one killer of potted mint isn’t neglect. It’s drowning it with love! While mint enjoys consistent moisture, waterlogged soil leads to root rot, fungal diseases, and a slimy stem base that collapses.

Create proper drainage by mixing perlite into your potting soil and ensuring your container has adequate drainage holes.

Develop a disciplined watering routine. Stick your finger into the soil until the first knuckle and only water when the top inch feels dry.

If you’ve already overwatered, immediately move the pot to a bright, breezy location, temporarily stop watering, and consider repotting in fresh soil if the plant shows signs of recovery.

Yellow leaves that fall easily are often the first warning sign of this common mistake.

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Conclusion

Remember that potted mint is easy to grow. It thrives on neglect and forgives mild gardening mistakes with fragrant abundance. Beyond its culinary charms and medicinal prowess lies mint’s greatest gift. I’m talking about the simple pleasure of brushing against leaves that release nature’s most refreshing scent at the slightest touch!

What about you?

• Will you grow some potted mint this year?
• What type of mint will you grow? Spearmint? Peppermint? Chocolate mint? Or something more exotic?
• Will you keep your mint confined to a pot? Or let it grow wildly in your yard?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!

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