Native to Europe and the Middle East, peppermint plants produce one of the most instantly recognizable flavours in the world. Used in everything from chewing gum to cleaning products, peppermint is easily grown in home gardens. In fact, your biggest problem will be keeping it from growing too vigorously and spreading everywhere!
Peppermint plants need consistently moist soil to thrive, so when there’s not enough rain, you will need to water them at least twice a week, or as soon as the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. If you are growing your peppermint in a container, you might have to water twice a day in hot weather.
How to Tell if a Peppermint Plant Needs Water?
Your peppermint plants will let you know when they need water. They will quickly start to droop when their soil gets too dry. Just check the soil first to make sure that’s the cause for their drooping.
How Do You Know When Your Peppermint Plant is Sufficiently Watered?
You will have given your peppermint plant enough water when the soil is moist but not sopping wet. If your plant is in a pot, let any excess drain away before you set the pot back in its saucer.
Can You Overwater a Peppermint Plant?
With peppermint plants, you have to achieve a balance between too dry and too wet soil, as both are bad for the plant. When soil is sopping wet, the roots can’t breathe and root rot will develop.
What are the Signs of an Overwatered Peppermint Plant?
When a peppermint plant is growing in wet soil, it can develop a variety of different fungal diseases.
- Root rot will cause the stems to get soft and mushy, while the leaves turn yellow and drop off.
- Powdery mildew spreads across the leaves, looking like a white or grey powder.
- Leaf blight causes black or brown watery-looking spots.
How Long Can a Peppermint Plant Go Without Water?
A peppermint plant can survive without watering for up to a week, but letting the soil dry out that much will stress the plant and it won’t grow as quickly or as lushly as a peppermint that gets regular watering.
Should Peppermint Plant Soil Be Moist?
Ideally, peppermint soil should be always moist and never soaked. One way to maintain soil moisture is by spreading a layer of mulch over the soil surface to prevent moisture from evaporating from the surface.
Why is my Peppermint Plant Turning Brown/Yellow?
If the leaves of your peppermint plant are turning brown or yellow, start by checking the soil moisture. If it’s dry, then it needs watering.
However, if the soil is wet, you have a fungal disease caused by overwatering. It’s probably best to scrap the plants, and start with fresh plants in loose, well-draining soil.
Why is my Peppermint Plant Droopy?
Your peppermint plant might be drooping because it needs water, or because it’s developed root rot from being kept in consistently wet soil.
Does a Peppermint Plants Need Fertilizer?
Not only do peppermint plants not need fertilizer, but in fact, it’s recommended that you never feed them! Like most herbs, they develop more concentrated oils with better flavour when they receive no supplementary feeding.
How Much Sunlight Does a Peppermint Plant Need?
Peppermints will thrive in full sun as long as they are kept well-watered, but will also do fine in semi-shade. Aim for at least 5 hours a day of sunshine.
Will Temperatures and Humidity Affect a Peppermint Plant?
Peppermint plants do best in a temperature range from 55 and 70°F (13–21°C), but can tolerate hotter weather as long as you keep their soil moist. However, high humidity can contribute to the development of fungal diseases, so make sure your peppermint plants have good air circulation.
Will a Peppermint Plant Survive in the Winter?
Peppermint plants grow best in zones 5 to 9 and can survive winter temperatures down to -20°F (-30C) without protection.
Will a Peppermint Plant Survive in Direct Sunlight?
Peppermint plants love growing in direct sunlight, and they will develop better flavour when grown in a sunny location. Just make sure that their soil stays moist.
Can Peppermint Plants Become Invasive?
Bear in mind that these hardy plants can take over if they’re not restrained! Either plant them in a spot where they can spread out, or plant them in a container that you sink in the ground to restrain its roots.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to grow your own peppermint tea or just grow a low-maintenance ground cover, these hardy perennials will last for years.
Read our related watering articles:
- How Often Should You Water Citronella?
- How Often to Water Sage?
- How Often Should You Water a Sempervivum?
- How Often Should You Water Viburnum?
- How Often Should You Water Strawberries?
Janice is a retired High School teacher who is spending her leisure years keeping busy with all sorts of projects. Aside from freelance writing, she’s an enthusiastic amateur chef, home wine maker, and tends a large raised-bed vegetable garden, while at the same time running a Bed & Breakfast.