How Often to Water Mint? (All You Need to Know)

Do you want to benefit from having fresh mint at your disposal at all times? Then you should consider growing your own.

How Often to Water Mint?

The frequency of watering mint depends on several different factors. In general, mint requires watering once every three days, which is about twice a week. However, during very hot summer days, mint might require daily watering if the soil dries out. Keep an eye on the soil and adjust watering when needed. 

How to Tell if Mint Needs Water?

Generally speaking, an indoor mint plant needs watering about twice per week. However, if the temperature inside the home is high and you notice the mint leaves wilting, you need to water it on the spot.

The best way to determine when to water your mint based on the conditions inside the house is to monitor the top inch of the soil. When you notice it becoming dry, you want to give your mint plant a thorough watering.

Soil monitoring will let you know if the plant has the right balance of moisture to help it thrive. Proper soil moisture prevents root rot and keeps the plant from wilting.

Simply put, you want to monitor the soil to see how much water your mint plant received at different times throughout the year and in different conditions.

How Do You Know When Your Mint is Sufficiently Watered?

While there is no exact science to tell you exactly how much water a mint plant needs, checking the soil will help you out once again. The soil of a mint plant needs to be moist.

The answer also depends on whether your plant is ground in a pot indoors or outside, in the ground. The amount also depends on what stage of growth your plant is in.

How much water is required by the plant is equal to the amount of water required to wet the soil surrounding the plant root. For mint plants grown in containers with a permeable medium, keep watering in modest amounts until the topsoil changes from a dry state to a moist one for several minutes straight (this may take many hours).

This way, you may assure that the plant root has continuous access to water-rich soil throughout its life.

Can You Overwater Mint?

One of the more common challenges that most gardeners face, particularly newcomers, is that they are continuously wondering about how to help plants thrive. This mentality often leads to overwatering the mint.

Overwatering your mint can result in root rot, in which the roots effectively drown as a result of a lack of oxygen, and this can result in the plant’s death.

What are the Signs of an Overwatered Mint?

Much like other plants, mint will start showing visible signs if it’s been overwatered. The first sign is that the leaves turn yellow at the bottom of the plant. The yellow leaves will eventually start developing brown spots, with the leaves’ edges turning brown as well.

The stems start to weaken, especially at the bottom where they meet the soil. You can also notice the plant starts to look rusty, and the stem and the roots start to rot. You may also see signs of mildew.

How Long Can a Mint Go Without Water?

If you grow mint plants in containers, they can survive for around a week without water. During the spring and fall, mint will stay longer without being watered because it’s a little cooler. If you’re dealing with a hotter climate that receives summer rain, mint can survive for several weeks without water. Of course, the latter situation only stands if the mint is planted outdoors.

Should Mint Soil Be Moist?

Yes, the soil in which you’ve planted mint should be moist. However, it should never be saturated with water. Remember to check the top inch of the soil to see if the mint needs more water.

Why is Mint Turning Brown/Yellow?

There are several reasons why mint can turn brown or yellow.

• The first reason is overwatering combined with poor soil drainage.
• Fungal diseases are also a cause, including web blight and mint rust.
• Pests can also cause a change in mint leaf colors, such as spider mites, aphids, and four-lined plant bugs.
• Too much salt is accumulated in the soil.
• Over-fertilization of the soil.

Why is My Mint Droopy?

Underwatering can cause the leaves to look droopy. When a plant is dehydrated, the leaves start curling. This is because the soil drains the water too quickly. Thankfully, watering your mint when you notice droopy leaves should solve the problem.

Does Mint Need Fertilizer?

If you plant the mint in rich and well-drained soil, it doesn’t need that much fertilizer. Adding too much fertilizer will inhibit the plant’s oil production. This oil is precisely what makes mint so packed with flavor. You want to stick to mint fertilizer application once a year.

How Much Sunlight Does Mint Need?

It grows the best in full, direct sun, but it can also survive in partial shade if the soil is kept moist. Mint is classified as an invasive plant because it produces a large number of “runners” and spreads rapidly.

You shouldn’t allow this information to discourage you from enjoying fresh mint from your backyard. Mint thrives when it receives six to eight hours of sunshine per day.

Will Temperatures and Humidity Affect Mint?

Mint plants favor moderate temperatures. keep the temperature in your home between 65- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. Mint should be kept out of drafty spots in the house, as it may suffer as a result of the increased environmental stress.

Mint is one of the many indoor plants that dislike it when the air is too dry.

For the most part, mint does not care how humid the air is around it. As long as you’re fine with the amount of moisture in the air, your mint plant is probably fine as well.

Make sure your mint is well-watered during the dry winter months if you reside in an area with a lot of sunshine. As the water in the dish evaporates, keep it topped up.

Will Mint Survive in the Winter?

Mint undergoes a process known as “dying back” over the winter. Although the mint may appear no longer alive, it is only dormant at this point. It will grow again in the spring, ready to be used once more, just like so many other plants do.

How Long Does Mint Take to Sprout?

Mint takes about 16 days to sprout. Direct sow in late spring eight to 10 weeks before the last frost. Seeds should germinate between 10 to 16 days of planting. Germination can be accelerated by applying bottom heat. Sow seeds in damp soil no deeper than 1/4 inch.

Final Thoughts

Mint is a bit more pretentious to water compared to other plants simply because it requires more frequent watering. Since indoor conditions might cause the soil to deplete water faster, you should monitor the top inch to avoid mint from staying too long without water.

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