In this post, I will show you how to grow mint from cuttings in water or soil, and give you tips for transplanting mint plants after propagation too. Moroccan Mint -the Moroccan variety is well known for its use in making great tasting tea. Content Upgrades Therefore if you want to have different varieties in a large container then plant the varieties in small sub containers and place these containers in the larger container. Once it sprouts roots, you can transplant it to soil as you might a seedling. 6 Reasons to Add Cucamelons to Your Garden If you’re stomach is feeling sore, add a few mint leaves to your hot or cold water. Cut the growing tip off the stem (found at the top of the cutting). You could also use brick / pot / stones to form mini barrier walls under the soil between the mint and the next herb in your herb garden. Do this in spring and these plants will soon put on vigorous growth in their new container. A Stolon is a branch arising from near the base of the parent stem, resting on the soil, rooting at the tip, and finally tending to form a new plant, capable of independent growth when the branch is cut or dies away, between the terminal bud and the parent plant. Water the compost and place a clear plastic bag (sandwich bags are ideal) upside down over the pot to help retain moisture. Mint can be unpredictable and very difficult to propagate from seed. If planting your mint in a garden bed, apply mulch to help keep it from spreading. Remove any established leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. If growing from Sow seed thinly in 3 inch pots and cover with a 1/2 cm layer of fine compost. 3. Over a season, mint will the container and become root-bound. Newly developed stems have softwood. Use the dibber/pencil to firm the compost around the cutting taking care not to crush the stem. When we finally moved to the country, I planned to make my mint garden dream a reality. It spreads by runners, which are shallow spreading roots, that grow directly under the soil line. All you really need is a glass of water. That way, the runners never really have chance to grow outside the pot. The cutting should be about 8-10cm in length. If you don’t have the space to plant directly under a tree or in a garden, you may choose to contain their roots. Growing in a glass of water can be great fun if your kids are involved as they can see the roots forming in the water). Today, I have a lovely and lush mint garden under my maple tree. Having a vegetable garden that flourishes takes a big commitment. If the plant begins to develop runners above the soil, they are easy to cut and remove. If you choose to root in a pot, go with something about 3-4 inches in diameter. My next step was to identify and separate a good number of stems with leaves on them as shown below. Before winter you can cut the stems back to a couple of inches above the soil. Lead Magnets Mint will thrive in a sunny position but will also tolerate some shade. The 10 Easiest Herbs to Propagate from Cuttings There are almost no weeds in that garden and the mint hasn’t spread outside of the bed, due to regular grass cutting. However it is also a very invasive plant that will spread through the plot if left to its own devices. This is an easy and inexpensive way to expand your herb gardens. Root spider plant babies in soil while still attached to the mother plant. The third option is to plant your mint in a non-crack plastic container and sink that container into the ground, leaving several inches above the soil line. If you have a plant showing signs of Mint Rust then remove it from the garden and destroy it. When growing Mint in containers - cnce the root system has filled the pot or container then the plant can be lifted out of the pot and then divided into 3 or 4 plants and then each plant re-potted in the center of a new pot with additional compost to backfill the container. After the stems have developed a few roots, plant them out in one of the 4 locations mentioned above. If you intend to grow mint in a border, use an old, large pot ( see above), with the bottom removed. The garden I chose, was under a maple tree. So this post is about how to grow mint from cuttings. You can alternatively put the cuttings into seed modules, 3 inch pots or directly into 7 inch or 12 inch pots which saves having to transplant again when the cuttings have taken root. However beware that if there are any cracks left in such a wall then the Mint roots will find their way through the cracks! This is because it can easily spread to other plants and the soil thus affecting plants introduced in the future. This is perfectly normal for mint plants grown in pots, as they should be if you don’t want them to take over huge swathes of your borders, lawns and anywhere else they can reach. of water in the bottom. Mint is a herbaceous perennial which dies back in late Autumn but burst back into life in Spring. This will give you a bumper crop of Mint that you can preserve by either: There are many varieties of Mint and each type has it's own strengths. You can do it in 3 steps: Scoop the superficial layer of soil to uncover some runners Cut a runner that has a list a couple of upright stems. This will help to contain your mint plant in a designated area. The pot will act as a barrier to the lateral spreading of the Mint root runners and so keep the plant in check. Mint is filled with a love and hate by many gardeners. Although highly uncommon, some varieties are propagated by seed. If they have an herb you’d like and you have one they don’t have, you can take cuttings for propagation and trade. Download this free PDF to get my list of the 10 easiest herbs to propagate from cuttings. However, mint has no problem growing under these conditions. In my case, the journey began with my wife bringing home a bunch of uprooted mint plants. This will help keep your plant healthy and enable it to expand its root system even though it is in a restricted space. To extend the harvesting season, pinch off the flowering buds as they appear. I find the best way of growing mint is to sink the plant in a large flower pot within the herb section of my garden and then every so often - during the summer about once a month - lift the pot so as to detach the root from the surrounding soil. Collect Mint cuttings — Buy or borrow mint that have slightly thicker stems. When I decided to create a “mint garden” under the maple tree, I realized that this garden would be quite pricey to fill with nursery-bought plants. Remove the lower leaves and cut the stem just below the leaf node (the point on the stem where leaves emerge). It will help to sooth your stomach and will aid in digestion. Mint stems will also root in a glass of water. Herb gardening advice and tips with how to articles and photos, How to grow Rosemary - all you need to know about growing Rosemary. If you try this method, you won’t believe how easy it is propagate mint from cuttings! You may get your mint cuttings from store bought mint or by simply propagating mint from runners. However, I have a couple tricks for growing it directly in the garden too. Cut the plants back to the ground before over-wintering the pots in a cool place. Fresh mint leaves have a delicious scent and flavour and they’re also good for you! Later in the season, the stems will harden and transition from semi-hardwood to hardwood in texture. All rights reserved. Don’t let that fact deter you from enjoying fresh mint in your garden. Step 2 – Insert mint cuttings in water to grow roots Not only does seeing the mint make me happy, but I enjoy the easy convenience of being able to pick a leaf or two, whenever I need one. If you find your Mint plants have put on so much growth that you can't use it all then you can either preserve it (see below) for use over winter or at the very least make sure to keep cutting the growing tips back. Peppermint is easy to propagate by stem layering. Put the bottom half of the cutting into the hole. Of course, if you want a spreading ground cover, mints are a good choice. Throughout this period ensure that you keep the water level topped up as required. The longer the stems remain in the water, the more roots they will produce. Geranium Strawberry Jam Other means would need to be followed, in order to encourage root production. With its sweet fragrance, sparkling flavor, and pretty flowers, mint makes a delightful addition to any garden. Spearmint is a perennial that is hardy and will grow to a height of about 45-50cm. Cutting a stem of mint A Recipe for Zucchini Fritters with Feta and Dill It’s easy—take 6-inch cuttings of rooted stems and plant them horizontally in the soil. Propagating houseplants with runners produces a replica of the parent plant, so a healthy parent is absolutely necessary. Lie it horizontally on the ground, and bury it lightly with soil. The bag will create a greenhouse environment for the mint stems and they will root much faster. This is where my discovery changed all that! Propagating mint is a great way to get free plants that you can use in your garden, as fillers in containers, or to share with friends. How to Make Herb Salt I prefer to store my harvested mint in water, than in the fridge. Locate mint plants fifteen inches apart, and thin them regularly. In the right place it makes a pretty seasonal ground cover. 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