Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors - and one of the most useful. Fresh mint for mojitos, tea, lamb dishes, and desserts, available whenever you need it.
The challenge isn't keeping mint alive. It's stopping it from taking over everything. This guide covers how to grow mint successfully indoors while keeping it under control.
Why Grow Mint Indoors?
- Year-round harvest - Fresh mint even in winter
- Always available - No wilted supermarket bunches
- Cost savings - One plant replaces countless purchases
- Aromatic - Freshens your kitchen naturally
- Nearly indestructible - Perfect for beginners
Best Mint Varieties for Indoors
Spearmint
The classic culinary mint. Milder and sweeter than peppermint. Perfect for drinks, salads, and Middle Eastern dishes. Most versatile choice for cooking.
Peppermint
Stronger, more menthol-forward flavour. Excellent for tea and desserts. More compact growth habit than spearmint, making it ideal for containers.
Chocolate Mint
Subtle chocolate undertones with classic mint. Stunning dark stems. Perfect for desserts, hot chocolate, and as a garnish. Conversation starter.
Apple Mint
Fruity, mild flavour with fuzzy leaves. Less aggressive growth than other varieties. Excellent for fruit salads and light summer drinks.
Container and Soil Requirements
Container Size
Mint spreads via underground runners. A container at least 20cm wide and 15cm deep gives roots room to grow without becoming rootbound quickly. Wider is better than deeper - mint roots spread horizontally.
Soil Mix
Mint tolerates most soils but thrives in rich, moisture-retentive potting mix. Add perlite for drainage - mint likes moisture but not waterlogged roots. Standard indoor potting compost works well.
Light Requirements
Mint is more shade-tolerant than most herbs, making it ideal for less sunny spots.
- Ideal: 4-6 hours of indirect or direct light
- Minimum: 3-4 hours - growth will be slower but plants survive
- Too much: Hot afternoon sun can scorch leaves
East or west-facing windows work perfectly. North-facing windows may work in summer but struggle in winter. Rotate plants weekly for even growth.
Watering Mint
Mint loves moisture - more than most herbs. The soil should stay consistently moist but never waterlogged.
Signs You're Getting It Right
- Soil feels damp when you push your finger in 2cm
- Leaves are perky and bright green
- Strong minty aroma when touched
Signs of Underwatering
- Wilting leaves that perk up after watering
- Dry, crispy leaf edges
- Slower growth
Signs of Overwatering
- Yellow lower leaves
- Mushy stems at soil level
- Fungus gnats hovering around soil
Self-watering containers eliminate the guesswork - mint draws water as needed from the reservoir, maintaining the consistent moisture it loves.
Preventing Mint From Taking Over
In gardens, mint is notorious for spreading aggressively. Indoors, containment is built-in, but you still need to manage growth.
Regular Harvesting
The more you cut, the bushier and more compact mint grows. Harvest at least weekly, even if you don't need it - dry the excess or add to compost.
Root Management
Every 6-12 months, remove the plant from its container. Trim back the root ball by one-third and repot in fresh soil. This prevents plants becoming rootbound and maintains vigorous growth.
Division
When plants become crowded, divide them. Pull apart into smaller clumps and repot - share extras with friends or start a second container.
Harvesting for Maximum Growth
How to Harvest
Cut stems just above a leaf node (where leaves meet the stem). The plant will branch from this point, producing two new stems. Regular harvesting this way creates bushy, productive plants.
When to Harvest
Harvest in the morning when essential oil content is highest. Pick before flowers appear - flowering reduces leaf flavour and signals the plant to stop producing new leaves.
How Much to Take
Never harvest more than one-third of the plant at once. This ensures enough leaves remain for photosynthesis and continued growth.
Common Mint Problems
Leggy, Sparse Growth
Cause: Not enough light or infrequent harvesting
Solution: Move to brighter location and harvest regularly to encourage branching
Pale Leaves
Cause: Too much direct sun or nutrient deficiency
Solution: Move to indirect light or feed with balanced fertiliser
Brown Leaf Edges
Cause: Underwatering or dry indoor air
Solution: Water more frequently and mist leaves occasionally
Rust (Orange Spots)
Cause: Fungal disease from wet leaves
Solution: Remove affected leaves, improve air circulation, water at soil level
Aphids
Cause: Common indoor pest
Solution: Blast off with water, treat with insecticidal soap if persistent
Starting Your Mint
From Cuttings (Recommended)
The fastest way to start mint. Cut a 10cm stem from an existing plant, remove lower leaves, and place in water. Roots appear within a week. Plant once roots are 5cm long.
From Nursery Plants
Buy a small plant and repot into a larger container immediately. Nursery pots are usually too small for long-term growth.
From Seed
Possible but slow and unreliable. Mint seeds have low germination rates and seedlings take months to reach harvestable size. Not recommended when cuttings are so easy.
Mint Loves Consistent Moisture
Garden Stack self-watering planters provide the steady moisture mint thrives on. Fill the reservoir and let your mint draw water as needed - no daily checking required.
See Garden Stack