Have you ever wondered how to grow mint from cuttings? It’s pretty easy, and so rewarding. Fresh herbs growing in the kitchen windowsill bring such a warm, airy feeling to the room. Not to mention, it’s so fun to pick a fresh herb when you’re cooking. Every spring I like to spruce up my herb garden with the season, and this year I decided to take a few things inside. When the weather really heats up midsummer, the delicate herb plants outside completely fry – even in the shade. Many herbs like basil are annuals, so it’s inevitable that they will flower and go to seed. But some herbs like mint are perennials that will grow year round like weeds. Another advantage to growing herbs indoor is to help ward off pests that may damage the lovely leaves. Who wants to eat herbs that have been feasted on already?
How to Pick Good Mint Cuttings
When finding cuttings, make sure to ask if you’re thinking about pulling them from a neighbor’s plant. To start my indoor herb garden, I took a few cuttings from the chocolate mint outside. If this is your first time growing cuttings, I highly recommend chocolate mint. Chocolate mint is soooo hardy. It’s practically foolproof and grows like a weed. Not to mention, it’s extremely delicious! Garnish any dish like this peppermint chocolate mousse, toss a few leaves in tea, or munch on them for fun.
Most mint plants are pretty hardy, so any will do. I also pulled a few sprigs of oregano, which is actually in the mint family, to start afresh. Fresh is key – make sure the leaves don’t have any pests or markings from pests. Other popular herbs than chocolate mintand oregano to grow from cuttings include peppermint, mojito mint, marjoram, thyme, lavender, rosemary, thyme, basil, and sage. The trick is to take cuttings when the plant is not flowering. It won’t take root at this point in its lifecycle.
How to Grow Mint from Cuttings
To take a cutting, pinch off a 4-6 inch sprig from the plant. Take at least 3 cuttings, in case one doesn’t take.
Prepare the cutting by pulling off the bottom leaves, leaving at least four leaves up top.
Drop the bottom half of the sprigs in water, with the remaining leaves in the air. Cheers! I used these cute champagne flutes, because why not.
Place the container in a well-ventilated window that gets decent morning light. Do not put the plants behind closed blinds or curtains. They need air and light.
Expect to attract visitors.
Let it grow!
It only took a week for the mint to grow this many roots! Mint grows so quickly and smells so, so good. Once the roots have sprouted, transfer the plant to a pot filled with well-draining, preferably organic soil. I use LadyBug Soil. Make sure to plant your sprouted cuttings in a container like a pot. If it’s a really aggressive plant like chocolate mint, it will take over your yard in no time.
Place the potted mint in a nice spot that gets plenty of light.
Like it? Here’s a quick recap to try:
I made this specifically for the kitchen, but this summer would be an awesome time to get some cuttings started for beautiful container garden Christmas gifts. My favorite is to make a themed pot that has all lemon flavored plants like lemon mint, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, and lemon balm. The possibilities are endless! Let me know how it goes 🙂