How To Grow Mint Plants From Cuttings
Renowned for their tantalizing aroma and versatile culinary use, mint (Mentha spp.) plants are a favorite among amateur gardeners as they are easy to grow. While mint can be cultivated using seeds, its propensity to freely crossbreed can leave you wondering whether it's truly faithful to its variety type. So to avoid any confusion, it's best to use cuttings to grow mint plants. For propagating new plants, it is best to harvest these stem cuttings during the spring-to-summer transition, right before the plant starts flowering.
Interestingly, there are two ways to propagate these herbaceous perennials. The first method involves rooting mint cuttings in water and allowing them to grow. While easy to carry out, this new growth is likely to be weak and more susceptible to transplant shock. In comparison, the second method, entailing the direct planting of stem cuttings into the soil, offers stronger plants but can be relatively difficult to implement. However, regardless of your choice, both methods work for cultivating all mint varieties, including peppermint and spearmint.
Growing mint by planting cuttings in water
The first step is to find a generous friend who can share 8- to 10-centimeter-long stem cuttings. Once you have the cuttings, use shears to cut the stems at the node where they begin to branch off from the mint plant. Follow it up by pinching at least two to three leaves from the cutting's bottom without touching the top growth. If generosity is hard to come by, purchase store-bought, healthy, lush green mint sprigs, but be sure to use them immediately. Look for cuttings with longer stems, offering more area for root growth.
Soak the mint cuttings in a tall, narrow-top jar holding about 2.5 centimeters of water to ensure they remain upright when developing new roots. Place the jar in an airy space without direct sunlight exposure for a week to give it ample time to acclimate to its new home. Replace the water daily or when it turns brackish to support the plant's growth, or replenish as necessary. When the new roots grow about 8 centimeters, move the cutting to a peat-free, moist potting medium. You can later transplant it into a bigger container.
Growing mint by planting cuttings in soil
Like its counterpart, planting your cuttings in soil depends on the generosity of your mint sprig donor or store purchases to obtain at least 8- to 10-centimeter-long cuttings with the bottom leaves trimmed out completely. This method should only be followed when the air is extremely humid. If you opt to dip your plants' stems in a rooting hormone to promote speedy growth, it might take up to a year before they are safe for consumption. Be sure to read the packaging on your root hormone treatment — and keep in mind that mint grows easily, so you shouldn't need this extra step.
Choose a potting soil-filled container with adequate drainage holes and dig into the medium with your finger or a pencil. Plant the stem cuttings into the hole and gently press down on the potting mix to ensure full contact. Keep adding water to the soil until it is sufficiently moist but not soggy. Now, place the container out of direct sunlight for a week to allow for strong root development. Once your root system is ready, you can transplant the cuttings into bigger pots, ideally around 30 centimeters tall. Given its propensity to spread quickly, it's best not to plant mint in your garden.