It can be eaten and can cure diseases. You would be missing out if you don’t grow a pot of mint! The cheaper you raise it, the faster it will grow!

illumination

Mint is a light-loving plant and needs sufficient light during its growth process, but there is no need to worry even if it is exposed to direct sunlight. Without sufficient light, mint will easily grow too tall, its leaves will not grow large, and its stems and leaves will be thin and weak, so it is best to place the mint on a sunny south balcony, which will not only promote growth but also make the mint fragrance more intense.

Watering

Mint is a water-loving plant. Adequate water can keep the mint leaves fresh and tender. Mint has strong vitality and is not afraid of drought or flood. Even if it has not been watered for many days and the leaves have withered, they will recover immediately after watering. If the mint lacks water, water it from the roots to allow it to absorb the water fully. If you want the mint to be green, just use a spray bottle to water it directly above. Water more where the leaves are densely packed and less where the leaves are sparse.

It should be noted that if your mint can be guaranteed 6-8 hours of sunlight every day, you should water it when the surface of the pot feels dry, and water it once every 1-3 days.

Hydroponics

Mint can also be grown hydroponically, but the water should not be changed too frequently. Before roots grow, change the water every 2-3 weeks. After roots grow, change the water once a week. You can also add an appropriate amount of nutrient solution to the water to ensure the nutrient needs of mint during its growth. Although mint is a water-loving plant, soil cultivation is more conducive to the growth of mint.

prune

Mint grows quickly and must be pruned frequently to ensure normal growth. The more you prune it, the more luxuriant it will become. In addition to daily leaf cutting for consumption, if the mint appears to be growing too tall, has a bad plant shape, or has diseases and insect pests, you can use strong pruning to cut off the entire plant from the part close to the soil to promote the growth of new healthy branches.

Cuttings

Except for the tenderest part at the top of mint, the other parts can be cut. However, it should be noted that if the cuttings are too tender, it will affect the survival rate.

Cut the selected branches into several sections, each section is 8-15 cm long, and retain 4-5 leaves. If there are not enough leaves, but there are enough buds on the branches, you can also achieve cuttings. Insert the branches obliquely into the soil or water. After 10-15 days, it will take root and the survival rate is very high.

Fertilization

Mint is a fertilizer-loving plant. You can apply some decomposed bean cake water or decomposed rice water, and use the method of applying small amounts of fertilizer frequently.

What to do if mint leaves turn yellow?

If the mint leaves turn yellow, move it to a location with sufficient light and good ventilation. If the mint leaves become wrinkled, you should water them according to the principle of "don't water unless the soil is dry, and water thoroughly if the soil is dry". The effect will be better if you use rice water.

What should I do if my mint grows too thin and tall?

Mint may grow too thin because of too much water and lack of light, which causes the stems to grow too thin. The stems are thin and soft and easy to fall over. To improve the phenomenon of excessive growth, you must first increase the light and control the appropriate amount of water.

If mint grows too tall, you can prevent it from growing too tall by pinching the tops. Be sure to be gentle when pinching, as mint can withstand pruning, and the more you prune it, the more conducive it will be to lush growth!

What should I do if mint is infested with insects?

In addition to buying medicine to kill mint insects, you can also make your own medicine to kill insects. Take 20g of tobacco, soak it in 500g of clean water, filter it after 24 hours, add 500g of soapy water to the filtrate, and spray it on the leaves with insects to effectively kill the pests.

What to do if mint roots rot?

If the roots are rotten in the soil, cut off the rotten parts, place them in a cool place to dry for a day, and then bury them in coarse sand (the coarse sand should be washed with water in advance). Do not water them immediately after placing them in the pot. Wait until 3 days later before watering them. Then keep watering them once every 3-5 days.

If the roots are rotten due to hydroponic culture, you should also cut off the rotten parts first, soak the trimmed flowers in 0.5% potassium permanganate solution for sterilization. After 10-20 minutes, take out the flowers, rinse them with water, and then place the flowers in a container and cultivate them with clean water. Change the water every 2 days. Nutrient solution can be added in the early stage of new root growth to promote growth.

Mint not only has ornamental value, but also has pharmacological effects. A small mint leaf has many functions.

Benefits of Mint

Pick fresh mint leaves, dry them, and soak them in water to make mint tea. It not only relieves heat and summer heat, but also has a calming effect. Drinking a cup of mint tea after a lot of exercise will definitely be cool and refreshing.

Mint has bactericidal and antibacterial effects and can be used to reduce inflammation and inhibit bacteria. Crush the mint leaves and apply them on the areas bitten by mosquitoes to relieve itching.

The smell of mint makes it less susceptible to disease and pests. Planting it together with other plants can have an insect repellent effect.

Mint can effectively relieve symptoms such as irritability and insomnia, and is even more effective in relieving headaches than painkillers.

Mint can effectively prevent oral diseases. Rinsing your mouth with mint water can not only whiten your teeth, but also prevent bad breath.

The refreshing taste and verdant color of mint can promote digestion and increase appetite at a glance.

Steaming your face with the mist of mint tea can also shrink your pores, and applying mint leaves soaked in tea on your eyes can effectively relieve eye fatigue.

Mint can also effectively relieve colds. Use a blender to crush the mint leaves, boil them in a pot, and then add beeswax to make mint cream. It can effectively relieve nasal congestion and cough, and is better and healthier than cold medicine.

However, although mint has so many benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. People with yin deficiency and fever should not use mint excessively. Mint can affect the digestive tract absorption and heart function of pregnant women, and can affect milk secretion after delivery, so pregnant women should not consume mint in excess.

Types of Mint

There are about 30 varieties of mint, the most common ones are mint and spearmint. Mint is also called Chinese mint, and spearmint is also called green mint.

Chinese mint

Spearmint

Mints are named in a unique way, and some are named after countries. For example, American mint, Japanese mint, Vietnamese mint, etc.

American Mint

Japanese mint

Vietnamese Mint

Some are named after fruits. For example, apple mint, pineapple mint, grapefruit mint, orange mint, lemon mint, etc. These mints can be used to make snacks and are all edible.

Apple Mint

Pineapple Mint

Grapefruit Mint

Orange Mint

Lemon Mint

There is another type of mint that cat lovers will be particularly familiar with, called "catnip". The smell of catnip can make cats excited and stimulated, causing hallucinations. Cats like to scratch and bite it, and will become extremely excited after eating it. It is worth noting that young cats should not be allowed to eat catnip.

A cat that has taken catnip