thread: Repotting Mint

  1. #1

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    Repotting Mint

    I bought a funny little mint plant weeks ago, and have managed to keep it alive, thereby beating my previous record

    Anyhoo, I don't use it as often as I thought, and it's starting to look as if it's squashed in its little pot. And it also has some purple flowers budding at the top. My questions are -

    1 - What are the purple flowers?
    2 - Is it just a case of buying a bigger pot, putting in some potting mix, loosening the dirt currently in the pot and putting the whole plant into the new pot?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Gold Coast
    1,153

    Hey hon, congrats. Hate to rain on your pararde, but the survival of the mint is not entirely due to your superior horticultural skills.
    The fact is, you cant kill mint.
    Its the superman of the herb world
    If you pot it up, it will grow bigger and in about 3 months will look much the same as it does now, just larger. If you want 2 mint plants, just chop it in 1/2 with a shovel and chuck it in 2 pots. If you want 10 plants, just chop off 10 20cm pieces and shove them in some dirt. They will grow.
    The flowere are just that, the reproductive head of the plant. I have never eaten them, but am sure you could.......they would prolly look great in a salad.
    Just do yourself a favour, and dont plant it in the garden, or let it overflow out of its pot and take root in the garden. You will never get rid of it.
    Mint is awesome in salads try it.
    It is also super pretty in a vase, it will last forvever as long as it has water, infact, mine is growing roots in a coffee mug above the sink. I just plck leaves as I need them and it grows right back.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    On the other side of this screen!!!
    11,129

    The flowers are totally normal for a happy mint plant. If you want to encourage more leaf growth you could pick the flowers off but it won't make any difference if you leave them there.

    Yep. Your potting method sounds about right. I've found mint likes a good bit of water, so I keep my pot underneath the garden tap where it gets all the extra drips.

  4. #4

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    Thanks ladies I've just repotted it in a bigger pot. Professor doesn't quite understand WHY, given I don't use mint very often. I'm thinking I might start doing infused oils though, coz we just love them. To that end, I also bought a rosemary plant today, LOL.

    2 herb plants - I'm officially a gardener!