How To Propagate Mint

Propagating mint is easy. Here is everything you need to know on how to propagate mint successfully from seeds and stem and root cuttings.

With its great varieties, mint has to be the most popular herb in gardening. You can think of all the different mint types as the “Kardashians” of herbs.

It doesn’t matter if you’re serious about gardening or not. You should have at least one type of mint growing in your herb garden.

Why? Because all mints are aromatic, beautiful, and incredibly beneficial.

You should also learn how to propagate mint. You’ll no longer have to buy mint plants from the nursery if you do.

Propagating herbs is a skill you should pick up sooner rather than later. It’s the secret behind preserving herb collections and expanding them.

Propagating mint is an excellent way to start, although you must learn a few important things first.

Let’s jump into it!

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Propagating Mint From Seeds

Spearmint Herb

Starting mint from seeds isn’t the best idea. Many different mint species produce nonviable seeds that cannot germinate.

Others produce viable seeds that may have a low germination rate or produce plants with variable characteristics.

Nonetheless, propagating mint from seeds isn’t impossible. When I was a child, my parents and I used to grow spearmint from seeds all the time.

If you’re eager to grow your herbs from seeds, go ahead and propagate your mint plants that way. Bear in mind, though, that you won’t find seeds for all mint varieties because some of them are sterile.

Here are the tips you need to know about mint seed propagation:

When Do You Start Mint Seeds?

What if you depend on natural and unregulated conditions to grow herbs? You definitely need to start your mint seeds indoors at the end of winter.

If you use grow lamps, like I do, you can start your seeds whenever you want. That is, so long as you’re regulating all other controlling factors.

What Do You Need To Start Mint Seeds?

You need viable seeds with a relatively high germination rate. Be sure to buy those that have many positive reviews online.

You also need small containers or pots that allow you to easily transfer the seedlings later.

Pots

More important than anything, you need a medium for growing the seeds. A germination soilless mix or a rich, well-drained soil would do the job.

Finally, you can also benefit from having some plastic wrap.

How Do You Start Mint Seeds?

  • Moisten the soil or mix before you use it to fill the containers up to the brim
  • Sow three seeds on top of each container
  • Immerse the seeds 1/3″ (0.84 cm) in the soil
  • Cover the containers with plastic wrap to speed up germination
  • Remove the plastic wrap for a few hours to allow the seeds to breathe

Germination will likely take place after two weeks.

Seeds Growing Conditions:

  • Light: Avoid direct sunlight. Expose seeds to some indirect sunlight or artificial light.
  • Temperature: A room temperature of 68°F (20°C) is ideal.
  • Water: The soil should stay moist all the time. Make sure to be gentle during watering.

Once the seeds sprout, transfer the seedlings to wider containers. Make sure you expose them to direct sunlight or use grow lamps to ensure they’re getting 12 hours of light daily.

Also, water them gently once or twice daily.

Propagating Mint From Cuttings

Cutting Mint

The best way to propagate mint is from cuttings. You can propagate different mint varieties from the stem or the root.

Have you ever read an article or a book about companion planting? (Companion planting is the process of growing different plants together.) Then you’ll know mint is invasive and shouldn’t be grown with most other plants.

That’s why mint can be grown by vegetative propagation with remarkable success and ease.

In natural conditions, mint can send its roots underground. That allows it to grow in different places around the garden.

Herb growers depend on all that to reproduce mint plants without viable seeds. Peppermint is a perfect example.

Let me show you how you can do that too:

How Do You Propagate Mint From Stem Cuttings?

First of all, whether you are growing mint from a stem or root, it’s evident that you need a grown mint plant to start. It can be yours, a friend’s, a neighbor’s, or a relative’s plant.

Once you find your volunteer mint, here’s what you should do:

  • Search for a stem that is 4″ to 6″ (around 10–15 cm) long and doesn’t have flowers at the top
  • Cut the stem right below the point where the last leaves at the bottom grow
  • Remove all the leaves at the bottom and keep only the one set of leaves growing at the top
  • Transfer the cutting to a glass of water and leave it in a sunny and well-ventilated place

Your cutting will start to develop a root system gradually. Wait close to two weeks. It will be ready to be transferred to a pot that contains light, rich, well-drained soil.

Remember to use clean, high-quality pruners while taking cuttings. You need to avoid wounds and tears in your plants.

Otherwise, pests and diseases could devour the stems from the inside and the outside.

Closeup of fresh green mint leaves. Abstract background. Soft fo

You can also plant your cutting directly in the soil:

  • Dip the stem base in a rooting hormone
  • Make a small hole in the soil with your finger
  • Insert the stem’s base into the hole
  • Gently push the soil around the cutting

You can find rooting hormone gel or powder on Amazon.

Keep the soil moist and the cuttings away from direct sunlight until they start growing new leaves.

How Do You Propagate Mint From Root Cuttings?

Mint root propagation is somewhat like stem propagation. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Dig up the root of your mint plant
  • Choose the root extensions that measure at least 6″ (15 cm) long and cut them off
  • Bring a wide container that allows the mint to spread and grow smoothly
  • Dig a hole in the container and place the cutting in it horizontally

Water the root cuttings often to always keep the soil moist. After about a month, the cuttings will start to grow new stems and leaves.

It’s important to note that mint will become very invasive in this case, and you should plant it alone in the container.

Conclusion: What Method Should You Use?

Now you have learned three different ways of mint propagation. You may be a little confused about which one to choose.

Remember that in the case of mint, it’s always better to propagate the plant from cuttings. Stem cuttings are the easiest to take and need less time to propagate than root cuttings.

Root propagation is always best when you want to “divide” an old mint plant or one that has already blossomed.

Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Jad Daou

Jad has always been passionate about growing plants. When he finished high school, he majored in biology, which makes him very knowledgeable about agriculture.