Growing Mint Indoors: Tips for Beginners (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction: Why Mint is the Perfect Herb to Grow Indoors

When it comes to herbs that are easy to grow, fragrant, and endlessly useful, mint tops the list. Whether you love adding it to teas, salads, or cocktails, growing mint indoors ensures you always have a fresh supply right on your windowsill.

Unlike delicate herbs like basil or cilantro, mint is resilient — it grows fast, tolerates a range of conditions, and requires minimal care. Plus, mint is known for its natural air-purifying qualities and insect-repelling properties, making it a perfect indoor companion.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know — from choosing the right mint variety to harvesting and propagating it successfully indoors.

🌱 1. Why Grow Mint Indoors?

Before jumping into the setup, let’s talk about why growing mint indoors is a smart idea for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.

🍃 1. Fresh Mint Year-Round

When you grow mint indoors, you’re no longer dependent on the season. You can harvest fresh leaves all year — even in winter.

🏠 2. Space-Friendly

Mint thrives in small pots, so you don’t need a big garden or balcony. A sunny kitchen window or desk is enough.

🌬️ 3. Air-Purifying and Aromatic

Mint is known to remove airborne toxins while releasing a refreshing scent that keeps your indoor air clean.

💸 4. Cost-Effective

Store-bought herbs can be expensive and lose flavor quickly. A single mint plant can give you months of fresh supply.

🐜 5. Natural Pest Repellent

Mint emits menthol, which deters flies, ants, and mosquitoes naturally.

🌿 2. Choosing the Right Mint Variety for Indoor Growth

Not all mints are the same! Here are the most popular and easiest mint varieties to grow indoors:

For beginners, Spearmint and Peppermint are perfect — they grow fast and recover easily from pruning.

🌞 3. Choosing the Perfect Spot Indoors

Mint loves bright, indirect sunlight — around 4–6 hours daily. However, direct sunlight for extended hours may scorch the leaves.

✅ Ideal Locations:

• Kitchen window sills facing east or west
• Balcony with filtered sunlight
• Desk near a bright window

If your space lacks natural light, supplement with LED grow lights for 10–12 hours a day.

Recommended Product (Amazon Affiliate):

• 💡 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light for Indoor Herbs
• 🪴 Self-Watering Planter for Indoor Herbs

🌿 4. The Right Pot and Soil for Mint

🪴 Pot Selection

Choose a wide pot (at least 8–10 inches) with drainage holes. Mint spreads through underground stems (runners), so it needs room to expand horizontally.

Avoid planting multiple herbs with mint in one pot — it can overtake other plants quickly.

Best Pot Types for Mint:

• Self-watering pots
• Ceramic or plastic containers
• Hanging planters for aesthetic appeal

Affiliate Picks:

• 🌿 8-inch Self-Watering Herb Planter with Drainage
• 🌱 Bamboo Herb Garden Pots with Tray

🌱 Soil Mix

Use a well-draining, rich potting mix. Mint prefers slightly moist soil but not soggy.

Ideal Soil Recipe:

• 60% potting mix
• 20% compost
• 20% perlite or sand

This mix ensures proper drainage and nutrition.

💧 5. Watering Mint the Right Way

Mint loves moisture but hates waterlogging. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes beginners make when growing mint indoors.

✅ Watering Guidelines:

• Check soil with your finger — water when the top inch feels dry.
• Avoid letting the pot sit in standing water.
• Reduce watering in winter months.

Pro Tip: Use a self-watering pot or moisture meter to avoid overwatering.

Amazon Suggestion:

• 💧 Soil Moisture Meter for Indoor Plants

🌿 6. Feeding and Fertilizing Mint

Mint is a heavy feeder compared to other herbs. Regular feeding keeps its growth lush and aromatic.

🌱 Fertilizer Schedule:

• Feed once every 3–4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
• During the growing season (spring and summer), use an organic fertilizer or compost tea.

Avoid over-fertilizing — it can make leaves lose their flavor.

Affiliate Suggestion:

• 🌿 Organic Liquid Fertilizer for Herbs
• 🌾 Compost Tea Bags for Indoor Gardening

🌿 7. Pruning and Harvesting for Continuous Growth

Regular pruning encourages bushier, healthier growth.

✂️ How to Prune:

• Once your mint reaches 6 inches tall, pinch off the top 2 inches.
• Always leave 2–3 sets of leaves on each stem.
• Never remove more than ⅓ of the plant at once.

🌿 Harvesting Tips:

• Harvest in the morning when essential oils are strongest.
• Cut stems just above a leaf node.
• Frequent harvesting prevents flowering and keeps flavor rich.

Pro Tip: Once your mint starts flowering, trim it back — flowering reduces leaf aroma.

🌱 8. Growing Mint from Cuttings (Propagation)

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to propagate!

🌿 Steps for Propagating Mint from Cuttings:

1. Cut a 4–6 inch healthy stem below a node.
2. Remove lower leaves, leaving only 2–3 at the top.
3. Place it in a glass of water near sunlight.
4. Change water every 2 days.
5. After 7–10 days, roots will appear — transfer to soil.

Affiliate Product:

• 🧴 Rooting Hormone Gel for Fast Propagation

You can also grow mint hydroponically — no soil required!

💧 9. Growing Mint Hydroponically (Soil-Free Setup)

Hydroponic mint grows faster and cleaner. Perfect for tech-savvy gardeners or small apartments.

🧪 Requirements:

• Hydroponic growing kit or Kratky jar system
• Nutrient solution for herbs
• LED grow light

🌿 Benefits of Hydroponic Mint:

• No soil mess
• Faster growth
• Easy to monitor water and nutrients

Affiliate Picks:

• 🌱 Hydroponic Herb Growing Kit for Beginners
• 💧 Nutrient Solution for Hydroponic Herbs

🐛 10. Common Mint Problems and How to Fix Them

❌ Yellow Leaves:

Usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage.
✅ Fix: Improve drainage and allow soil to dry slightly between watering.

❌ Spindly Growth:

Caused by insufficient light.
✅ Fix: Move near a window or add grow lights.

❌ Pests (Aphids, Spider Mites):

Wipe leaves with neem oil or mild soapy water once a week.
✅ Fix: Use an organic insecticidal spray.

Amazon Suggestion:

• 🪴 Organic Neem Oil Spray for Indoor Plants

🌿 11. Companion Herbs to Grow with Mint

Mint pairs beautifully with other herbs — but only in separate pots!
Here are herbs with similar care needs:

🌿 12. Styling Your Indoor Mint Garden

If you want to blend functionality with design, create a mini indoor herb garden with mint as the centerpiece.

🌼 Design Ideas:

• Use tiered wooden stands for multiple herbs.
• Add label tags for a professional touch.
• Combine with fairy lights or hanging jars.

Affiliate Ideas:

• 🌿 Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit
• 🪴 Rustic Wooden Plant Stand for Windowsill

🌿 13. Health Benefits of Mint

Beyond culinary uses, mint offers incredible health benefits:

• Aids digestion and relieves bloating
• Freshens breath naturally
• Reduces nausea and headaches
• Boosts alertness and focus
• Anti-inflammatory properties

Having mint nearby can even improve cognitive performance — ideal for your home office or study area!

🛒 Top Amazon Picks for Growing Mint Indoors