Growing Mint Indoors — Complete Guide
Yes, Mint can be grown indoors. Here's everything you need to know: container size, light requirements, watering schedule, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Mint Indoors — At a Glance
Container Size for Indoor Mint
Recommended: 8–12 inch pot
Mint spreads aggressively — a dedicated container is ideal. Use an 8-inch pot minimum; a larger 12-inch pot gives it room to spread and produces more harvestable stems.
Light Requirements
Hours of Light Needed
12–16 hours
per day, consistently
Grow Light Recommendation
Mint tolerates lower light than most herbs. A north- or east-facing window works. For best growth, 14 hours under a mid-range LED grow light.
Watering and Humidity
Ideal Humidity: 40–60%
Mint tolerates average home humidity well. It prefers slightly cooler temperatures than most herbs — 65–70°F is ideal. Good air circulation prevents powdery mildew.
Ideal Temperature: 55–75°F (13–24°C)
Keep away from cold drafts (air conditioning, windows in winter) and excessive heat sources (heaters, ovens). Consistent temperature produces the most vigorous growth.
How to Grow Mint Indoors: Step by Step
Choose a container
Use an 8–12 inch pot with drainage holes. A wide, shallow pot suits mint's spreading habit better than a deep, narrow one.
Plant from cuttings or divisions
Mint grows best from cuttings or root divisions. Place a 4-inch cutting in water until roots appear, then pot up. Seeds are slow and unreliable.
Position for light
Place in a window that receives at least 4–6 hours of bright light. Mint tolerates lower light than most herbs but grows more vigorously with more.
Water regularly
Mint prefers consistently moist (not soggy) soil. Check daily in warm weather — it wilts quickly when dry but recovers rapidly after watering.
Harvest and control
Cut stems back by one-third regularly. If roots circle the pot, divide and repot to keep it vigorous. Refresh potting mix annually.
Common Indoor Mint Problems & Fixes
Powdery white coating on leaves
Cause
Powdery mildew from poor air circulation
Fix
Space plants further apart, improve ventilation, remove affected leaves
Sparse, leggy growth
Cause
Too little light or infrequent harvesting
Fix
Move to brighter location and harvest top 2–3 inches of each stem regularly
Root rot
Cause
Overwatering or poor drainage
Fix
Ensure pot has drainage holes, allow soil to dry slightly between waterings
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Mint indoors?
Yes, Mint can be grown indoors with the right conditions. You'll need 12–16 hours of Full sun to partial shade, a 8–12 inch pot, and temperatures of 55–75°F (13–24°C). The difficulty level for growing Mint indoors is Easy.
How much light does indoor Mint need?
Indoor Mint needs 12–16 hours of light per day. Mint tolerates lower light than most herbs. A north- or east-facing window works. For best growth, 14 hours under a mid-range LED grow light.
What size container does indoor Mint need?
Mint spreads aggressively — a dedicated container is ideal. Use an 8-inch pot minimum; a larger 12-inch pot gives it room to spread and produces more harvestable stems.
Best Cities for Growing Mint Outdoors
If you're growing Mint indoors year-round, check the outdoor calendar for your city — you may be able to grow it outside during warmer months too.
Growing Mint Outdoors Too?
Find the best planting times for Mint in your city with our climate-based calendar.