Here’s a step-by-step guide and video tutorial on how to grow mint cuttings from the stems of the mother plant into new plants using the water method.
Mint is easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Keep reading for an easy how to grow mint from the cuttings of other plants guide and a simple video tutorial.
Mint is a perennial herb, meaning it’s a plant that exists for a long period of time. It lasts and grows year after year with small amounts of care. Mint loves abundant, full sun, but can also live in partial shade which makes it great as a potted plant in your garden. I love these qualities of the mint herb!
Though I love to garden, I’m not particularly good at it. I have the worst time getting my vegetables to thrive. I am learning, albeit slowly, what it takes to really get my flowers and vegetable plants to grow well. Between not knowing what I’m doing, being a full-time mom, homeschooling, working, and all the other day-to-day activities of life, my plants suffer at times. However, my mint plants have been a different story. So if you are a beginner gardener or aren’t particularly good at it, like me, keep reading, because there is hope for you!
Uses for Mint
Mint is a great herb and one of my favorites! Mint (or mentha) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which contains around 15 to 20 mint family plant species, including peppermint, sweet mint, pineapple mint, Vietnamese mint, chocolate mint, and spearmint. With many mint varieties, it is a popular herb that people can use fresh or dried and is used for teas, drinks, and recipes (think salads and pasta dishes).
Fresh mint has the best flavour! Mint also has a variety of uses. It is known to have potential health benefits and is great for culinary use as well. I love tossing it with new potatoes or using it in homemade salad dressing. It is incredibly hardy and just plain hard to kill. Hooray for that! I love being able to walk in my backyard and cut off a few sprigs of fresh mint!
Sweet Mint, along with Rosemary and Basil, was one of the first herbs I ever planted. I love to entertain and wanted to have this fragrant, robust herb available as a fresh addition to cocktails. I later branched out to make mint simple syrups for tea and adult beverages. It smelled so good! Adding fresh mint, lemon, and cucumber to a pitcher of water is a natural way to add flavor.
To freshen your breath, you can chew a fresh mint leave for a few minutes. Mint also makes a great addition to salads and other dishes, works well as a garnish, and has many health benefits. Iced tea with fresh mint anyone?
How to Grow Mint from Cuttings of other Plants
There are many varieties of mint, so feel free to go with your favorite for this method. Mint has made me feel like a capable gardener, even though I would still, after all these years, consider myself a beginner. This means if I can do it, anybody can. It has proven to be one of the easiest herbs and a useful herb to grow. It’s been many years since I first planted that initial barrel of mint alongside my basil and tomatoes. The mint plant is the one thing that is still thriving and growing. It has seen many plants come and go, but itself has become the staple of my herb garden barrel.
Growing Mint for Beginners
One thing you need to know about mint propagation: Mint can be an invasive plant with an aggressive root system. Because of this, it’s a good idea to plant mint in a container, whether a small pot or a large container. This keeps the new mint plant from spreading and choking out other growing plants in your garden beds after only a couple of weeks. I opted for an old whiskey barrel to plant my mint in. I love the way it looks in my yard! If your mint is spreading too much, simply pull some of it up and gift it in a pot to a friend, or plant it somewhere else.
Within four weeks of planting your root cuttings, you will see new growth with new leaves. See the video below.
How to Propagate Mint from Stem Cuttings
I have rooted woody stems with new roots from sprigs of mint a few times to give to friends so they can grow their own new mint plants. Potted mint makes a thoughtful hostess gift and is one of the reasons this idea made it to the DIY Christmas Hostess Gifts blog. Fresh cuttings as gifts are great to plant in a 4-inch pot. This is also a kind gift for a housewarming party. I also have rooted fresh mint just to have more plants of it around the house. It’s a really simple way to grow more of the mint herb!
The best way to create young plants is to take a healthy stem from a newer mint sprig and follow the water method steps below. Even if you don’t already have a mint plant, buying fresh mint from a grocery store can also turn into an established mint plant with the proper care. Buying a young plant from a local nursery or home store, or even purchasing mint seeds will set you on your way towards larger plants. It doesn’t take a long time to see new root growth with these popular herbs.
DIY How to Propogate Mint from Stem Cuttings
- 2-3 freshly cut mint stems
- A shot glass, espresso cup, or other small glass container
Ideally, you are cutting mint stems from a well-established. parent plant. Using a sharp knife or sharp scissors, cut 6-inch fresh cuttings of mint that are free of fungal disease. For even better results, take fresh growth from an established mint plant, as opposed to heartier, more mature stems, to see faster results. Early spring, late spring, or early summer is a great time to do this.
Place these stems in a small glass of water being sure to keep them in the water while rooting. A spray bottle can be used to replenish their water level. To speed growth, place the mint sprigs in a warm place with direct sunlight, such as a sunny window sill.
How to Grow Mint from Cuttings of other Plants
Throughout this time make sure the stems have the water they need so they don’t dry out. It takes approximately 4 weeks to get the roots where you need them to be in order to plant the new starts. Once the stems have their own roots, they are ready to grow in soil. At this point, you can plant them in their own individual pots with damp, quality potting mix or straight in your already established garden with fertile soil (make sure you have moist soil). Using clean water, water your new plants thoroughly after planting.
Planting and Potting Mint
The mint that has been planted into its own pots can be transplanted to larger pots as it grows. Mint transplants well and will grow into a large area as a mature mint plant if it has bountiful sunlight and plenty of room to grow. It will grow and last year after year because it is such a hardy plant.
There are other herbs that also do well with propagation like Rosemary, Lavender, and Basil. Herbs that I can create more plants from that cost me nothing? Yes, please! For a video tutorial of how to propagate mint from stem cuttings please see below.
Imagine my surprise when I found I never had to purchase green onions from the grocery store again! Here’s how I saved money, easily grew my own, and how you can too!
Post may contain affiliate links.
