How to Grow Mint Indoors

Overview

Mint is a large family of plants that are known for their signature scent and aggressiveness in the garden. They will choke out nearby plants if not properly contained. To avoid that danger, you can grow mint indoors and appreciate its aroma and flavor in your kitchen year-round. Mint is not picky about soil conditions and requires very little care outside of occasional watering. It is attractive on a windowsill, where it can be harvested fresh as needed for use in recipes.

Step 1

Fill an 8- to 12-inch pot or container with potting soil. Rich garden soil is nice, but mint will grow in most soils.

Step 2

Plant the seeds half an inch under the soil, covering them loosely. Water thoroughly, and put the container in a window that receives partial to full sunlight.

Step 3

Keep the soil moist until the mint germinates. That takes seven to 14 days for most varieties. Thin the seedlings so that they are eight inches apart.

Step 4

Pinch off the mint stems when they reach six to eight inches tall. That will encourage the mint to be bushy and not "leggy," or with long stems and few leaves. It will also ensure that the plant will continue to produce.

Step 5

Water the plant when the soil begins to dry out. Avoid overwatering, as mint does not do well in soggy soil.