Hello, human. I am a mint plant. To help me thrive in your apartment, you must understand my needs from my perspective. Here is what I require to grow lush and vigorous for you.
I originate from the sunny Mediterranean, so I crave abundant light. Place me in the sunniest spot you have, ideally a south or west-facing windowsill where I can bask in at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Without enough light, I will become weak and leggy, stretching desperately towards any light source, and my flavorful oils will be less potent. If your apartment is dark, a grow light placed a few inches above me for 12-14 hours a day will keep me happy and bushy.
I am an enthusiastic and spreading plant, but I do not like wet feet. Choose a pot for me that is wide rather than deep, as my roots prefer to grow horizontally. Most critically, the pot must have excellent drainage holes. I despise sitting in waterlogged soil, which will cause my roots to rot and decay. Use a light, well-draining potting mix; you can even add a handful of perlite or sand to a standard potting soil to ensure it drains quickly and provides me with the air I need.
My watering needs are simple but specific. I enjoy consistently moist soil, but not mud. The best way to check is to push your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle. If it feels dry at that depth, it is time for a thorough drink. Water me slowly until you see water escape from the drainage holes into the saucer, then—this is vital—empty that saucer afterward. Do not let my pot sit in the drained water. I will wilt if I am too dry, but soggy roots will kill me much faster.
To produce the flavorful leaves you love, I need nutrients. Feed me once a month during my main growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. Too much fertilizer will make me grow too fast and dilute my signature minty taste. Please also trim me regularly! Pinching off the tips of my stems encourages me to grow bushy and full instead of tall and spindly. Most importantly, harvest my leaves often. This is the best kind of pruning and promotes lush new growth.
You should know that my natural instinct is to expand and colonize space. In an apartment garden, this means I will happily fill whatever pot you give me. To keep me contained and healthy, it is a good idea to divide my roots and repot me into fresh soil every year or two. This prevents me from becoming root-bound, where my roots become so crowded that I can no longer absorb water or nutrients effectively.
