As a mint plant, my roots are my lifeline, and their condition is the most direct indicator of your watering habits. When overwatered, the soil becomes perpetually saturated, driving out vital oxygen. My root cells cannot respire properly and begin to die, becoming soft, brown, and mushy—a condition you may know as root rot. This decay destroys my ability to uptake water and nutrients, ironically leading to systemic thirst. Conversely, underwatering presents a much simpler crisis: sheer dehydration. My roots are healthy but have nothing to absorb. They become brittle, dry, and may shrink. In a desperate attempt to find moisture, they might become pot-bound more quickly, circling the container in search of a single drop of water.
The state of my stems provides a clear, visible narrative. Underwatering causes my stems to become limp, weak, and wilted. They droop pathetically because the cells lack water pressure (turgor) to keep them rigid and upright. This is a desperate plea for hydration. Overwatering, however, leads to a different kind of weakness. The stems may feel soft and unusually flexible, but not necessarily wilted in the same way. In advanced stages, they become black or dark brown at the base and feel mushy due to the rot traveling up from the compromised root system. They lose their structural integrity from decay, not from a lack of water pressure.
My leaves are my most communicative feature. When thirsty, my leaves are your first clue. They will become dry, crispy, and brittle to the touch, often starting at the tips and edges before browning entirely. They will curl inward or downward in an attempt to reduce surface area and minimize water loss through transpiration. The overall plant will look sad and dry. An overwatered mint plant sends a more confusing signal. The leaves often turn yellow, particularly the older, lower leaves first. This chlorosis occurs because the rotten roots cannot deliver nutrients. Crucially, these yellowing leaves will often feel soft, limp, and sodden, not dry. In severe cases, you may even see oedema, where cells burst and create blister-like bumps on the leaves due of excessive water uptake.
My overall growth and the potency of my signature scent are ultimate signs of my health. An underwatered mint plant will exhibit severely stunted growth. My priority is survival, not expansion, so I will stop producing new shoots and leaves altogether. The growth that does exist will be weak. An overwatered plant also experiences stunted growth, but for a different reason: a failed root system cannot support new growth. The most telling sign, however, is in my essence. A healthy, properly watered mint plant is vigorously aromatic. Both overwatering and underwatering will diminish my signature minty fragrance significantly, as producing those aromatic oils is a luxury my stressed system can no longer afford.
