Why is My Mint Plant Dying? Everything you should Learn

Why is My Mint Plant Dying? Mint is one of those unkillable plants that, every now and again, like to take you by surprise by suddenly sprouting and dying. It goes from trying to climb out of its pot and take over your kitchen to turning into mulch in the blink of an eye.

Even though it has a bad reputation, Mint is no different from any other houseplant in that it is susceptible to a wide range of illnesses, pests, and other problems. Over-watering is the most prevalent cause of Mint dying, as it creates the ideal environment for root rot and disease to thrive. A lack of sunlight or a poor soil condition is two other possible explanations. Pest infestations, poor soil pH, and lighting conditions can all cause difficulties for Mint, some of which can be lethal if left untreated for an extended period.

Ways To Know If Mint Is Dying

Mint is a resilient plant that produces an abundance of brilliant green leaves. Even plants that are famed for their vitality, though, can suffer from a lack of nutrients. Keep a watch out for the following warning signs:

• Crunchy Brown Leaves

The leaves of Mint differ slightly depending on the variety. Examples include spearmint with a blue tint and chocolate mint with flushes of reddish-orange color. On the other hand, Mint is not supposed to have brown leaves that are hard or brittle.

• Soft Sickly Leaves

The soft, fading leaves are unable to obtain enough nutrition. Over-watering, poor soil quality, and damaged and rotten roots are all potential causes of this problem. The condition of wet, darkened, or blotched leaves are the worst. That indicates the presence of disease, particularly fungal rots and blights.

• Weak Stems

Mint stems that are in good health are brilliant woody brown or green and velvety in color, depending on the variety of Mint. They are malleable, and when pressed, they spring back. Unless your Mint is severely under-watered or sun-burnt, it will snap at the least pressure. Stems that are blackened and sagging are ill or decaying. They’re gone for good and can’t be revived if they’re dripping wet.

• Dropped Leaves

When your Mint is sick, damaged, or dying, it will take dramatic measures to conserve its energy reserves. With the dropping of leaves, the plant is able to conserve water and energy. It’s your plant’s last-ditch attempt to survive in the wild.

• Total Plant Disintegration

If your Mint is growing vigorously, the stems and runners should be clumping together. This indicates that your plant is dead or on the verge of dying if they break away when touched. If there is no surviving growth at the base of your mint plant, it is game over for your poor mint plant.

Why is My Mint Plant Dying? Causes of Mint Plant Dying

 

Over-Watering

There’s no reality that over-watering is nearly always the root cause of a dying houseplant when I’m presented with one. Giving your plant much water may appear to be a thoughtful gesture, but you are drowning them in reality. Plants require air in their roots, and if they do not receive it, their roots will die and begin to rot.

Signs of Over-Watering

• Yellowing leaves
• Weak, sodden stems
• Soggy potting medium
• Damp, musty aroma
• Water is dripping from the base of the mint plant pot

Soggy soil is a breeding ground for various fungal infections that damage the roots of plants. If you’ve been overwatering for an extended period, you’ve probably washed out all of the soil’s nutrients.

How to Fix

Our best option for a plant that has been mostly waterlogged is to simply re-pot it. This will introduce new nutrients to the soil and allow you to examine your roots more closely.

• Use a pot with at least one drainage hole, preferably multiple drainage holes.
• Make sure your mint container is a suitable size for the plant. A little mint simply necessitates the use of a small pot. Large pots divert water from the roots, causing the mix to get soggy and rot.
• A mixture of normal potting soil with a dose of perlite and peat moss or coir is perfect for growing plants in containers (Amazon links). Using a too-rich mix, your plant may bolt, producing long, leggy stems with few leaves and a lackluster flavor.
• Blackened, slimy roots indicate that your Mint suffers from root rot and requires additional care. Remove black, rotting roots with clean scissors or shears in the case of a minor infestation.

Limiting the amount of water applied will help to prevent this problem from occurring again. Your Mint prefers soil that is wet but not extremely waterlogged. Your Mint will only require watering once a week at the most.

Plants that are larger in size will require more water, whereas smaller plants will require less. All plants require a little more water when the weather is warm and a little less when the weather is chilly. Even once a month throughout the winter months is possible!

Check the moisture levels in the soil before watering to be on the safe side. You should allow the top inch of soil to dry up completely before watering your mint plant.

Under-Watering

 

 

Mint that hasn’t been appropriately hydrated is crispy, brown, and dry. Dry leaves, dry stems, and dry soil are all signs of aridity. The media is sloppy in the pot, and the entire plant appears to be inadequately supported.

The chances are good that your poor Mint has been completely dried up from root to tip if the whole thing dances around when you stir the pot!

How to Fix

Fortunately, under-watering is much easier to remedy than over-watering, which is considerably more difficult. Watering from below will help to revive your under-watered mint plant.

Strangely, dry soil has a limited ability to retain moisture, and water poured from the top is likely to flow out the bottom simply. Watering from below hydrates the medium more thoroughly and ensures that water is delivered straight to the plant’s roots.

To get water from below, do the following:

• Pour water into a basin or tray that is at least half the depth of the pot you are using.
• Fill the tray half-full with filtered, distilled, or rainwater to the height of your pot and set it aside.
• As the water absorbs the soil of your pot, you should see a decrease in the volume of water in the tray. Water should be added regularly to keep the level stable.
• Once the water level has stabilized, remove your plant from the water and allow it to soak for 10 minutes.
• Remove your plant and allow it to drain for around half an hour before placing it back in its original location.

To keep track of your plants every week, I recommend setting a reminder on your phone for when you are most active in the garden.

It is possible that you will not need water, but it is always a good idea to check, and I find the procedure rather relaxing.

On Sunday mornings, I look forward to the delicate tending of my plants, which is one of the joys of my week. Consider setting a reminder and making time for yourself, as well.

Lack of Nutrient

It is necessary for the growth of your Mint that it has a consistent supply of nitrogen, phosphate, and other minerals. Fresh growth will be limited if you don’t have them, and whatever little Mint you do manage to produce will be delicate. Your poor Mint will soon cease growing and succumb to the elements. The presence of old soil, excessive watering, and root injury are all factors that impede nourishment.

How to Fix

As previously said, re-potting your plant (as explained above) is one method of providing your Mint with access to fresh minerals. However, if your plant is growing in relatively new soil, a decent beginning point is to apply a liquid fertilizer once a month when watering the plant. Mint is not a heavy feeder and is not picky about the type of fertilizer it receives; therefore, a regular balanced liquid fertilizer should do the trick.

Other methods of incorporating nutrition are as follows:

• Increasing the amount of organic content in your potting mediums. The use of coir, peat moss, compost, and worm castings is all recommended.
• Surface application of slow-release granules to the soil’s surface. Every time you water, these plants release nutrients into the earth.
• Check the pH of the soil in your garden. Too acidic or alkaline soil will hinder your Mint from gaining access to the minerals it needs to grow and thrive. Attempt to achieve a mildly acidic to neutral pH. (around pH 6 to 7). I go into greater depth on pH later down the page.

Frostbite and Cold Injuries

Mint is a hard customer who can withstand a little bit of cold. Even in outdoor beds, Mint can withstand temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit and prolonged periods of snow before blooming in a weed-like profusion once the weather warms up in the spring.

On the other hand, indoor plants face a different set of difficulties. With a rapid snap freeze, it is possible to destroy your mint plant. It is possible to freeze your plant to death in the winter if your heating system fails or if your plant is put in a drafty area of the house. You can also chill your plant into dormancy with overly vigorous air conditioning in the summer.

Even if your plant does not appear to be damaged, it may be shedding healthy-looking leaves because the temperature has dropped too low, and it is falling into hibernation.

It appears that your plant has died. However, it is quite simple to bring it back to life by simply warming your plant.

How to Fix

Move your Mint to a warmer part of the house to help it regain its energy. It’s best to keep your Mint out of direct sunlight at first, but after some acclimatization, it’s entirely safe to leave it out in direct sunlight for little periods. Make sure it’s not too close to drafts or air conditioning vents to keep it comfortable. In a short period, your Mint should resurrect and produce fresh growth.

Having given your Mint a false winter, it may respond with the exuberance of spring if you have done your job properly!

Heat Stress

Mint is immune to cold temperatures, but it is not so resistant to high temperatures. If your Mint overheats, it will become limp and dehydrated because it is a plant that is accustomed to moderate conditions.

It’s also possible to “cook” a mint plant by planting it into a dark pot and then putting it in the sun for an extended period of time, especially if the pot is made of plastic. As a result of the overheating and death of the roots, the plant is killed.

How to Fix

Avoid placing dark pots in direct sunlight, especially during the summer months, to avoid heat stress. If you live in a warm climate, keep an eye on the temperature of your room during the day, especially if it is facing west or south.

Fortunately, if you have accidentally fried your poor Mint, the most straightforward cure is simply to relocate it to a cooler part of the house. Watering should be done with caution. When soil is saturated, it becomes deeper in color and absorbs more radiant heat. Water should be consumed first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

The use of larger, lighter-colored pots with thicker walls will help to keep your roots from overheating. Terracotta is a particularly valuable material. Moisture from the soil seeps into the terracotta, which eventually dries and deteriorates. It’s similar to having local air conditioning for your facility. Simply ensure that your mint supply is never depleted!

Conclusion: Why is My Mint Plant Dying?

Unable to determine why your mint plant is dying over and over again? We’re here to assist you. Overwatering is a common source of problems. When growing Mint, it prefers moist soil, but not so wet that the soil becomes soggy. To avoid this, always check the soil’s moisture level before watering to verify that it is adequate.

Other reasons for your mint plant’s poor performance include insects such as spider mites and loopers and illnesses such as mint rust. The good news is that a dying mint plant can be brought back to life. All that is required is that you discover the precise problem that is hurting your plant and correct it properly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to revive a Dying Mint Plant?

Identifying the specific reason for your plant’s death will be the first step you should do after discovering it. If overwatering is the source of the problem, try to reduce the frequency and amount of water applied. If a bug is the source of the problem, the bug should be identified and a proper pest control strategy used.

How long does it take to Revive a Dying Mint Plant?

The severity of the damage primarily determines this. If the damage is significant, it may take some time for your mint plant to recover and return to its previous state of health. However, if you are able to catch the problem early on, it will not take more than a month to bring it back to life.