# How to Grow Mint at Home in a Window
Mints belong to the genus of plants known as Menthas and belong to the Lamiaceae family of plants. They are perennial herbs and one of the most commonly-found families of plants in the world. Mints are usually fragrant plants, quite hardy, and will tolerate diverse growing conditions. According to the University of California, the most commonly grown types of mint are spearmint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita).
Things You'll Need
- Mint seeds
- Sand
- Perlite
- Potting mix
- 4-inch pot
- Spoon
- Polythene bag
- Plastic tie
- Spray bottle
Instructions
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1
Create a good potting soil for your mint plants. Mix together one part sand or perlite with two parts of sterilized potting soil.
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2
Place a layer of small gravel in the bottom of your growing container. Scoop the premixed growing media into the growing container. The growing media should fill the container about 3/4 full. Pour a little water into the container to moisten the media. Gently firm down the soil.
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3
Grab a pinch of mint seeds between your thumb and index finger and scatter them across the surface of the soil in the pot. Push them carefully into the soil using your fingertips or the back of a spoon. Place the container inside a polythene bag and use a twist-tie to seal the bag.
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4
Transfer the pot to where it’s bright and warm. Try to provide the pot a temperature of between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can’t provide the container with six to eight hours of indirect sunlight daily, place it about 6 inches away from a fluorescent light for 10 to 12 hours a day. There should be plenty of moisture inside the plastic bag. But if the growing media appears to dry out, open the bag and spray the surface of the soil with water.
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5
Remove the container from the plastic bag as soon as the mint plants emerge, usually in about two to three weeks. Transfer the pot of mint to a south-facing or west-facing window in your home. There should be about six to eight hours of light provided for your mint plants daily. Try to keep the growing temperature in the 55 to 70 F range. Keep the soil in the container moist by spritzing the seedlings with water as needed.
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6
Transplant the seedlings when they have grown to about 1/2-inch tall. Put potting mix into a 6-inch or larger pot until it’s about 2/3 full. Pick out the mint seedlings by digging out clumps of seedlings with a spoon. Set about two to three clumps of mint seedlings per 6-inch pot. Scoop in the potting mix around the clumps of seedlings. Tamp down the soil around each seedling. Pour water into the pot to saturate the mint seedlings.
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7
Set the container of mint plants into a bowl or tray that contains a thin layer of pebbles. Pour a few cups of water into the bowl to moisten the pebbles every day or two to help keep it humid for your mint plants.
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