Mint plants need to be watered twice a week. The goal with each watering is to water mint plants until you have thoroughly moist soil. If watering a mint plant in a pot with drainage holes, water until excess water begins to leak from the drainage holes. For outdoor mint plants, water until the soil starts to appear muddy. You want your soil moist but not waterlogged soil for the best moisture level. Overwatering can lead to diseases like root rot.
How Much Water Does Mint Need Per Day?
Normally, when watering mint, you need to water twice a week rather than every day. The correct amount is 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per watering. However, freshly planted mint may need daily waterings to bolster its growth. This is because growing mint from seeds requires extra water initially to acclimate the seed to its soil. Potted mint plants especially need their potting soil thoroughly wetted for faster germination.
- Water mint twice per-week, not daily.
- Water soil thoroughly until excess water drains from the holes in the bottom of the pot.
- Extra waterings may be needed when growing mint plants from seeds.
- Mint may also need daily waterings in hot summer months when direct light evaporates too much of your soil moisture.
Outdoor garden mint may need daily waterings in the summer to combat heat drying out the soil. While mint does prefer full sun, such conditions are prone to drying out its surrounding soil. If you plant mint somewhere with lots of sunlight, be sure to regularly check the soil moisture. If the direct sunlight is adversely affecting your soil moisture, increase watering frequency.
What is the Best Way to Water Mint?
The best way to water mint is with a hose soaker attachment. Water directly into the soil to avoid mint rust and other fungal diseases growing on your leaves. However, if growing mint indoors, a soaker hose may not be practical. In such cases, water with a watering can and try to water directly into the soil without hitting the plant. Use this charming watering can which is perfect for watering all types of mint indoors.
- Try to water mint without allowing water to hit the plant directly.
- Overhead watering can cause mint leaves to develop fungal diseases.
- A soaker attachment works best outdoors since it soaks the soil without getting water on the mint leaves.
- A watering can works best for indoor mint—just make sure to direct the water to the soil, not the plant leaves.
Overhead irrigation can cause mint leaves to develop mint rust. Mint rust is a fungal disease that causes yellow or black spots to appear all over your mint plant. Avoid this by watering the soil at the base of your mint plant. Aim to keep the leaves dry during watering.
Does Mint Need A Lot of Water?
Your mint plant does need regular waterings with a high volume of water. Provide 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water for this culinary herb during each watering. For outdoor mint, this requires 2–3 hours of watering with a soaker hose. Water your outdoor mint in this fashion 2 times per week. In peak summer temperatures, increase the watering frequency if the soil dries out between waterings.
- Mint has relatively high water needs.
- Water outdoor mint for 2–3 hours with a soaker hose 2 times per-week.
- Water potted mint twice per week. Add water until it begins to drip from the drainage holes in the pot.
Water potted mint plants until the soil is thoroughly moist and excess water begins to drip from the drainage holes. Do not drown your mint plant with too much water. Once the soil is thoroughly wetted, your mint has had enough water.
Can You Overwater Mint?
You can absolutely overwater mint plants, which can lead to fungal disease and root rot. Many common mint diseases are caused by overwatering. Be sure to check the undersides of leaves to make sure there are no signs of disease hiding there.
- Overwatered mint can lead to fungal diseases.
- Check the leaves of your mint for black or yellow spots—these indicate overwatering.
- Be sure your container mint has adequate drainage to help avoid overwatering.
Your mint plant needs good internal drainage. Lack of ample drainage holes for mint in containers can lead to overwatering quickly. Even a regular watering schedule can quickly lead to a dead mint plant. If growing mint in containers, you can always add additional drainage holes to the pot with a power drill. 3–4 holes ½ inch (13 mm) in diameter are ideal for potted mint.
What are the Signs of Underwatered Mint?
Underwatered mint plants will have weak stems and begin wilting. If it goes on too long, this will lead to yellowing of leaves and eventually death. Before you have dead mint on your hands, increase watering to save your plant.
- Underwatered mint can be quickly identified by yellow, dry leaves.
- Plants can easily die from lack of water if you don’t increase watering frequency.
- When salvaging underwatered mint, increase watering and wait 1–2 weeks for visible results.
Try reintroducing water by using a glass of water at a time. Carefully pour fresh water directly into the surrounding soil. Check regularly to make sure that the soil is well-moistened but does not appear muddy or sludgy. Maintain these conditions until your plant bounces back.
How Often Do You Water Mint?
Mint needs to be watered regularly and in fairly high volume. 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per watering and 1–2 waterings per week is ideal. All mint plants have the same watering needs. They are:
- Mint needs 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water every watering.
- You can provide 1–2 inches of water to outdoor mint with 2–3 hours of watering via soaker hose.
- Provide adequate water to indoor mint by watering until excess begins to drip from the drainage holes in the pot.
- Water mint 1–2 times per week.
- In peak summer temperatures, increase watering frequency to prevent dry soil.
- Keep a close eye to make sure you don’t overwater mint as this can lead to disease.
- Provide proper drainage holes and use well-draining soil to keep your mint plant healthy.
- Underwatering can be just as bad as overwatering and can lead to a dead mint plant.
By watering deeply 1–2 times per week, your mint will thrive in almost all conditions. Daily watering will often result in overwatered mint. However, if you live in an extremely hot climate and your mint begins to turn yellow due to dry soil, gradually increase the watering frequency until your mint bounces back to full health.
