There are multiple ways to propagate mint. Mint cuttings propagation in water is one of them. In this article, I will make mint propagation easier for you through my detailed guidelines.
Let's understand why people choose propagation of mint cuttings in water:
- This is faster than seed propagation.
- Nearly foolproof ( That means the failure rate is almost zero ).
- You can monitor your mint cutting's root growth clearly.
- Easy for beginners.
- Best option for indoor gardeners.
Best mint varieties for water propagation
Almost every mint variety performs well in water propagation.
Still, there are some varieties that propagate faster.
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Chocolate mint
- Apple mint
- Pineapple mint
These mint varieties perform best, as per my personal experience.
When to propagate mint cuttings in water - USDA Zone-wise
| USDA Zone | Best Time to Propagate Mint in Water | Indoor or Outdoor? |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 3–4 | Late Spring to Summer (May–August) | Mostly Indoor Early Season |
| Zones 5–6 | Mid Spring to Early Fall (April–September) | Indoor or Outdoor |
| Zones 7–8 | Spring Through Fall (March–October) | Indoor or Outdoor |
| Zones 9–10 | Fall, Winter, and Early Spring | Mostly Outdoor |
| Zones 11–13 | Year-Round | Indoor or Outdoor |
This table contains all the necessary information you will need to know for propagation timing.
Tools you will need to propagate mint cuttings in water
The first and most important is a healthy mint plant.
What did I mean by a healthy mint plant?
The plant should be fungal-free. If possible, choose a plant that has no unusual spots on the leaves (like brown spots or yellowing leaves).
Get sharp scissors/pruners. (Or you can also use new blades)
The next tool is a clean glass or jar (so that you can clearly witness the root growth).
Fresh water is necessary. (Do not use chlorinated water)
Step-by-step mint cuttings water propagation guide
Select only non-flowering stems from your healthy mint plant.
I am suggesting taking multiple cuttings. ( So that you can propagate multiple mint plants at once )
Take 4–6 inches long stems.
Do you know that roots emerge from nodes?
This is why you need to be careful when you start taking the cuttings from a mint plant.
Note: Try to take cuttings from just below the leaf nodes.
Remove all the lower leaves from the cuttings. (Just from the two lower nodes will be enough)
Submerge 1–2 nodes in a glass filled with water or in a water jar.
Leaves submerged in the water rot more quickly; this is why I suggested removing the lower leaves.
Keep the leaves above water. Place the cuttings in water in bright indirect sunlight. You can use the porch area or near your sunny windowsill.
Keep changing the water every 2-3 days. If you do not change the water, bacteria and algae can spread in the water.
Within 5 to 10 days, you can expect tiny roots growing from the nodes.
Do not transfer the mint cuttings at this stage. Wait for another 2-3 weeks for strong root growth.
You can see hair-like root growth first, and eventually they gonna become thicker, branching roots.
Once you see strong roots, transfer the cuttings to moist soil.
I usually keep the soil moist for the first 10-15 days.
If you want to know the pot size you will need for your mint plants, check this chart: pot size chart for plants.
Increase the sunlight exposure every few days. (It's better than exposing them to direct sunlight)
Direct sunlight just after transplanting can increase transplant shock.
