Easy Herb Toxic to pets

Peppermint

Mentha piperita

A vigorous perennial aromatic herb with a fresh, menthol-like fragrance, extremely easy to grow in containers.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 2 days
Light

Full sun
Humidity

50–70 %
Temperature

10–25 °C

How to care for your Peppermint

Everything you need to keep your Peppermint healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Peppermint is a natural hybrid resulting from the cross between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata. Recognizable by its reddish square stems and toothed leaves with a powerfully menthol fragrance, it has been used since antiquity in both cooking and herbal medicine. Its legendary invasive nature makes container growing almost mandatory to keep it contained. It grows with remarkable vigor and provides generous harvests from spring through autumn.

Watering your Peppermint

Every 2 days

Water generously and regularly to keep the soil cool and moist. Mint is a thirsty plant, especially in summer. Avoid waterlogging however.

How to know it needs water

Surface of the substrate dry to the touch
Leaves beginning to wilt
Soil pulling away from the pot edges

How much light a Peppermint needs

Full sun

Semi-shade to full sun. Prefers 4–6 hours of light per day. Tolerates partial shade better than most aromatic herbs.

Direct sun tolerated: 4 to 6 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

50–70 %

50–70% Mist lightly in dry weather or in heated indoor spaces. Mint appreciates good ambient humidity.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Fertilize once a month from March to September. A moderate application is sufficient — excess fertilizer diminishes the flavour of the leaves.

Recommended feed: Organic liquid fertilizer rich in nitrogen. · 5-10-5

Repotting your Peppermint

Every 12 months

Divide the clump and replant in fresh, rich compost. Always grow in containers to curb its vigorous spread. Use a wide, shallow container rather than a deep one.

When: Spring (March–April)
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Stolons colonising the entire pot
Growth slowing significantly
Roots forming a dense tangle at the surface

Pruning your Peppermint

Regularly throughout the growing season. Cut flowering shoots as soon as they appear to stimulate leaf production. Cut stems to 5 cm from the ground at the end of the season to encourage vigorous regrowth in spring. Harvest by cutting whole stems rather than individual leaves.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 3 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 1 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Peppermint essential oil is toxic to cats and dogs. The fresh plant in small quantities is generally safe, but large ingestion can cause digestive issues in animals.

Good to know

Peppermint is a natural hybrid between watermint and spearmint, first discovered in England in the 17th century.
Mint is so invasive that when planted in the ground, it can colonize an entire garden in a single season through its underground runners.

Frequently asked questions about the Peppermint

How do you care for a Peppermint?

Water it every 2 days. Give it full sun. Ideal humidity: 50–70 %. Ideal temperature: 10–25 °C. Water generously and regularly to keep the soil cool and moist. Mint is a thirsty plant, especially in summer. Avoid waterlogging however.

How often should you water a Peppermint?

Every 2 days Water generously and regularly to keep the soil cool and moist. Mint is a thirsty plant, especially in summer. Avoid waterlogging however. How to know it needs water : Surface of the substrate dry to the touch ; Leaves beginning to wilt ; Soil pulling away from the pot edges.

How much light does a Peppermint need?

Full sun Semi-shade to full sun. Prefers 4–6 hours of light per day. Tolerates partial shade better than most aromatic herbs. 4 to 6 h a day

Is the Peppermint toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Peppermint essential oil is toxic to cats and dogs. The fresh plant in small quantities is generally safe, but large ingestion can cause digestive issues in animals. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Peppermint leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Peppermint?

Repot every 12 months, ideally in spring (march–april). Divide the clump and replant in fresh, rich compost. Always grow in containers to curb its vigorous spread. Use a wide, shallow container rather than a deep one.