When mint is placed in a drafty area, directly in front of a window, or by an air conditioner, it causes the plant to go into shock. Mint does best in soil that’s moist but not completely drenched. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In an effort to give your plant extra nutrients, you may have done the counter effect and damaged your mint instead. Avoid draft rooms and corners, as well as window sills. This happens when a plant’s root outgrows the area that it’s living in because of the lack of space. You should always be observant of your plants to take note of any changes in their composition. Placing it in an area where sunlight hits it straight on is not beneficial for your mint. You can use natural kitchen ingredients like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee powder, etc. You May Also Enjoy: How To Pinch Basil: Video Instructions and Timing. They may also turn brown if infested with pests like aphids, cutworms, or thrips that suck the sap from them. Don’t be alarmed! Mint specifically is prone to fungal issues because of its enjoyment of shady areas where it can collect moisture. Welcome to the Garden For Indoor! My name’s Arifur and I am an Agriculturist. If you end up damaging it, it is irreversible. At times, the roots may tangle, create knots, or tightly crossed patterns. Adult thrips are pale yellow or light brown while their offspring are lighter in color. If you can, aim to keep your mint in a room between 60-80°F (15-27°C). However, if you place mint leaves in cold water, they will not turn brown and can be stored for a long period of time for future use. Also, try localized humidity! Growing beautiful plants can be a challenging task, but don’t give up! If your base is brown, your plant is probably dead. However, you may stumble upon a problem as you see browning in your minty oasis. If you’re keeping your mint in direct sunlight, stop! How to keep bananas from turning brown while baking When it comes to sliced fruit, it seems bananas turn brown more quickly than other kinds. If you’re growing the mint in a pot, you can just move it in a shaded location. They are still perfectly safe to eat and still provide flavor. Overwatering causes the plant to drown. link to 12 Causes of Snake Plant Brown Tips (solution and Prevention), link to Why Are My Elephant Ear Leaves Curling? Try getting a misting bottle and turning it to the “fine mist” setting. Because of this, you will have to discard the infected plant completely and tie it in a plastic bag to prevent it from releasing spores that may attack adjacent plants. This prevents them from grabbing water and nutrients present in the soil to keep the plant alive. This can create browning in the leaves as well. Mint is one of the easiest things to grow. Don’t allow for your plant to receive direct and overhead sunlight or it will begin to burn and brown itself. Leaf blight causes entire leaves to turn black or brown and fall off. Invest in a humidifier for your plant. My friend recently gave me a potted mint plant, but since I got it, the leaves have been dying. However, they do prefer moist soil. Lack of water will cause the plant to try and preserve itself by keeping the stem healthy. Pests that host mint include aphids, cutworms, thrips, and spider mites. Too much or too little water can affect the tissues that make up the plant. But the problem lies within the stem. Then I did not wait, I took my gardening tool and remove all old branches in the middle of that container of 6*8 inches area. Your mint plant needs phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and nitrogen in the soil to provide enough sustenance to keep it healthy and prevent the browning that may occur. The best way to fix this issue is to supply good fertilizer or create compost. Black root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola) is a problem of established plants. But I found some of the leaves turning brown and was worried. If the mint is potted, water from the bottom. It’s great to have a few mint leaves in your many anytime. A: Although mint (Mentha spp.) Here I will be sharing the best helpful resources to grow houseplants, flowers, and vegetables within your sweet home. The stem on a few of the taller ones are looking very week especially at the base of the stem where they are turning brown and Source: Plantvillage; Penn State University. In addition, make sure you clean all picked mint leaves thoroughly before consumption if you believe your plant may be affected. After you untangle the roots, you can replant in fresh soil and a larger pot to prevent the same issue from occurring again. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You also need to make sure that your mint leaves are not turning brown due to a toxic pesticide, as the poison makes your mint leaves unsafe to eat. Mint rust fungus infects mint plants on a regular basis. It is also like a weed, so don't feed it, that can kill it. Two types of fungi just love mint plants: Signs of fungal rust are orange, yellow, brown, and black spots on both the tops and bottoms of leaves. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You may find that the browning of your mints is purely from natural aging and not from other issues such as disease or improper watering. When mint starts growing black spots on its leaves, your The watering schedule depends on the climate and the humidity of your area. Only once every 1-3 months, Only fertilize once every 1-3 months or use a soil that contains natural fertilizer, Avoid keeping your mint in a hot and moist location, Keep the temperature between 60-80 degrees at all timeGet rid of drafts by changing the location. It may be too late for this plant but if you buy another, once it looks healthy, split it Puccinia menthae, which causes fungal rust. You can also put a small cone or collar around the base of the plant and hand-pick out larvae if possible. However, if your mint leaves have turned brown while still on the stem due to a possible fungus, then they are not safe to eat until you are able to cure your mint plant and restore the natural green color. Only prune when your plant is healthy. If you provide enormous amounts of these minerals, it can block the ability for roots to absorb moisture through the root system. (And Solutions), How To Pinch Basil: Video Instructions and Timing, Why Are My Mint Leaves Turning Black? There are a few routes you as a caretaker can do to aid this issue before it’s too late. (And How to Fix It), Create Watering Schedule (1-2 times a week)Water with Consistent Amount of Liquid, Switch to Filtered WaterDon’t over-fertilize! (And Solutions). If your mint plant is growing older, it will always try to preserve the most youthful parts of itself first such as the new buds. Mint rust is a common fungal disease of garden mint, but also affects marjoram and savory. Dry, stifling air will shrivel up your mint and dry up the leaves to become brown. Because mint enjoys shady areas, it is the perfect storm for fungus to grow and cause browning on your mint leaves! Planter pots only have so much space inside for the root system to grow into. If you want to provide nutrients to your mint, composting (as mentioned above), is a great alternative and the healthiest way to give your mint what it needs to succeed. To fix this try keeping your plant lightly misted through a humidifier, water it consistently, and use a fungicide to avoid these issues for the future. However, if your mint leaves have turned brown while still on the stem due to a possible fungus, then they are not safe to eat until you are able to cure your mint plant and restore the natural green color. A sudden shock like that will not only cause browning issues but may kill your mint off altogether. Keep your mint in a moderately temperate room. The fungus causes dusty orange, yellow and black spots on leaves, and distortion of shoots. Use insecticidal soap if the mite population becomes too high, but be careful of using many traditional insecticides as they can kill the mites’ natural predators and cause the pest to thrive. Because mint spreads quickly, you may find an entire bushel in one planters pot. If yours sticks, gently work it loose. The diseased area turns dark brown, and is quite dry. Give your mint plenty of room to grow and flourish by doubling the pot size from before. The inability to get water throughout the system can cause browning throughout the mint leaves. They can be varying colors depending on the plant and can cause necrosis or stunted growth. Use a liquid 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate listed on the label. Mint is a plant known for its flourishing ability as it is easy to grow and thrives in shady environments. (Causes and Solutions), 17 Exotic Indoor Plants: Bring Adventure to Your Home, Parsley Leaves Turning Red (7 Causes and Solutions), Why Are My Mint Leaves Turning Purple? We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. While the mint plant is an ideal choice for beginning gardeners, it is susceptible to some common diseases that affect plant growth. It can be difficult to guess what problem is causing the browning in your mint plant. Most plants come out easily. Treatment: Check to make sure that it's draining properly (by looking for water in the drain tray), and adjust your watering schedule as needed. If your branches bend, your plant is hanging in there. The earlier you combat this, the better chance that you have of saving your plant paradise. It’s best to water mint when the soil has turned dry. Temperature can also affect your mint. If you give your mint even the slightest bit too much, you will only encourage the fungus to thrive. Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:57 pm Hello! If the leaves near the bottom of your mint plant (closest to the soil) are browning, you should assume that natural aging is the perpetrator. It does not occur in strongly acid soils with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. These pests could be the source of your problems if you keep your indoor mint in a warm and damp environment that they can thrive in. When I had gnats i simply halted water for a longer period, that got rid of them pretty fast. Houseplants cannot stand drafts because it imitates winter-like conditions in which plants begin to preserve themselves. In this video I show how easy it is to rejuvenate your tired old mint plant and encourage it to grow lots of fresh new leaves. You may notice a drooping, brown mess on the edges of the leaves. In order for your mint to thrive, you have to find the “sweet spot” for its water supply. Because mint is a rapidly growing plant, you need to regularly prune and trim to keep it healthy and in check. Sometimes the reason behind an ailing mint leaf can be found by taking a closer look at its symptoms. If the plant hasn’t overgrown its pot, try watering less frequently or watering with a smaller amount. Keeping a plant in a moderately humid environment is extremely important. Aphids also secrete a sugary and sticky substance called honeydew that can encourage the growth of sooty mold on plants. Cut at a diagonal so you don’t damage the area and prevent growth. Fungal pathogens may attack basil plants and leave telltale symptoms on all its plant parts. Mint plants are perennials that often reach heights of up to 3 feet. Maintain this temperature at all times to prevent the plant from dying unexpectedly. The fungus survives in plant residue on which spores are produced from precolonized woody stem tissue. Pests that commonly attack mint are: A small, soft-bodied insect that is commonly found on the underside of leaves on many plants. You can stick your finger 1-2 inches in the soil to check for moisture. However, before you throw it out, check for new growth and the bending of the stem and branches. You can slow the fungal process by changing the way you water the mint plant. You May Also Enjoy: Why Are My Mint Leaves Turning Purple? Prevent mint rust by watering the soil rather than the plant, and thinning the mint to allow for better air circulation. If the tip of the finger is dry, it’s time to water. Mint leaves turn brown quickly when they are placed in hot water because they lose chlorophyll, which is the reason for their natural, rich green color. If you observe leaves turning yellow or brown, carefully check any tiny movements or unusual appearance of black, brown, yellow bodies on the mint leaves and stems. I'm the owner of gardenforindoor.com. The tissues and cells that create the structure of what a plant is, holds water to supply the plant with nutrients. Pest. I started Garden For Indoor to make your indoor gardening journey easy and enjoyable. So, when you over-fertilize, you run the risk of fertilizer burn. An insecticide is recommended if the infestation becomes too vigorous. Fungus occurs when water sits on the plant for extended periods of time. I bought this mint plant from the farmers market about 3 weeks ago and it was bushy and thriving, but now it's leggy with brown stems. 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