Mint is a great plant for any hobbyist to grow. It is relatively low maintenance and produces mint leaves that can be used in cooking and in home medicine. Mint plants need a sunny spot and temperatures that are not too cold and not too hot, a bit like humans.
There are a whole range of benefits to growing mint indoors, both for the plant and for the people living inside with it. For the plant, it will be shielded from weather, pests, and invasive neighbor plants. For you it will be a calming and healthy addition to your home.
Mint has been mentioned in medicine books, going as far back as 1550 BC. In Ancient Egypt it was used as an aid to help digestion and avoid gas. Mint is also kept for its fragrance, as it gives of a fresh and clean odor.
Benefits Of Growing Mint Indoors
Mint can be grown both indoors and outdoors. But not everyone has the option. If you live in an apartment without a garden or just prefer indoor gardening then mint is a great option. Let’s look at some of the benefits.
For The Plant…
Conditions Can Be Controlled
Unlike if the plant was outside, if the plant is indoors, you can decide where is best for it. As mint grows in small pots, it can easily be moved to a more suitable spot, perhaps as the sunlight is better in different windows at different times of the year.
Likewise, if too much sun and heat is hurting your mint plant, you can always move it to a less sunny spot. The benefit of keeping it indoors therefore, is the ability to move it around and find the absolute best spot for it. Humidity, temperature, and light levels can all be accounted for.
No Pests
Outdoors there are all kinds of pests that will eat mint plants. Pests like flea beetles, aphids, and cutworms can take over your mint plant and make it dangerous for you to eat. Having your mint plant inside makes it far less likely to become ridden with pests.
Keeping your mint free from pests outside is difficult, without using toxic pesticides you would have to monitor the plant often and remove any pests manually. If this doesn’t sound like a commitment you want to make, then an indoor mint plant will be a better option.
It Will Remind You to Water Your Plant
If like me, you are forgetful when it comes to watering, having your mint plant inside and in plain sight will remind you to water it. Often when delicate plants are outside, they can be forgotten about. Hopefully by putting your mint plant inside, you will be better reminded to water it.
More Room to Grow
Left to expand and grow inside, your mint will thrive. Whereas outdoors it might have to compete for space, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil, inside it will have the freedom to expand as much as is needed. You can easily re-pot your mint when it grows.
For You…
Mint is Good For You
It turns out that the Ancient Egyptians knew what they were doing when it comes to medicine. Mint is a great digestive aid and can help with bouts of bloating and painful gas. Mint helps to speed up digestion, meaning food flows through you easier. This prevents feelings of indigestion.
Mint is also good for nausea, as its refreshing taste and cooling mouth feel helps to relieve any discomfort. Try using mint leaves in hot water as a tea with honey. The tea will have a cooling effect on the mouth just like toothpaste or chewing gum does.
Decoration
Having plants in and around the house is becoming increasingly popular in interior design. A splash of green in most rooms is enough to make the room look nicer. Choosing a pot that suits your color scheme will be a great way to flesh out the room.
Air Filtration
As you may know, plants ‘breathe in’ carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. Us humans do the opposite. This means that having a plant in your home will increase oxygen levels. Oxygen is essential to all bodily processes, so having more of it can’t hurt.
Plants will also help to clear the air of other pollutants. Fine particles such as dust and toxins can be absorbed by the plant, leaving less of them floating in the air. The more plants you get, the more purification can take place in your home. This can help prevent colds and illness.
Final Thoughts
Growing a plant indoors is a fun hobby to get into. Watching the plant grow as you look after it is a very satisfying feeling, and may become something you really enjoy longterm. Mint is a good plant to start with as it happily grows indoors and has useful leaves.