Why is my Mint dying?
Mint in a pot usually dies because the soil got too dry or stayed wet; outdoor mint more often fails from heat, cold, wet ground, pests, or spray drift.
If you can already see the symptom
Answer what you can see
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The causes in full
Dry pot or root-bound mintMOST COMMON
How to tell
The pot feels light, the soil is dry two inches down, the mix may pull away from the pot edge, and wilted stems often perk up after watering; outside, check for dry soil around the roots instead of a shrunken potting mix.
What to do
If the soil is dry two inches down, water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes. If it is bone dry and pulling from the pot, soak the pot in a basin for 20–30 minutes, then drain; outside, water deeply if the soil is dry two inches down and mulch the root area.
Soggy soil or root rot diseaseCOMMON
How to tell
The soil is wet or sour-smelling, the pot feels heavy, lower leaves yellow and drop, and roots or stem bases may be brown and mushy; outside, look for wet ground or standing water after rain.
What to do
If the soil is soggy or wet, stop watering until the top two inches are no longer wet, empty any saucer, and repot into a pot with drainage if roots are mushy. Outside, move mint out of waterlogged ground or improve drainage before watering again.
Too little light indoorsCOMMON
How to tell
Stems stretch toward the window, new leaves are small or pale, older leaves thin out, and the soil stays damp longer than expected; outside, deep shade makes mint weak slowly rather than suddenly wilted.
What to do
Move the pot to the brightest spot you have without hot glass magnifying afternoon sun, or add a grow light. If the soil is damp, wait to water until it is dry two inches down because low-light mint uses water slowly.
Hot direct sun through glass or outdoor heat and windCOMMON
How to tell
Damage is worst on the window-facing side or exposed tips, leaves look crisp or scorched, and the pot dries fast; outside, it follows hot wind, a heat wave, or harsh afternoon sun.
What to do
If the soil is dry two inches down, water thoroughly and let it drain. Move indoor mint back from hot glass or give outdoor mint afternoon shade, then increase light gradually after it recovers.
Spider mites or aphidsLESS COMMON
How to tell
Look under leaves and on tender tips for fine webbing, tiny moving specks, sticky residue, or clusters of green, black, or gray insects; indoors, spider mites are worse in dry air, while outdoors aphids often appear on soft new growth.
What to do
Rinse the foliage well, isolate the pot if it is indoors, and treat the pests with labeled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, repeating as directed. Do not use dish soap as a substitute for insecticidal soap.
Cold shock or herbicide/fertilizer burnLESS COMMON
How to tell
Leaves blacken, collapse, twist, or brown suddenly after a cold night, touching cold glass, recent feeding, a spray, or outdoor drift from nearby lawn or weed treatment.
What to do
Move the plant away from cold glass or bring the pot out of frost, and trim dead parts only after stems are firm enough to judge. If fertilizer was recently applied and the potting mix is damp but not soggy, flush the pot with clear water through the drainage holes; if the soil is soggy, do not add more water.
Will it recover?
Wilted thirsty leaves often perk up, but yellow, brown, black, chewed, or spotted leaves will not heal; judge recovery by healthy new shoots.
Stopping it happening again
Grow potted mint in bright light with drainage and water when the soil is dry two inches down; outside, keep it out of standing water, protect it from extreme heat or frost, and check new growth regularly for pests or spray drift.
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