What happened to my potted mint plant?

10 years ago

I had my landlord babysit my beautiful baby lemon mint plant. When I gave it to her 3 weeks ago, it was deep green with no brown spots and rigid stems (no drooping).

Now, it's a very pale green with a bunch of brown spots, drooping stems.

She said she watered it daily but when she gave it to me, the soil was very dry (she even said she just watered it).

Thank you!

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Comments (9)

seysonn
10 years ago
It does not look like MINT, to me.
It is more like LEMON BALM, CAT NIP, OR BEE BALM .

But whatever it is, it needs probably some sun and a little bit food, ... not too much water.

This post was edited by seysonn on Sat, Aug 3, 13 at 19:38
wally_1936
10 years ago
That pot would wick off a lot of water.
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xiaobao12
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi,

You are right - It is a lemon balm.

I water it once everyday. The soil is always dry when I water it.

It's condition has been improving - I've put it on the window sill to get full sun. At night, it gets very rigid.

So what caused the browning? Lack of sun?

Thank you.
seysonn
10 years ago
Okay Now we are talking.
. LEMON BALM, would not need watering everyday. Maybe once a week or at the most twice in a week. I have always had lemon balm. I have seen them to survive in the wild, in some locations without any care and watering(except rain)

ABOUT YOUR POT:
Is it made from some kind of coconut fibers ??
I would throw that away and put the plant in a slightly bigger plastic or clay pot.
fatamorgana2121
10 years ago
I would suggest a different pot as well. The fiber pot is hard to maintain the proper moisture level in. Just make sure your new pot has drainage holes in the bottom. That is a common mistake some newer herb growers make with container grown herbs.

And lemon balm is a mint family member by the way. :)

FataMorgana
donna_in_sask
10 years ago
Your lemon balm would do a lot better in a proper planter and also placed outside. Any herb I've ever tried to grow indoors eventually faded away to nothing whereas the ones outside have always thrived.
xiaobao12
Original Author
10 years ago
I replanted my lemon balm in a plastic pot where I have drilled a bunch of holes on the sides and bottom.

It has survived it. The new leaves are green with no browning.

Donna, in the winter, can I bring the plant indoors?

Thanks to all for your advice.
florauk
10 years ago
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an ultra hardy perennial and its natural habit is to die to the ground over winter and re-emerge in the spring. Trying to keep it leafy in the winter indoors is likely doomed to failure imo. Indoor winter growth would almost certainly be sickly and unattractive. It needs its winter rest and trying to make is work 12 months of the year will just weaken it.

This post was edited by florauk on Sun, Aug 18, 13 at 7:53
seysonn
10 years ago
Pretty soon your LB will take off in that container. Then I would top it (1/3 from top growth) and let it get bushy.

DO NOT over water it. Very little fertilizing now an then.

Enjoy !

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What happened to my potted mint plant?

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seysonn

wally_1936

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What happened to my potted mint plant?

Comments (9)

seysonn

wally_1936

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