Maximum Yield USA May 2018 | Page 57

MINT Mint is robust, low maintenance, and hard to kill. It also smells deli- cious and is incredibly versatile. There are over 600 types of mint— including peppermint, apple mint, and pineapple mint—you can grow and use in your favorite meals and drinks. One plant can add wonderful flavor to mojitos, yogurt, salads, relishes, and tea. You can start mint easily by taking five- to six-inch long cuttings from an existing plant and putting them in water to root. Be sure to remove the leaves from the part of the stem that will be in water or it will rot. Change the water every other day until roots appear. Plant the mint in well-draining soil; a mix of sand, peat, and perlite is good. Also, as mint likes to be moist, add a layer of pretty stones on top of the soil to help retain soil moisture. Place your pot in an area with indirect sunlight, like an east-facing window, where temperatures are between 65-70°F during the day and 55-60°F at night. You can fertilize mint sparingly, but you will lose its great flavor if you overfertilize. Finally, prune regularly by pinching off the tips and any flower buds to keep your mint bushy instead of lanky. To harvest, snip sprigs as needed. “ MINT IS ROBUST, LOW MAINTENANCE, AND HARD TO KILL. IT ALSO SMELLS DELICIOUS AND IS INCREDIBLY VERSATILE.” The next time you’re shopping for a new houseplant, consider one of these sweet- smelling options to enhance your living space with beautiful fragrances. grow cycle 57