Many people do not know if their mint plant is dying and if they can bring it back to life. A mint plant looks greenish and gives a pleasant and fresh smell.
How to Tell If Mint Plant is Dead? You can identify a dead mint plant if the color of the leaves turns yellow or brown, giving a crunchy appearance. In addition, the roots turn bushy or thread-like due to poor nutrients, less light, and inadequate water supply. Moreover, fewer leaves on the brittle stem and the presence of black, white, or yellow spots on the leaves are signs of a dying mint plant.
Many people grow these plants in their houses who live in Africa and Asia. This is because the climate of these geographical regions is suitable for the growth of the mint plant.
People grow it in a small pot to retain moisture and get adequate nutrients. It cannot grow well outdoors with other plants because of unequal sharing of nutrients.
How do you know if a mint plant is dead?
You can see different plants in your surrounding, which attract others by their smell and freshness. You can identify a dying plant that is not growing and showing specific symptoms.
Change in color and texture of leaves
The color of its leaves starts fading when you do not take care of it. Sometimes, extreme care can also harm your plant, due to which it can die.
Moreover, its color becomes yellow when you do not give adequate water. The color may turn brown or black in case of a pest attack.
The texture of a dying mint plant changes and becomes crunchy, showing no sign of life. This type of plant looks brown or black at this stage.
Decrease in number of leaves
It looks good when it has abundant leaves and flowers. In the spring, all plants look colorful because of the fresh leaves and flowers, which turn into fruit with time.
Moreover, it loses its leaves when it does not get enough nutrients, light, and temperature.
Its stem becomes empty or has fewer leaves which are the signs of dying. Instead, it spreads wide and grows in the surrounding area, which gives a fresh look.
Brittle stem
A healthy mint plant has a square structure of stem having a juicy and stern appearance. It grows in an outward and erect pattern which extends to the bottom as it grows.
A dead plant has a brittle and soft stem, making it difficult to grow further. In addition, it may occur due to insufficient nutrients, which can dull its appearance.
Moisture lock is essential to keep the stem firm, which helps their growth. However, the structure of the stem may deteriorate, changing its entire look.
A stem is its primary part that provides a specific shape. It cannot survive if it does not grow well.
Change in root structure
They grow when they gain nutrients from the soil, and the roots absorb them to nourish the whole plant. Roots are the basic part of a plant through which it spreads and strengthens itself.
In a dying mint plant, you need to observe the roots, which tell the reason for wilting. The roots become thread-like, which shows that there is no chance of its survival.
Moreover, the roots give a bushy appearance showing no chance of life. There are chances of survival if the roots look red or fleshy.
In addition, you need to see if the roots are destroyed completely or if they are rotten at the end.
The appearance of spots on leaves
Its leaves show the health status, which is easy to access by the appearance. In addition, the leaves may develop some disease that kills the whole plant.
The leaves start showing different spots, which leads to fatal disease. Spider mites and aphids attack the leaves from their backside and leave a color or hole on the leaves.
The spot’s color varies according to the type of fungal attack, and it can be brown, black, or white. Mostly, white spots are not toxic if there is no fungal growth and no foul odor.
Why is my mint plant dying?
Many factors affect the survival and growth of the plants, without which they can die or not grow well.
In addition, it may die because of abundance or inadequacy of the factors that a plant requires for growth.
Inadequate light
They require suitable light and air to grow and nurture. For example, your mint plant can die because of excessive or inadequate light.
They can easily grow in shady areas with less light. However, other types cannot grow in areas where light is not according to the requirement.
They do not need excessive light. Therefore, you need to provide the best habitat for different types of these plants.
Change in soil pH
They can grow better at different pH, depending on the climate and area in which it is grown. For example, you can place it where the moisture can absorb into the plant.
The soil’s nature and pH are the other significant factors contributing to growing the plant. It needs a slightly acidic to neutral pH of almost 6 to 7.
It can die if you do not maintain the pH and lock the moisture. The selection of soil needs attention because if the soil is sandy, it cannot absorb moisture.
The water cannot go to the roots and stays at its surface if the soil is highly compact.
Pest attack
Aphids, spider mites, and fungus can destroy your plant by eating the leaves and creating holes. Thrips are insects that attack the mint surface and get nutrients from it.
When a fungal attack kills the plant, white powdery material appears on the leaves. Spider mites can nurture at a temperature of 86 to 87 degrees F on mint leaves.
Inadequate watering
It needs water twice daily because it grows better in shady areas. In addition, it gets moisture from the air and soil, due to which these parameters are essential for nourishment.
You can deal with underwater issues easily because the roots absorb the moisture well. You need to give water from the bottom so it can travel through the roots to the upper parts.
Excessive water is not better because the pot gets overfilled and washes away all the nutrients from the soil.
Less nutrients
It needs proper nutrients for its better growth, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It needs an equal amount of all these nutrients to nurture the plant.
Moreover, overwatering, clogged or old soil and damage to the roots are some factors that can lead to their undernourishment.
Can you revive a dying mint plant?
The mint plant can revive in some conditions if it has not undergone a severe loss. In case of overwatering, you can change its pot, so that good nutrients help to grow back the leaves.
In addition, you can grow near-to-death plants with brown leaves in a new pot by providing good nutrients, sufficient water, and sunlight.
Keep watering it twice daily and see the results after 7 to 15 days. The results may vary depending upon their condition.
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