How To Grow Hydroponic Mint

Mint is one of my favorite herbs. It is easy to grow, grows fast and has so many uses. Here’s how you grow hydroponic mint.

Recommended Mint Varieties for Hydroponics

Any variety of mint will grow in a hydroponic garden. I recommend choosing your mint variety by the purpose you’re going to use it for.

Mint can be utilized in a variety of ways. Mint spices up food, drinks, deter pests, is an inviting aroma to guests and even medicinally.

In my hydroponic gardens, I’ve stuck to the classics: peppermint and spearmint.

Getting Hydroponic Mint Started

The first step to growing hydroponic mint is deciding if your growing from seed, clone, or transplant.

Germinating seeds- Mint is easy to start from seed and can take anywhere from 10 to 15 days to germinate. When germinating mint seeds temperatures should be kept in the 70- 75 degree range. I prefer to germinate my seeds using rapid rooter plugs.

Cloning mint- If you (or a friend) already have some mint growing, cloning the plant will save you both time money. I prefer this method of starting mint when it’s an option. If you’re interested in cloning your mint, check out how to clone your plant hydroponically in only water.

Transplant store-bought mint from dirt– Buying mint plants from the store and transplanting them into your hydroponic system is an easy way to get your garden started. Mint grows fast, so you can always buy a store-bought plant to start then cut some clones from it.

What Hydroponic Systems Works Best For Mint?

Hydroponic mint will grow well in almost any hydroponic system. Keep in mind mint will sprout from the roots, so your mint may eventually fill the net pot or start to spread in your hydroponic systems grow bed.

I have grown mint in small bubble buckets, NFT, and ebb and flow systems that have all done great.

What Is The Best Temperature For Hydroponic Mint?

Hydroponic mint grows best in a temperature range of 55 – 70 degrees. You can use a temperature controller to better regulate the temperature in your grow room.

Spacing Requirements For Hydroponic Mint

The amount of space you give your mint or any other plant your growing in your hydroponic system can vary depending on a variety of factors. For more on space check out my simple guide to hydroponic spacing.

With that said typically prefer to give my hydroponic mint plants about 9-12 inches of space between plants as mint to spread from the root. I prefer to harvest my mint multiple times instead of once at the end of the season, so less space is needed between plants.

How Much Light Does Hydroponic Mint Need?

Mint doesn’t need intense light and can be grown under T5 fluorescent lighting. Since we only need mint in its vegetive stage the same light can be used to grow from start to finish.

Though fluorescent lighting is probably the most efficient for growing hydroponic mint, you could also use LED or HID lighting. Hydroponic mint should receive 12 to 16 hours of light per day for productive growth.

Recommended pH Level For Hydroponic Mint

The recommended pH level for hydroponic mint plants is 6.0–7.0.

Hydroponic Mint Nutrient Requirements

Hydroponic mint has simple nutrient requirements since we don’t need it to flower. To grow hydroponic mint, use a hydroponic nutrient regimen high in nitrogen.

For growing my hydroponic mint, I use Dyna Gro Foliage Pro. This one-part nutrient regimen is simple to use and produces plants with strong stems and heavy vegetation, which is just what you want when growing hydroponic mint.

This is hydroponic mint shown about is after 1-month growth with using Dyna Gro Foliage Pro.

How Harvest Hydroponic Mint

Mint is fast growing which makes it great for the cut and come again method which is often used on loose-leaf lettuce. I prefer to have multiple smaller harvests throughout the season as compared to just one at the end. Harvesting this way actually increases the overall amount you harvest.


To harvest mean cut a few inches above the base of the plant. You can cut the larger stems leaving the smaller growth or cut it all down at the same level.

Conclusion

Learning how to grow hydroponic mint is extremely easy. Its ease of growth in addition to the many ways mint can be utilized makes it a great addition to any hydroponic garden!