Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is soggy.
- Check the area for cold drafts or heat sources.
- Inspect the base of the stems for softness.
Likely causes
Temperature shock
PossibleHow to tell: Leaves fall off suddenly after the plant is moved to a drafty area or near a heater. You might notice the stems look healthy while the leaves litter the soil.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot with a steady temperature between 65 to 80 degrees. Keep it away from air conditioning vents or drafty windows during the winter.
Overwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The lower leaves turn yellow and drop off while the soil remains soggy. The stems may also feel soft or mushy near the base.
What to do: Check the soil moisture and stop watering until the top inch is dry. If the soil is waterlogged, repot the plant into fresh, well draining potting mix.
Find out what's wrong with your mexican mint
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for a few old leaves at the bottom to drop as the plant grows. Worry if you see a rapid loss of healthy green leaves.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant in a consistent location and follow a strict watering schedule based on soil dryness.
Keep your mexican mint healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will my plant grow back where leaves fell off?
- Yes, new growth will emerge from the nodes along the stem. You can prune back leggy stems to encourage a bushier shape.
- Does this plant go dormant?
- It can slow down growth in winter if temperatures drop. It is normal to see slightly less vigor during this time.
More problems with Mexican mint
- Why is my Mexican mint wilting and the stems turning mushy?
- What are these white cottony spots on my Mexican mint?
- Why is my Mexican mint growing so tall and sparse?
- Why are my Mexican mint leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Mexican mint drooping?
- Why are my Mexican mint leaf tips turning brown?
- Why are my Mexican mint leaves curling?
Back to the Mexican mint guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.