Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess the light levels in your plant's current spot.
- Check if the stems are leaning toward a light source.
- Look for new growth near the soil line.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long with large gaps between the leaves. The plant leans heavily toward the nearest window.
What to do: Move your mint to a spot that gets at least 6 hours of bright light daily. If you are growing indoors, place it in a south facing window or use a grow light.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is tall but healthy, with no new growth appearing near the base. It looks sparse and top heavy.
What to do: Trim the stems back by one third to encourage bushy growth. Regular harvesting is the best way to keep mint compact and full.
Find out what's wrong with your 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
It is not a disease, but if left alone, the plant will become weak and prone to falling over. Pruning will fix this quickly.
Stopping it coming back
Harvest your mint often by pinching off the top sets of leaves to force side branching.
Mint: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your mint and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a leggy mint plant?
- Yes, simply cut the stems back to about 2 inches above the soil. It will grow back thicker and healthier with more light.
- How much sun does mint really need?
- Mint thrives in full sun to partial shade. If your plant is indoors, it needs as much bright light as you can provide.
More problems with Mint
- Why are there bugs on my mint plant?
- What are these spots on my mint leaves?
- Why are my mint plant's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my mint plant drooping?
- Why are my mint plant's leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my mint plant dropping its leaves?
- How do I fix root rot in my mint?
- Why are my mint leaves curling up?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.