just_a_penguin
Just Arrived
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA (Map)
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: MINT - Hardy perennial my behind! |
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I have a peppermint plant that a friend bought for me already potted at a farmer’s market. I’ve been keeping it barely alive for the last 4 months. Its leaves turn brown and dye, then the brown deadness creeps along the stalk until I have to cut back the whole stalk. Then it will recover for a month or so and seem to be fine. But now it’s back to dying off again. What is this? Some sore of fungus? I don’t know what to do. It was out on my porch for a while before it got sick, then I moved it under the eve and it seemed to improve, but now it’s half dead and the only live part has leaned out away from the eve, so I moved it back out into the open. I’m really not sure what to do with this plant. And since the brown disease seems to spread, I’m hesitant to eat the leaves.
Help me please. All the information I can find online tells me that mint is hardy and needs almost no maintenance. I can't find anything on what's wrong with it.
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petunia
Highly Skillful
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 1571
PlantStew: 165 |
| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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penquin: I really hope we'll have someone here who can help you. I have pepermint in my herb garden, it does very well. As I have just moved all my herbs to a new area and everything in my herb garden seems to be doing fine. Not sure why your plant would be turning brown. Welcome to the Stew.
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Petunia
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redrose
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Location: Michigan (Map)
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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There are some diseases that peppermint can contract. It sounds as though it may be wilt disease (verticillium wilt). There's a list of others as well, mint rust, leaf blight, spotted wilt. I really don't know too much about them, but I'd imagine once you've narrowed it down as to just what it may be, it'd be easier to find the solution. Good luck!
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zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
Posts: 2569
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Not to worry, Penguin - I've murdered a mint plant or 2 in my time.
Over-watering is my usual method. 
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 ~*~ zuzu ~*~
I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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bsewnsew
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
Location: Rural Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 1191
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject: spearmint here ......... |
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Spearmint here and we cant kill it .
Someone gave me chocolate mint this summer it seems well.......
No special attention needed.
Pennsylvania is the arean
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 986
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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I thought I wanted mint. I'd heard that it could be invasive but I didn't care. Then I found out just how invasive it could be!!  WOW!!! They weren't kidding! Maybe yours is root bound or maybe it just needs a winter dormant period.
Good Luck!
Deanna
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11522
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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I thought you might like to take a look at this website to see if it sheds any light on what could be ailing your mint.
http://mint.ippc.orst.edu/frequestions.htm
Hope it helps and that your plant survives.
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TheBip
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN (Map)
Posts: 517
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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I had a chocolate mint for about a month. It died o_O Maybe it overheated... we had a very hot, dry summer >_<
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And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
Last edited by TheBip on Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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bsewnsew
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
Location: Rural Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 1191
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: mint |
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Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
 Don't want mine to hear you ..
b
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glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 6994
PlantStew: 219 |
| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:40 am Post subject: |
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It sounds root bound and over rotted .Try potting it in a larger pot and less water.
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Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
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bsewnsew
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
Location: Rural Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 1191
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject: If all else fails |
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If all else fails..
I can send some spearmint......Roots.
My choclate isnt too big yet.. Maybe next year.
LMK
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just_a_penguin
Just Arrived
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA (Map)
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'll try repotting it. As for less water, it's outside right now and getting what comes from the sky. I'll post any improvments or otherwise.
Thanks! 
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just_a_penguin
Just Arrived
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA (Map)
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I finally got some potting soil, so I'll replant the mint today (why is dirt so expensive?). But I'm looking at my mint, and it seems to have become very vine-like. The stalks are too thin to stand up so I've got 7-8 long thin vines with mint leaves coming out of them. It USED to stand up on it's own.
Is this a problem, should I stake it up or something?
Thanks
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
Posts: 5550
PlantStew: 521 |
| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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Keep the stems cut back when they get leggy and the plant will get bushier. The stems you cut off can be cleaned and used in tea or if you make the melt and pour soap it is wonderful for that, turns the soap a pretty green.
Love your avatar, is that Diana?
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just_a_penguin
Just Arrived
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA (Map)
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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I'd be happy to cut back the stems, but none of the leaves start for at least 8 inches from the soil.
Anybody from the NW know if my mint would be doing better if I brought it inside for the winter?
And my avatar is Arthemis, which is an old name for Diana, so yes. Independent virgin goddess of the forest and moon. If I was going to be a goddess, that's who I'd be....now if only I could get some worshipers...
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