Plectranthus (room mint, home): types and varieties with photos and descriptions, useful properties, application

Indoor mint plectrantus is not only a beautiful, but also a useful house plant. Caring for it does not require much effort, and the sheets can be used for a variety of purposes.

Description of plectranthus

The plectranthus plant is also called room or house mint, as well as spur flower. Basically, plectranthus is divided into erect and falling varieties, but any species and varieties have strongly branching, tetrahedral shoots. The leaves of plectranthus are closely spaced, smooth or slightly pubescent, matte or glossy, dark and light green shades.

Plectranthus grows on average up to 60-120 cm, and the leaves can reach a length of 10 cm. In the photo of room mint of plectranthus, you can see that the leaves of the plant are ovate, with denticles along the edges, and look a bit like nettle leaves.

How plectranthus blooms

House mint produces recognizable flowers in the form of corollas, one lip of which is bent up and the other is directed down. In the core of the flower are 4 stamens of different lengths. By shade, the flowers can be pale blue, lilac, blue or almost white – the color depends on the variety.

Plectranthus usually blooms from late spring to late summer. Home mint flowers do not represent a special decorative value, however, a fully blooming plant looks attractive on a room windowsill.

What is the aroma of homemade mint

Interestingly, the smell of plectranthus usually only slightly resembles mint. More often, flower growers note that the crushed leaves smell like lungwort, camphor or chewing gum with menthol notes.

Varieties and types of plectranthus

Indoor mint for home cultivation is presented in many varieties. Among themselves, the varieties differ in color and size, as well as in the shade of flowers and the pattern on the leaves.

Coleusoid (Coleoides)

The variety is very popular and well suited for growing in the house. In height, the coleus-shaped plectrantus reaches 1 m in adulthood and with good care. The plant produces abundant branched shoots with pubescence and fleecy leaves up to 8 cm in length. The edge of the leaves is rugged, crenate.

Some varieties of the wheel-shaped plectranthus are characterized by an unusual pattern on the leaves. A whitish border runs along their edge, beautifully emphasizing the green color of the leaf plates.

Ertendal (Oertendahlii)

Plectranthus Ertendahl is well suited for indoor cultivation, as it has a fairly compact size. Its creeping stems reach an average of about 40 cm in length.

The leaves of the plant are small, about 6 cm long, brownish-green, broadly ovate and rounded at the ends. On the outer side of the leaves, there are noticeable whitish stripes, and on the underside, the leaves are covered with reddish villi. A photo of Ertendal’s plectranthus shows that it blooms with pale lilac or white flowers of 3 mm each.

Southern (Australis)

The southern plectranthus is especially unpretentious in cultivation, so it is often chosen as a house plant. The stems of indoor mint are long and drooping, so the southern ampelous plectranthus is often grown in hanging pots. The leaf plates of the plant are rounded, on long petioles, smooth and glossy. The leaves are rich green in color.

A photo of the southern plectranthus demonstrates that the shade of the flowers depends on the particular variety. The plant is characterized by a faint smell – if you rub the leaves in your fingers, the aroma will be felt very weakly.

Felt (Hadiensis)

Felt plectranthus grows to large sizes – about 75 cm in height. The stems of the plant are slightly drooping, the main shoot may become woody with age. The leaf plates of the felt plectranthus are fleshy and dull green, of a standard wide-ovate shape.

The shoots and leaves of felt plectranthus are covered with light pubescence. The plant usually blooms with purple flowers, and if homemade mint is allowed to be abundantly covered with blossoming buds, it will take on a very decorative look.

Whorled (Verticillatus)

The whorled appearance is quite different from most varieties of plectranthus. The stems of the plant have a crimson color, which clearly highlights indoor mint. The photo of the plectranthus plant shows that the leaves of the whorled plectranthus are of a standard shape, ovate, with blunt tops and rather wide, green in color.

On the upper side, the leaves may be covered with white pubescence, which gives them a slightly silvery hue. And on the underside of the leaf plates, red streaks on the surface of the leaf are well defined.

Ernst, or caudex (Ernestii)

Ernst’s Plectranthus is a short member of the house mint and grows to an average of 50 cm in height. The stems of the plant are erect, in adult house mint they can become woody. In the lower part, the shoots form rounded thickenings with age.

The leaves of Ernst’s caudex plectranthus are green, of the usual broad-ovate shape, dull and slightly pubescent on the surface. During flowering, indoor mint produces lilac-blue or white flowers.

MonaLavander (MonaLavender)

This variety of homemade mint belongs to the upright species and produces long brownish shoots. The leaves of room mint are wide, ovate, with blunt denticles along the edge. On the front side, the leaf plates are dark green and glossy, and on the lower surface they are purple and slightly pubescent.

House mint Mona Lavender produces light purple small flowers with blue speckling. The view is considered quite decorative – if you allow the plectranthus to bloom properly, it will become a decoration for the room.

Fragrant (Amboinicus)

Fragrant, or fragrant, indoor mint can grow up to 2 m under natural conditions, but when grown at home, it usually grows up to a maximum of 1 m. The shoots of the plant are straight or slightly drooping, green in color.

The leaf plates of fragrant homemade mint are wide, rounded and slightly elongated, with a serrated edge. On the petioles and on the lower surface there is a slight pubescence. Fragrant indoor mint blooms with pale blue small flowers, a characteristic feature of the species is a rather strong and bright aroma.

Oakleaf

Oakleaf plectranthus belongs to upright species and has a non-standard form of leaf plates. Unlike most varieties, the oak-leaved plectranthus leaves are not ovate, but very similar to oak, only much more fleshy and with a silvery edge on the upper side.

The smell of oakleaf plectranthus is also quite unusual. If you rub the leaf of the plant in your fingers, you can feel a pronounced coniferous aroma – there are few menthol notes in the smell of homemade mint.

Shrub (Fruticosus)

Indoor mint of this species reaches 1 m in height, the shoots of the plant are slightly pubescent, and the leaves are wide, oval with a pointed top and rather long, up to 10 cm in length.

Shrub plectranthus blooms with light blue small flowers, while both leaves and flowers emit a pungent odor with distinct menthol notes. This is due to the second name of the plant – mole tree. The fact is that homemade shrub mint repels moths and other insects that cannot stand the sharp mint aroma.

Foster or variegated (Fosteri)

Variegated plectranthus from Southeast India is characterized by unpretentious conditions and fast growth. It is often used in indoor cultivation and is used to decorate front gardens and balconies with it. The species belongs to the horizontal plectranthus, the shoots of the plant fall down and can reach 1 m in length.

The green oval leaves of the plant are covered with small villi, large uneven white spots are located on their surface. Plectranthus Foster blooms with white small flowers.

Troy’s Cold Gold

An unusual variety of room mint is the Gold of Troy. The shoots of the plant are erect, brown-brown and woody as they grow. The leaves of homemade mint have a standard round-elongated shape, the denticles along the edges of the plectranthus are weakly expressed.

The main feature of the variety is the color of the leaves – in the Gold of Troy they are bright yellow, with a dark green pattern in the middle of the leaf. Plectranthus flowers are small and white, rather inconspicuous, but even without them, the variety is considered very decorative in indoor breeding due to the pattern on the leaves.

Coleus Blume (Coleusblumei)

Plectranthus Bloom can grow up to 85 cm even at home with good care. The shoots of the plant are straight, closer to the roots they become woody with age. Plectranthus leaves are matte and velvety, emerald green, with an elongated pointed top and a serrated edge.

Different varieties of Bloom’s plectranthus can have green, patterned and even crimson leaves. In home cultivation, the plant looks very decorative, which is especially important given the rather nondescript flowering of room mint.

Ciliated (Ciliatus)

The creeping ciliated plectranthus reaches an average of about 60 cm in length and has pubescent purple shoots. The leaves of the plant are green, elliptical or ovate in shape, also with pubescence on the outside. The underside of the leaf plates is usually purple in color, hairs are also present, but only closer to the edge of the leaf.

Plectranthus ciliated blooms with white or pale lilac flowers, both single and in small racemes. The decorativeness of a flowering plant is low, like most types of room mint.

Blushing

Indoor mint of this species grows on average up to 35 cm in room conditions. The stems of the plant are straight at a young age, then bend down slightly, and can become woody at the roots.

The leaves of the blushing house mint are velvety, oblong with denticles along the edges, dark green in the upper part and lighter on the lower surface. The leaf plates are dotted with a red-orange pattern, a reddish border also runs along the edge, which is the reason for the name.

Nico

Nico plectranthus belongs to the drooping varieties of room mint and is distinguished by especially large leaves – up to 10 cm in length. A characteristic feature of the variety is the purple hue of the lower part of the leaf. In the upper part, the leaves of homemade mint are dark green, glossy, with a well-defined relief and fleshy.

In home breeding plectranthus Nico looks quite decorative. However, some difficulties are associated with caring for the plant – homemade mint is sensitive to the irrigation regime and reacts negatively to a lack of moisture.

Other varieties of plectranthus

In addition to the listed species, there are other popular varieties of homemade mint. Their brief description will allow you to understand the main features and differences.

Tomentosis

This houseplant can grow up to 75 cm in height. The shoots of house mint are slightly drooping, woody with age, the leaves are usually light green and pubescent. Plectranthus Tomentosa blooms with purple small flowers.

Venteri

The house plant has unusual carved leaves, more reminiscent of oak leaves than mint. Plectranthus is characterized by a pronounced spruce-lemon smell with faint notes of incense.

variegated

This species is divided into many varieties with a wide variety of shades of leaves. Variegated house mint may have a yellow, bluish, silvery or burgundy shade of leaf plates, often a beautiful pattern is visible on the leaves.

Silver

As the name of the species implies, the leaves of the plant are silver-gray, large. In the shade, the silver shade becomes more gray, so it is best to keep indoor mint on the sunny side.

Useful properties of room mint plectranthus

Regardless of the type and variety, indoor mint has a number of useful properties. It consists of glycosides and alkaloids, phenols and organic acids, essential oils and tannins.

Therefore, room mint has the following properties:

• relieves inflammation;
• soothes the nervous system;
• has a diuretic effect;
• relieves skin itching;
• improves blood circulation;
• helps with headaches.

The properties of room mint are also used for pain relief.

Application of room mint plectranthus

Indoor mint is grown not only for decorative purposes. Its leaves are used for the treatment of diseases and for aromatherapy, for the preparation of sedatives and for relieving inflammation.

In folk medicine

Based on the leaves of the houseplant plectranthus, many home remedies with medicinal properties are made. Decoctions and tinctures on mint leaves are used to treat:

• insomnia and chronic stress;
• irritable bowel;
• cough and bronchitis;
• flatulence and diarrhea.

Mint also has a beneficial effect in asthma, kidney, liver and bladder diseases, rheumatism and other joint ailments. Mint leaves can be applied to irritations and lesions on the skin – plectranthus will disinfect the tissues and promote healing.

Is it possible to use homemade mint plectranthus

Plectranthus leaves are taken orally in the form of decoctions, tinctures and teas, in small quantities room mint is beneficial. However, dosages must be carefully monitored.

How to Brew and Drink Plectranthus Tea

Based on the leaves of plectranthus, it is easiest to make a healing tea. There are 2 main brewing methods:

• 2 small spoons of crushed dry leaves are poured into the teapot, then poured with hot water and infused for 10 minutes;
• 1 small spoonful of dried mint is added to a similar amount of regular tea leaves, the collection is poured with boiling water and brewed for 15-20 minutes.

Limitations and contraindications

While plectranthus leaves are very beneficial, there are some limitations to be aware of. Use room mint is contraindicated:

• during pregnancy and lactation;
• with a tendency to dermatitis and with increased skin sensitivity;
• with an allergy to mint;
• with varicose veins and tendency to thrombosis;
• with hypotension.

Offering plectranthus tea is not recommended for children under 10 years of age.

How does plectranthus reproduce?

There are several ways to propagate a plectranthus flower at home. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:

1. Cuttings. You can use this method at any time of the year – several cuttings about 7 cm long are separated from an adult plant, the lower leaves are removed and placed in water with root added to it. Then the shoots are rooted in a soil consisting of peat and sand, and placed on a warm sunny windowsill. After a few weeks, with moderate watering, the cuttings will give roots. After the appearance of growth, the tops need to be pinched off, and then the shoots are transplanted into separate pots.
2. Division of the bush. If the indoor mint has grown strongly, then in the spring you can simply divide the adult bush. To do this, they dig it out of the pot and cut the rhizome into pieces with a sharp knife. Slices are sprinkled with activated charcoal or ash to avoid rotting, delenki are planted in separate pots. You need to care for delenki in the same way as for adult plectranthus bushes.
3. Seed reproduction. The seeds of the plectranthus indoor flower are sown in April or May in a sand-peat mixture, slightly pressing them into the ground, but not sprinkled on top. The seed container is placed on a sunny windowsill in a warm place with a temperature of at least 20 degrees. After seedlings appear, plectranthus is moderately watered, keeping the soil constantly moist. It will be possible to plant the shoots a month after the emergence of shoots.

Rules of landing

It is best to plant homemade mint in the spring – in April or May. The pot for plectranthus should be small – in a container that is too spacious, the soil may turn sour.

A sand-peat mixture is best suited for growing plectranthus, which is well breathable and absorbs moisture, while sand and peat are mixed in equal proportions.

When transshipping a purchased plectranthus into a new pot, it is necessary to transfer it along with an earthen clod. The same applies to young cuttings – they are transplanted carefully so as not to injure the roots.

If indoor mint grows indoors, then it is permissible to plant and transplant it throughout the year – provided that the temperature in the room is kept at least 20 ° C, and it is possible to organize good lighting.

Plectranthus care at home

Organizing the care of plectrantus is quite simple. You need to follow a few basic rules of cultivation.

Microclimate

House mint prefers moderate temperatures. In summer, she will feel comfortable at 22 ° C, and in winter it is desirable to reduce the temperature to 15 ° C.

Watering rules

Most varieties of room mint prefer abundant watering and spraying. Plectranthus tolerates a short drought well, but with regular drying of the soil, it begins to wither. In winter, watering is recommended to be reduced to moderate so that the plant can go into a dormant state.

Additional fertilizing

It is recommended to feed mint plectranthus in spring and summer – every 2 weeks, complex mineral fertilizers in liquid form are applied to the soil. In winter, top dressing can be stopped, but if the temperature in the room remains at 20 ° C with sufficient lighting, then it is allowed to continue to fertilize – no more than once a month.

Possible problems in growing

Violation of the rules of cultivation can lead to the fact that indoor mint begins to wither and weaken. Most often, the reasons are insufficient watering or improper lighting.

Why do plectranthus leaves turn yellow and what to do

The most common unpleasant symptom when growing indoor mint is yellowing of the leaves. Among the reasons can be listed:

• too low air temperature;
• drying out the soil in a pot;
• growing plectranthus in direct sunlight.

In order for the leaves of plectranthus to remain green and juicy, you need to keep the soil in the pot constantly moist and make sure that the plant does not freeze in drafts. The lighting should be bright, but diffused – direct rays can burn the leaves.

Pests and diseases

At home, pests and diseases affect mint infrequently. However, it can suffer from spider mites, aphids and scale insects, from root rot, downy mildew.

When pests appear, the leaves of the plant are treated with a solution of laundry soap or special insecticides for garden and indoor plants. If the plant has suffered from fungal diseases, it is necessary to reconsider the irrigation regime. The rots that have appeared are fought with the help of Bordeaux liquid or fungicides, for example, Horus, Topaz and others.

How to collect homemade mint leaves

Harvesting leaves for medicinal purposes is best done at the end of June. For harvesting, you need to choose only healthy, juicy, young leaves without spots:

1. The leaves are cut from a bush of homemade mint with a knife, rinsed in cold water and dried on a paper towel.
2. After that, the leaves must be dried – do it in the fresh air.
3. First, the raw material is dried in the shade for 4 hours, and then kept in the fresh air at low humidity for several more days until the leaves dry completely.
4. It is very easy to determine that indoor mint has dried up – the leaves should not crumple, but crumble under your fingers.

Signs and superstitions associated with plectranthus

It is believed that homemade mint contributes to the establishment of financial well-being in the house. According to popular beliefs, the cultivation of plectranthus attracts good luck, wealth and money.

Also, superstitions say that the very presence of room mint in the house normalizes the emotional atmosphere. The plant drives away bad thoughts and bad dreams, helps to extinguish quarrels between households.

Conclusion

Indoor mint plectrantus is a useful and beautiful plant, represented by dozens of different varieties. Growing mint at home is very easy and requires minimal maintenance.