Plectranthus (indoor mint, home): types and varieties with photos and descriptions, beneficial properties, application

Indoor mint plectranthus is not only a beautiful, but also a useful houseplant. Caring for it does not require much effort, and the leaves can be used for a variety of purposes.

Description of Plectranthus

The plectranthus plant is also called indoor or home mint, as well as spur flower. Basically, plectranthus is divided into erect and drooping varieties, but any species and varieties have highly branched, tetrahedral shoots. Plectranthus leaves are closely spaced, smooth or slightly pubescent, matte or glossy, in dark and light green shades.

Plectranthus grows on average up to 60-120 cm, and the leaves can reach a length of 10 cm. The photo of indoor plectranthus mint shows that the leaves of the plant are ovoid, with teeth along the edges, and are a little reminiscent of nettle leaves.

How plectranthus blooms

House mint produces recognizable corolla-shaped flowers, with one lip bent upward and the other directed downward. In the core of the flower there are 4 stamens of different lengths. The color of the flowers can be soft blue, lilac, blue or almost white - the color depends on the variety.

Plectranthus usually blooms from late spring to late summer. Homemade mint flowers are not of particular decorative value, but a fully blossomed plant looks attractive on an indoor windowsill.

What is the scent of homemade mint?

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

Varieties and types of plectranthus

Indoor mint for home cultivation comes in many varieties. The varieties differ among themselves in color and size, as well as in the shade of flowers and patterns on the leaves.

Coleoides

The variety is very popular and is well suited for growing indoors. The height of coleus-shaped plectranthus 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 edges of the leaves are jagged and crenate.

Some varieties of coleus plectranthus are characterized by an unusual pattern on the leaves. Along their edge there is a whitish border, beautifully emphasizing the green color of the leaf blades.

Oertendahlii

Plectranthus Ertendahl is well suited for indoor growing because it is quite compact in 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 in shape and rounded at the ends. On the outside of the leaves there are noticeable whitish stripes, and on the underside the leaves are covered with reddish hairs. A photo of Plectranthus Ertendahl shows that it blooms with pale lilac or white flowers of 3 mm each.

Southern (Australis)

Southern plectranthus is particularly easy to grow, which is why it is often chosen as a house plant. The stems of indoor mint are long and drooping, so southern ampelous plectranthus is often grown in hanging pots.The leaf blades of the plant are round, on long petioles, smooth and glossy. The color of the leaves is rich green.

A photo of the southern plectranthus demonstrates that the color of the flowers depends on the specific variety. The plant is characterized by a faint odor - if you rub the leaves in your fingers, the aroma will be felt very faintly.

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 blades of the tomentose plectranthus are fleshy and dim green, with a standard broad-ovate shape.

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

Whorled (Verticillatus)

The whorled species is quite different from most varieties of Plectranthus. The stems of the plant have a purple color, which makes indoor mint stand out brightly. The photo of the plectranthus plant shows that the leaves of the whorled plectranthus are of a standard shape, ovoid, with blunt apices and quite wide, green in color.

On the upper side, the leaves may be covered with white pubescence, which gives them a slightly silvery tint. And on the underside of the leaf blades, red veins are clearly visible on the surface of the leaf.

Ernst, or caudex (Ernestii)

Plectranthus Ernst is a short representative of home mint and grows on average up to 50 cm in height. The stems of the plant are erect; in mature domestic mint they may become woody. In the lower part, the shoots form rounded thickenings with age.

The leaves of Ernst's caudex plectranthus are green, usually broadly ovate in shape, matte and slightly pubescent on the surface. During flowering, indoor mint produces lilac-blue or white flowers.

MonaLavender

This variety of homemade mint is an erect species and produces long, brownish shoots. The leaves of indoor mint are wide, ovate, with blunt teeth along the edge. On the front side, the leaf blades are dark green and glossy, and on the lower surface they are purple in color and slightly pubescent.

Homemade mint Mona Lavender produces small, light purple flowers with blue speckles. The species 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 in natural conditions, but when grown at home it usually develops to a maximum of 1 m. The shoots of the plant are straight or slightly drooping, green in color.

The leaf blades of fragrant homemade mint are wide, rounded and slightly elongated, with a jagged edge. There is slight pubescence on the petioles and on the lower surface. Fragrant indoor mint blooms with pale blue small flowers; a characteristic feature of the species is a fairly strong and bright aroma.

Oakleaf

Plectranthus oakleaf is an erect species and has a non-standard shape of leaf blades. Unlike most varieties, oakleaf plectranthus has leaves that are not ovoid, but very similar to oak leaves, only much fleshier 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 pine 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 tip and quite 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 explains the second name of the plant - moth tree. The fact is that homemade bush mint perfectly repels moths and other insects that cannot tolerate the strong mint aroma.

Foster or variegated (Fosteri)

Variegated plectranthus from Southeast India is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to conditions and rapid growth. It is often used in indoor growing and used to decorate front gardens and balconies. The species belongs to the horizontal plectranthus; the shoots of the plant flow down and can reach 1 m in length.

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

Troy's Cold

An unusual variety of indoor 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 rounded-elongated shape; the denticles along the edges of plectranthus are weakly expressed.

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

Coleus Blumei

Plectranthus Blooma 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 woodier with age. Plectranthus leaves are matte and velvety, emerald green, with an elongated, pointed tip and serrated edge.

Different varieties of Plectranthus Bloom can have green, patterned and even purple leaves. When grown at home, the plant looks very decorative, which is especially important given the rather inconspicuous flowering of indoor 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 ovoid in shape, also with pubescence on the outside. The underside of the leaf blades is usually purple in color; hairs are also present, but only closer to the edge of the leaf.

Ciliated plectranthus blooms with white or pale lilac flowers, both single and in small racemes. The decorative value of the flowering plant is low, like most types of indoor mint.

Blushing

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

The leaves of blushing house mint are velvety, oblong with serrated edges, dark green at the top and lighter on the lower surface.The leaf blades are dotted with a red-orange pattern; there is also a reddish border along the edge, which explains the name.

Nico

Plectranthus variety Nico is a drooping variety of indoor mint and is distinguished by particularly large leaves - up to 10 cm in length. A characteristic feature of the variety is the purple tint of the lower part of the leaf. In the upper part, the leaves of homemade mint are dark green, glossy, with a well-defined texture and fleshy.

When grown at home, Plectranthus Nico looks quite decorative. However, there are some difficulties associated with caring for the plant - homemade mint is sensitive to the watering 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. A brief description of them will allow you to understand the main features and differences.

Tomentosa

This indoor plant can grow up to 75 cm in height. The shoots of homemade mint are slightly drooping and become woody with age; the leaves are usually light green in color and pubescent. Plectranthus Tomentosa blooms with purple small flowers.

Venteri

The houseplant has unusually carved leaves, more reminiscent of oak leaves than mint leaves. Plectranthus is characterized by a pronounced spruce-lemon scent with faint notes of incense.

Variegated

This species is divided into many varieties with a wide variety of leaf shades. Variegated homemade mint may have a yellow, bluish, silver or burgundy tint to the leaf blades; often a beautiful pattern is visible on the leaves.

Silver

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

Beneficial properties of indoor mint plectranthus

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

Therefore, indoor mint has the following properties:

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

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

Use of indoor mint plectranthus

Indoor mint is grown not only for decorative purposes. Its leaves are used to treat diseases and for aromatherapy, to prepare sedatives and to relieve inflammation.

In folk medicine

Many home remedies with medicinal properties are made from the leaves of the houseplant plectranthus. Decoctions and tinctures of mint leaves are used to treat:

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

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

Is it possible to use homemade mint plectranthus?

Plectranthus leaves are consumed internally in the form of decoctions, tinctures and teas; indoor mint is beneficial in small quantities. However, you need to carefully monitor the dosages.

How to brew and drink plectranthus tea

The easiest way to prepare healing tea is based on plectranthus leaves. There are 2 main brewing methods:

• pour 2 small spoons of crushed dry leaves into a teapot, then pour hot water and leave for 10 minutes;
• Add 1 small spoon of dried mint to the same amount of regular tea leaves, pour boiling water over the mixture and brew for 15-20 minutes.

Restrictions and contraindications

Although plectranthus leaves are very beneficial, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The use of indoor mint is contraindicated:

• during pregnancy and lactation;
• with a tendency to dermatitis and increased skin sensitivity;
• if you are allergic to mint;
• with varicose veins and a tendency to thrombosis;
• with hypotension.

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

How does plectranthus reproduce?

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

1. Cuttings. This method can be used 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 the root added to it. Then the shoots are rooted in soil consisting of peat and sand and placed on a warm, sunny windowsill. After a few weeks, with moderate watering, the cuttings will take root. After the growth appears, the tops need to be pinched, and then the shoots should be transplanted into separate pots.
2. Dividing the bush. If indoor mint has grown greatly, then in the spring you can simply divide the adult bush.To do this, dig it out of the pot and cut the rhizome into pieces with a sharp knife. The sections are sprinkled with activated carbon or ash to prevent rotting, and the sections are planted in separate pots. You need to care for the divisions in the same way as for adult plectranthus bushes.
3. Seed propagation. The seeds of the indoor plectranthus flower are sown in April or May in a sand-peat mixture, lightly pressing them into the soil, but not sprinkling them on top. The container with the seeds is placed on a sunny windowsill in a warm place with a temperature of at least 20 degrees. After seedlings appear, plectranthus is watered moderately, keeping the soil constantly moist. It will be possible to plant the shoots a month after the emergence of shoots.

Landing rules

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.

The best choice for growing plectranthus is a sand-peat mixture that is highly permeable to air and absorbs moisture; sand and peat are mixed in equal proportions.

When transferring a purchased plectranthus into a new pot, you must transfer it along with a lump of earth. The same applies to young cuttings - they are transplanted carefully so as not to injure the roots.

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

Caring for plectranthus at home

Organizing care for plectranthus is quite simple. You need to adhere to a few basic growing rules.

Microclimate

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

Watering rules

Most varieties of indoor mint prefer abundant watering and spraying. Plectranthus tolerates short drought well, but when the soil regularly dries out, it begins to wither. In winter, it is recommended to reduce watering to moderate levels so that the plant can go into a dormant state.

Top dressing

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

Possible problems during cultivation

Violation of the growing rules 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 are:

• air temperature is too low;
• drying out of the soil in the pot;
• growing plectranthus in direct sun.

To keep the leaves of plectranthus 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 cause burns to the leaves.

Pests and diseases

At home, pests and diseases rarely attack mint. However, it can suffer from spider mites, aphids and scale insects, root rot, and 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 watering regime. The emerging rot is combated using Bordeaux mixture or fungicides, for example, Horus, Topaz and others.

How to properly collect homemade mint leaves

It is best to harvest leaves for medicinal purposes 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 homemade mint bush with a knife, rinsed in cold water and dried on a paper towel.
2. After this, the leaves need to be dried - this is done in the fresh air.
3. First, the raw materials are dried in the shade for 4 hours, and then kept in the fresh air at low humidity for several more days until the leaves are completely dry.
4. It is very easy to determine that indoor mint has dried out - the leaves should not wrinkle, but crumble under your fingers.

Signs and superstitions associated with plectranthus

It is believed that homemade mint helps to establish financial well-being in the home. According to folk wisdom, growing plectranthus attracts good luck, wealth and money.

Superstitions also say that the very presence of indoor mint in the house normalizes the emotional atmosphere.The plant drives away bad thoughts and bad dreams, helps to extinguish quarrels between household members.

Conclusion

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

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