Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Gattefosse's Mint (Mentha gattefossei)— schedule & NPK
Also called Gattefosse's Mint, Moroccan Mint.
More about gattefosse's mint
About Gattefosse's Mint
Mentha gattefossei · also called Gattefosse's Mint, Moroccan Mint · herb
Gattefosse's Mint is a rare Moroccan native prized for its intensely aromatic leaves with a cool, fresh menthol scent. It thrives in full sun with consistently moist, fertile soil. Drought-sensitive but vigorous once established, it spreads by runners and suits containers or herb borders where moisture can be maintained.
Growth habit: Spreading, rhizomatous perennial herb
What fertiliser gattefosse's mint actually wants — and why
Gattefosse's Mint is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.
A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for gattefosse's mint: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed gattefosse's mint, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For gattefosse's mint:
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-10) every 4 weeks during the growing season (spring to early autumn). Avoid over-feeding, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of essential oil concentration. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when gattefosse's mint is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for gattefosse's mint
Half strength is a sensible default for gattefosse's mint — enough to fuel regrowth after cutting, gentle enough that the leaves stay aromatic rather than watery.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water gattefosse's mint first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the gattefosse's mint watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding gattefosse's mint
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for gattefosse's mint:
- Fast, soft, pale growth with diluted, less aromatic flavour.
- Early bolting (running to flower) and a bitter edge.
- Salt crust and scorched tips on container plants.
Signs you are under-feeding gattefosse's mint
- Pale, slow regrowth after cutting and small leaves.
- A tired, stalled plant that cannot keep up with harvesting.
- Yellowing older leaves in a long-spent pot.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full gattefosse's mint care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Pot-grown gattefosse's mint builds up feed salts quickly — water until it drains each time and flush the pot with plain water every few weeks, especially on a sunny windowsill.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for gattefosse's mint
Organic options
A diluted seaweed feed or worm-casting tea keeps soft growth coming without overdoing it. UK: dilute seaweed or Westland; US: Espoma Garden-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Gentle, hard to overdo, flavour-friendly.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A balanced liquid feed at half strength through harvesting — UK: Phostrogen, Baby Bio or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro all-purpose at half strength. Fast regrowth; just do not overdo the nitrogen.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising gattefosse's mint — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does gattefosse's mint need?
A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed. Gattefosse's Mint is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.
How often should I feed gattefosse's mint?
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-10) every 4 weeks during the growing season (spring to early autumn). Avoid over-feeding, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of essential oil concentration. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-10) every 4 weeks during the growing season (spring to early autumn). Avoid over-feeding, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of essential oil concentration. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.
What strength of feed for gattefosse's mint?
Half strength is a sensible default for gattefosse's mint — enough to fuel regrowth after cutting, gentle enough that the leaves stay aromatic rather than watery.
What does over-feeding gattefosse's mint look like?
Fast, soft, pale growth with diluted, less aromatic flavour. Early bolting (running to flower) and a bitter edge. Salt crust and scorched tips on container plants. Over-feeding gattefosse's mint with strong nitrogen is the usual mistake — it grows fast and lush but the leaves turn bland and it bolts to flower sooner, ending the useful harvest early.
Should I flush the soil of gattefosse's mint?
Pot-grown gattefosse's mint builds up feed salts quickly — water until it drains each time and flush the pot with plain water every few weeks, especially on a sunny windowsill.
Keep reading
- Gattefosse's Mint care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water gattefosse's mint — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise lemon bee balm
- How to fertilise rock hyssop
- How to fertilise anise
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library