Chocolate mint: Diseases and Remedies (Explained for Everyone)

NOTE: The terms Chocolate mint and Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ are identical in this text; in reality, Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ is Chocolate mint’s biological word.

Chocolate mint is a close relative to ordinary peppermint. The ‘Chocolate’ cultivar was formed by crossing M. citrata with M. piperita. It’s a sterile hybrid plant that doesn’t produce seeds. It has an aroma of chocolate, but its taste is similar to that of citrata mint.

Why does my Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ roots have rot?

Root rot on your Chocolate mint (Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Chocolate

Why does my Chocolate mint have gray mold spots?

Gray mold spots are a specific fungus that regularly harms flowers and spreads swiftly. If you notice any brown (or gray) spots, this fungus is probably to cause. You risk your plant dying if you ignore these warning indications.

Our Solution

The answer is obvious once you recognize the cause of the problem. Most frequently, it results from the Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ being overwatered. We strongly advise you to remove the damaged plant parts, cut off the diseased roots and leaves, and then repot your plant in a new container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Chocolate mint have leaf spots?

Leaf We provide you with all the information you need to identify and save your plants if they display signs like leaves that suddenly change color or wilt/droop. This sort of sickness is one of the most aggravating for Chocolate mint owners.

Why are my Chocolate mint leaves turning yellow?

In the world of horticulture, yellowing leaves are undoubtedly the most common problem. The two main causes of this problem are overwatering and a lack of nutrition.

Whether you think your plants are getting too much water, cut back on how often you water them, and take the following measures to see if they might be nutritionally deficient:

Here are some indicators of yellowing on the Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ brought on by its numerous flaws:

  • Yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves are the first sign of magnesium shortage. Veins continue to be green while the leaf’s core turns yellow. The leaf’s edges yellow last.
  • Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
  • Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
  • Insufficient potassium causes the leaf edges to turn brilliant yellow while the interior of the leaf stays green. Older leaves show the symptoms initially, and the leaf edges quickly darken.
  • Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.

Our Solution

You only need to respond to the signs mentioned above. A gardening store expert will be able to provide you advice on how to purchase a specific soil to treat a potassium or nitrogen deficiency. Additionally, you can reduce how often you water your plants.

Is my Chocolate mint sunburned?

It is simple to determine whether your Chocolate mint (your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.

Sunburned

As we saw above, the leaves of your Chocolate mint can also change color if it receives too much water or insufficient light.

To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.

Why are my Chocolate mint leaves turning brown?

The classic sign that a plant has been overexposed to direct sunlight and sunburned is the development of browning leaves. Rest assured that while this may probably save your plant from dying, it will adversely affect its growth.

Should I leave my Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ in direct sunlight?

No! If your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ (or Chocolate mint) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Chocolate mint is in such a state!

Our Solution

As stated in the paragraph above, the cure is straightforward: simply position your plant’s Chocolate mint so that it is out of direct sunlight. With proper watering and this method, your plant should quickly come back to life.

Why are my Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ leaves drooping or wilting ?

This typically occurs when your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ gets dehydrated. Large plants are more at risk since they naturally require more water than smaller plants.

Drooping

You may quickly determine if your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ plant needs water by under-weighing its pot; if it seems light, the soil and roots are probably fairly dry and require water.

Our Solution

If the soil in the container is completely dry, you must first moisten it to guarantee that your plant’s roots absorb the benefits of the water. One common mistake is to drown the Chocolate mint right away after a dry time because you think it needs a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’

Water Occasionally

Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’.

Touching the soil will let you know whether your plant needs water or not; if it still feels damp, it’s generally best to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It’s also a good idea to keep your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ at a constant temperature, especially if it’s kept indoors. In general, at GreenShack, we suggest booking a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, keep your Mentha piperita f. citrata’Chocolate’ away from radiators, air conditioners, and other sources of hot or cold air.

Keep your Chocolate mint Dust-Free

This one is about houseplants. Your indoor plants’ leaves get dusty just like your furniture does. The problem is that this might prevent photosynthesis from beginning, which would result in the plants gradually losing their color.

This would also make the pests happy, a real descent into hell for your Chocolate mint.

To remove the dust from the leaves of your plant, take a microfiber cloth and gently rub the leaves. You can wet the cloth to make it easier to remove the dust, but never use corrosive products (such as rubbing alcohol!)

Keep drainage in mind

If you have a tendency to overwater, you need to keep an eye on your drainage, we advise you to opt for a pot with drainage holes if it is not already the case and a saucer.

In the meantime, if you don’t have holes in your pots, you can add volcanic rocks (or any rocks with holes) at the bottom of your pot, this way it will create a channel so that the water doesn’t stay in your skin too much (to avoid that roots start to rot!)