>>797288As you say, try to mostly take it from the top. Pinch the stem with it, because a stem without leaves/buds above it (or too little ones) will rot (see pic related). All in all mint is resistant, don't be too afraid.
(Also for "topping" when you want a plant to get bushier - you can do that on the mint you posted, but not on the coriander for the moment. Remember to keep some pairs of leaves below the point of cut, even more if you're beginning).
I can't really say how I learn, I think mainly with Internet, searching every thing I could for each plant I was growing. Then you experience it with your plants and it becomes much more tangible.
When you begin, I believe the first things to know may be about soil structure/composition, and the basic ways plants grow, and how you can play with this.
If you don't already know about it, maybe you could learn about what a terminal bud is, and how it inhibits growth below ; then what id does to buds below when you remove it, how all of these react to light...
That way you'll understand better why I tell you to pinch just above buds, how to direct such or such bud growth, etc.
Search some articles or read forums about "how to prune", "how to top" (and why you should or shouldn't top or prune...). Then with your own experience you'll know how such or such plant react to these things (by example, if you want a plant to get ramified stems, you'll soon realize that topping works wonder on pepper - which often don't need it - but far less on young avocados, which have strong apical dominance and will "try" to keep only one stem if you don't "force" them)
And, once again, don't water too much, it's one of the biggest cause of plants' death when one is beginning.
