Catnip is a perennial herbaceous plant well - known for its power to ride felid crazy . What it ’s less known for is its potential drop to help with a variety of human ill , from anxiousness to migraines . Whether you ’re wanting a treat for the kitties or an gain to the practice of medicine console , growing catnip is the answer .
The plant belongs to the mint fellowship and control nepetalactone , which is chemically exchangeable tocat pheromones . computerized axial tomography love the perfume of this plant , so dry catmint is often used in qat plaything to entice pets to play . I ’ve turn catnip in my garden before , but it did n’t last long . I pull out it out once I realized how quickly cats found their manner to my garden .
I plant catnip in an effort to please one of the feline visitor in my garden . The sweet gray cat that I call Bento appeared the first hebdomad we moved into our home and never halt showing up . I planted it aside from my primary beds in an campaign to get her to stop pad all over my plants .
The introducing of catmint had the paired effect . Cats came in in droves and used my raised beds as a bedding box seat . Now gone from my garden , the problem has been rectified , thankfully ! One solar day , when I finally have my own cat , I ’ll be sure to plant a regular bountifulness of catnip . It is loose to develop , after all !
I find it singular how catnip affects felines . As a dog possessor , check computerized axial tomography respond to catnip really secernate the animal specie . quat are calm and aloof most of the time but show them catnip , and they lose it . Dogs are industrious and care - seek most of the clock time and give them a good bone to chew , and they ’ll calm flop down .
Why Grow Catnip?
Why bother turn catnip in the first position ? There are lots of with child reasons to establish it , include :
Cats Love It
The herb is secure for PET and CT enjoy it , so whether you have a pet big cat or you ’re set about to gruntle friendly neck of the woods true cat , the plant wo n’t harm your furry ally . If you ’re a cat owner , it ’s a nice treat to give to your feline sidekick . Dried and added to cat toy , the plant drives kitties wild . They become playful and energetic . Eaten , the herbaceous plant has sedative and calming effects . The enticing scent of Nepeta cataria makes it a nifty breeding aid . Avoid fill your kitty up with treats and employ catnip to help oneself with training .
Redirects Animals
Plant it in a far-off expanse of your garden to divert the attention of roaming cats who are already traipsing through your plant . They ’ll lose interest in your garden seam and go straight for the catnip . In the dwelling , use Nepeta cataria to encourage cats to play with sure toys or grave certain country of your sign and avoid others .
Medicinal Properties
Catnip is n’t just useful for soothing felines . The plant has medicative properties and was once used as a treatment for a variety of ailments , including stomach upset , anxiety , and the common coldness .
Attracts Pollinators
The flowering herbs not only pull CAT but also pollinators like bees and butterflies , which are vital to the health of your garden .
Attracts Beneficial Garden Predators
Probably one of the most significant benefits of planting catnip is its power to attract predators like lacewings and parasitic wasps , which are helpful or controlling specific pest populations .
Tasty Ingredient
you may use catnip anywhere you ’d use mountain : as a tea , chopped into soup and salads , or as a topping for desserts .
Is there any ground to quash planting and using catnip ? The only risk involve for your fur pal is that in some cases – and in large quantities – it may cause an upset tummy . Catnip can also advance cats to enter into your garden , which not everyone may take account .
Catnip Varieties
There are a few varieties of catnip . Some are more suited for the ornamental garden , while others are better if you ’re looking for something to apply medicinally .
True catnip (Nepeta cataria)
This is the one you want if your main objective is to please your feline friends or if you ’re grow catnip for its medicinal uses . It gets about 3 foot grandiloquent and has bloodless prime with a timid purple spotting . True catmint is native to Europe , but it has naturalize across the U.S.
Catmint (Nepetamussinii)
Catmint is in the Nepeta cataria family line , but the plants are different . It be given to have a bushier growth substance abuse and to have splashy flowers . The flower are purple , unlike catnip ’s flowers , which are usually white . Catmint does n’t have the chemical chemical compound that drives kitties barbarian , so it ’s more useful as a good deal stand-in or an ornamental .
Lemon catnip (Nepeta cataria citriodora)
As the name involve , this kind has a adorable lemony scent . It ’s splendid as an louse repellant , and you may use the natural oils in the leaves to keep mosquitos away .
Greek catnip(Nepeta cataria parnassica)
This variety is a little small than true catnip , only reaching about 18 inch marvellous . It has whitened or pale pink flowers .
Six Hills Giant catmint (Nepeta mussinii faassenii)
This variety is so good looking in the garden that it can be planted as an ornamental . It has a ton of flower and will bloom a 2nd time in the summer if you trim it back after its first blossom . Six hills giant is extremely drouth tolerant and have 3 feet improbable .
Camphor catnip (Nepeta camphorata)
Camphor Nepeta cataria has pretty whitened flowers with purple Transportation . In only get about 18 inch tall .
Planting Catnip
acquire catnip is incredibly well-fixed . The low - maintenance plant tolerates a variety of conditions and soil types . The mint - family plant life is likely to spread aggressively like its stack cousin-german . Keep it in a container , if possible .
Growing Zones
Catnip is a audacious and perennial in zone 3 and up to zone 9 .
Sun Requirements
While catnip prefer hot weather and full Sunday , it will get in partial shade .
Soil Requirements
This flora is highly patient of of poor soils . It ’ll turn nearly anywhere , which is what makes it so prone to aggressive growth . That said , if you want your catnip to be well-chosen and virile , implant it in rich , well - draining soil with a pH between 6.1 - 7.8 .
Where to Plant
Careful , catnip will obviously lure cat to your yard . Think about the aftermath of planting some right in the midriff of your garden . works in a container and you may easily move the plant around to more commodious areas should African tea become a nuisance . Consider uprise it indoors if it ’s for your feline preferred pals , to forbid contamination as a consequence of bird muck or melody pollutants .
Staring by Seed
Seeds require stratification to develop , because of their tough outer covering . Freeze seed and soak in water prior to sprouting to encourage germination . Sow seeds thinly on the aerofoil of the grime , do n’t plant too deep .
Direct Sowing
The perennial herbaceous plant returns every yr after the wintertime , so expect it to continually spread over time . You may direct sow in the early spring , once the land is executable , or in the tardy capitulation .
Another option ? Take some catnip from a friend or neighbor who has too much to deal with .
Starting Indoors
Start seedling indoors and graft once established if you want to get a forefront start on planting . Start catnip indoors a few weeks before you want to establish . Seeds germinate within 5 - 10 days .
Transplanting
transplantation start once temps have climbed in the spring and the danger of frost is passed . Harden plants off for a few twenty-four hour period before setting in the soil . fructify out too early , and cats may come for your young seedling . To prevent seedling damage , cover your crops .
Spacing
Give catnip 18 inch between plants and rows .
Caring for Catnip
Since it ’s a member of the mint category , it wo n’t come up as a surprise that catnip is relatively easy to care for .
Water Requirements
Most varieties are drought - resistant and prefer dryer spots in the garden . Avoid watering too much as it can cause root rot in plants .
Mulching
Mulching is unnecessary consider catnip ’s vigorous growing habit and tolerance of drouth conditions .
Pruning
After flowering , before the plant set about to self - sow , prune aggressively to prevent the spread of this mint - family plant . Pruning is more likely to be required if plants are grown within a larger garden area . In container , it ’s not as important . Pruning after bloom will also encourage a second flower period .
Succession sowing
Because catnip spreads so pronto , it ’s not necessary to succession sow .
Fertilizing
It ’s not necessary to fecundate Nepeta cataria plant as they stick out poor dirt quite well . Do n’t waste fertilizer on these plant .
Problems and Solutions for Growing Catnip
I was n’t kidding when I sound out that catnip is loose to develop . The plant is nearly problem - innocent . It grows much like a dope , so it ’s a plant that meet few problems . downhearted - maintenance catnip is an splendid choice for new gardeners having worry establishing other pollinator - friendly plant . Anyone can grow it .
Still , here are a few problem that you might require to find out out for .
Growing Problems
Why is it not growing back after the winter ?
If the flora is not well established and experiences a deep freeze , there ’s a danger that it may not return . Your container may not provide enough protection for your plant . The other cause ? Cats may have decimated your harvest .
My plant life does n’t look healthy ( or it ’s dying ) what ’s going on ?
Your plant may have been exposed to a disease . Fungal infection like Cercospora may affect your catnip plant . Treat with fungicide if a fungous disease is surmise and absent plants that are too far gone . Too much water can cause ascendant rot . It could be that you ’ve planted it in a spot where the filth does n’t drain . Remember not to plant catnip in a bit where you previously develop mint .
Cats keep destruct my catnip ! How do I prevent this from happening ?
If you have a job with hombre trampling all over your catnip , utilize net to brood it , and prevent damage . If net does n’t work , utilize uncompromising protection like wimp conducting wire to keep cats out .
Whitefly
As the name implies , this pest looks like a tiny , white fly sheet . They ’re related to aphid and , like their cousin-german , they suck the life out of plants . They also leave a honeydew behind that can pull in other diseases . Get rid of them by blasting them off plants with a impregnable nebuliser of water . Then utilize neem vegetable oil on a regular basis for the next few weeks .
Spider Mites
There is scarce a plant out there that is n’t subject to the sucking jaw of the spider mite . Luckily , they ’re fairly loose to master . Blast them off plants with a spray of pee and then practice a regular app of neem oil .
Mint Rust
Mint rust fungus impact all of the works in the quite a little family . It causes orangish - red mark to organize on leaves . Encourage beneficial insects and give plants plenty of airwave circulation . Water at the base of industrial plant in the morning . you’re able to also address with azoxystrobin .
Slugs
slug have been known to take a bite out of catnip . Use your favorite snail command method .
Aphids
aphid feed on plants , causing them to have stunt ontogeny or to become weakened . Get rid of them the same way you would whiteflies .
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mould have plant life to become shroud in a fine , white powder . verify plant have batch of good air circulation , water at the base of plant , water supply in the morning time so catnip has time to dry out , and apply neem oil during the wet time of year .
Companion Planting for Catnip
Because it grows aggressively ( like mint ) , it ’s best to constitute catnip singly from tender plants in the garden because they ’ll quick be surround .
Plant catnip in container and position near aphid - infested crops to encourage lacewings to root in the garden . The industrial plant is also an splendid deterrent if you ’re dealing with Irish potato bugs , asparagus pests , or annoying squash insects . Catnip is also a majuscule repellent for Japanese beetles , which may attack a number of plants let in noodle .
Plant catnip next to :
Do n’t plant catnip next to kale or Cucumis sativus .
Harvesting and Storing Catnip
Used as a kat treat or in cat miniature , catnip is best dry before manipulation . Cut leave of absence as want and practice to brew tea ( which has calming consequence ) or garnish dishes or add to salads . Flowers and leaves are both edible . To dry Nepeta cataria , thin out full stalks and dry in the Lord’s Day . Remove and crumble leaf and add to cat toy . glean the plant oft to encourage bushy ontogeny and foreclose the works from setting seed too ahead of time . Frequent harvest also helps prevent the belligerent spread of catmint plants .
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