A longstanding favourite of all things feline, catnip is a simple plant to cultivate. It is related to mint and lemon balm. If you give it adequate water and remember to pinch out the blossoms to promote leaf growth, you can grow it effectively indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Do you want to stop buying your cat outdated, stale catnip? Next, give this perennial herb a try at home! This page explains how to plant, grow, and care for catnip.
Catnip Plant Overview
| Genus Name | Nepeta cataria |
| Common Name | Catnip |
| Plant Type | Herb |
| Light | Part sun |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet |
| Width | 18 to 24 inches |
| Foliage Colour | Blue/Green |
Where to Plant Catnip
Catnip needs both well-drained soil and sunlight to grow. In warmer climates, catnip thrives in moderate afternoon shade.
You can plant catnip in an elevated bed or straight in the ground, but be careful to give it some restrictions. It belongs to the mint family and will soon overrun your landscape. USDA zones 3–9 are suitable for catnip growth.
How and When to Plant Catnip
The best time to plant catnip is in the spring; following your area’s last frost. Select a seed or a starter plant from your local nursery to begin growing catnip. Plant a few, 18 to 24 inches apart, and give them frequent, light watering until they start to take root.
Six weeks or so before the predicted last frost date, sow seeds inside. To ensure that each plant has enough room to grow, transplant the seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart in the garden. When it begins to warm up, you may also plant the seeds straight into a prepared garden bed and lightly cover them with dirt.
A light frost before sprouting won’t hurt them, but a late frost might. Catnip can be sown or planted in containers for indoor gardening at any time of year.
How to Grow Catnip
If you plant catnip in a full-sun, well-draining soil, it will thrive easily. The plants can withstand some neglect once they reach maturity. Among other plants, perennial herbs and lovely flowers grow nicely with them.
Soil
Provided the soil drains properly, catnip plants thrive in a variety of soil types. It is best not to grow catnip in a particular region of your garden where you know it frequently collects water. If your garden is very compacted or has poor drainage, think about making improvements before planting.
To increase aeration and drainage, I prefer to agitate the soil with a broad or digging fork. It also helps with drainage to mix in a handful or two of compost or peat moss. Potted catnip grows best in soil that retains moisture but drains easily. Combinations based on coconut coir or peat moss are effective.
Water
When there are dry spells, mature catnip plants can last several days without needing to be watered. This means that for at least a month following transplanting, you should keep the soil somewhat damp.
You can use a drip irrigation system or a hose to water the base of the plant. Keeping the leaves dry will assist in avoiding fungal overgrowth. Rainfall, temperature, and plant size all affect how often a plant needs to be watered.
Water your catnip plants once a week or so during dry weather. Watering deeply and infrequently is better than watering the top few inches of soil every day since it encourages plants to grow deep roots.
Light
Catnip grows best in full sunshine. To keep this herb happy, plant it somewhere that gets at least eight hours of direct light every day. Indoor gardening thrives best when done close to a south-facing window.
Some great spots are in a room with lots of natural light or by a west-facing window. And if you have a sunroom, it works great!
Temperature and Humidity
Catnip plants are resilient to a broad variety of humidity levels and temperatures. USDA hardiness zones three through nine are suitable conditions for them to grow outdoors. The cold winter months cause the leaves to die back, allowing plants to re-grow in the spring.
If you’re growing inside, you’ll be happy to hear that these plants do well in standard residential environments. The optimal temperature range is between 60 and 80 °F, with moderate humidity.
Fertilizer
Catnip plants can grow successfully without fertilizer. Although they will thrive in unmodified soil, you can increase fertility and the number of helpful microorganisms by blending in some finished compost or worm castings. Each spring, I like to gently scatter a small handful of these materials near the plant’s base.
Pruning and Maintenance
Preventing your catnip plant from flowering is ideal, so make sure to trim off any blossoming branches before they open. The plant will become more resilient as a result.
Regular leaf harvesting will keep the plant vigorous, and the cats will be delighted because they can eat the leaves either fresh or dry. If the plant gets too tall, you should trim it back to around 6 inches in height to encourage bushier, leafy growth.
Propagation Catnip
Catnip spreads easily, perhaps a little too easily for some gardeners. However, you can use stem cuttings if you want to grow more of them:
- Cut off a 4- to 6-inch segment of stem just beneath a leaf node.
- Take out the leaves from the bottom section of the slice.
- Place the clipping in a soilless potting mix-filled pot or into a jar of water.
- Make sure the potting mix is moist, or change the water every day.
- When new leaves appear, it is time to transplant because the cutting has taken root.
Potting and Repotting
Catnip usually reaches a height of two to three feet when grown outdoors. It is a perennial plant. If given adequate direct sunlight and appropriate watering, it can reach up to two feet in height indoors; however, it won’t grow as tall outside.
Growing plants indoors for only one growing season appears more sensible because indoor catnip isn’t as potent as catnip cultivated outside. When repotting a little catnip plant, use fresh potting soil, enlarge the container by one size, and take care not to damage the plant’s root structure.
Pests and Problems
Growing catnip normally doesn’t require you to worry about pests. Still, it’s good to periodically look for spider mites on the leaves. Never leave the catnip submerged in water, as this could lead to root rot and finally kill the plant.
Cats can harm new catnip plants’ leaves and stems by rubbing against them. Use short bamboo sticks buried in the ground next to the catnip plants to protect them.
Diseases
If you put catnip plants in poorly draining soil or give them too much water, they may get root rot. Pulling the plants out of the ground, trimming off any discoloured or moist roots, and then repotting the plant in well-draining soil will help address this.
Conclusion
Well, you know how to cultivate catnip and maintain its happiness, so let’s get growing! Recall that catnip is an easy plant to grow at home for everyone, and it thrives in both gardens and potted indoor plants. Grow plants that you and your feline companions will like by providing plenty of sunlight and good drainage.
FAQ
Are cat grass and catnip the same thing?
No, cat grass and catnip (Nepeta cataria) are not the same thing. Cat grass does not affect a cat’s behaviour; catnip does. Cats will consume cat grass, which is a natural fiber substitute. It consists primarily of wheat, rye, barley, and oats. It is cultivated to help pass extra hair that is absorbed while brushing.
Is catnip a mosquito repellent?
Studies reveal that the oil derived from catnip plants deters insects. Catnip bushes may repel certain insects, but concentrated essential oils will work better at keeping mosquitoes away.
Which plants benefit greatly from catnip?
Catnip grows well alongside perennial herbs such as sage, lavender, and rosemary. These plants are all used as tea components, like soil that drains well.