Growing Catnip Indoors ….. A Rough guide
Everybody uses different methods this
is just a guideline how we grew our Catnip
When watering use a fine spray mist
bottle or you will damage seedlings thanks…
Don’t forget drainage holes you don’t want to drown your
seeds J J
As with most herbs, full sun,
adequate moisture, and reasonable soil are all that is needed.
Choose several small containers to
start your plants in, depending on how many seeds you intend to plant. You can
buy special pots from the garden section of a store, or you can reuse and
recycle things like clean yogurt containers, or even egg cartons. The plant
won't be in this pot too long, so it does not have to be super sturdy in order
to work. Now, you are ready to plant your catnip seeds. First, prepare the
pots. Fill each pot not quite to the top with potting soil. Moisten the soil
with water. Make a small indentation in the soil--no deeper than around 1/8
inch or so. Take a tiny pinch of the catnip seeds, and place in the small
hollow you made. Gently cover the seeds with the soil. Find a nice sunny spot
indoors that is safe from inquiring noses and paws to place your newly-planted
pots of catnip. Cover the plants with a sheet of plastic wrap to simulate the
growing conditions of a greenhouse. Remove the wrap just as soon as you see the
sprouts appear. Allow your catnip plants to grow indoors until they reach about
2 inches in height. Make sure to keep the soil moist at all times--catnip
really likes water! Once the plants are this size, they should be ready to
transplant into their new home and live outside Once
all frosts and snow are gone…. Or, if you prefer, you can keep catnip plants
inside. The best advice to insure the ease of having fresh catnip without the
worry of cats destroying it seems to be planting in a hanging pot. Indoors or
out, this is the way to go. It's easy for you to tend the plant and place it in
a sunny location, and quite difficult for cats to reach it when it is hanging
at your own eye level! You can plant several seedlings per pot for a good-sized
plant. As the catnip plant grows, be sure to pinch off the new leaves in order
to make the plant bush out and have more leaves. Otherwise the plant will
consist of several tall, weedy shoots and far fewer leaves. Since the leaves
and buds are what attract your cat the most, you want
to make sure to have as many as possible from each plant.
Harvesting your catnip is easy, but the
right timing is crucial. You want the leaves to have as much natural oil in
them as possible. This seems to happen at the time that the plant begins to bud
out, so this is the best time to start picking and preparing to dry. You can
cut the plant back rather severely when you harvest the catnip.... it will come
back. It is hard to kill catnip! We cut a few branches and tie them in a bunch
then hang them upside down in a warm dry area …we use our airing cupboard . When dried either shred into small pieces and
keep in a container or sealed plastic bag out of direct sunlight .or pop it
into the fridge or freezer to keep it fresh.
Enjoy the catnip-tastic
fun kitty will have with the catnip.
Sandra, Andrea & Cats