Pull new shoots when you see them, and don’t place too much soil on top of the container when you’re burying it. It will throw out roots in no time, and then you can either pot it on or put in the ground. How to Grow Catnip. After a couple weeks, or after you see that the plants have adjusted to transplanting and are starting to grow, water only when the soil has dried out a few inches below the surface. This plant, which is one of the mint family, takes its name because of its particular attraction for cats. I also planted a couple in a dry border next to a stone wall that got partial sun, and I didn’t water them. To grow catnip, start by scattering the seeds in small pots and keeping the pots in a sunny spot. I grew the catnip for my two indoor cats and now have lots of street cat visitors enjoying the smell and taste. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A member of the mint family, catnip is also used in food and herbal remedies. When the seedlings appear, anything between 2 days to 3 weeks later, … Transplant outside when 3" tall with a final spacing of 12-18". All nepetas are perennial, so they die down in the winter and come up again in the spring. If you want to distill the dried catnip for its essential oil, then you really want the stalks too. After this period, allow the seeds to soak in water for a period of 24 hours. No need to fertilize catnip, since fertilizers tend to damage the plants … It will first bloom in mid summer. As soon as you remove a bloom, the plant immediately replaces it. Catnip propagates easily from both leaf-tip cuttings and seeds. Though many consider it to be a weed, the beautifully flowering catnip can have many uses in allelopathy, homeopathy, and pollination. Can I cut a catnip plant back and put the stems in water to root them? This article helped! Yes, and the cats it may attract would be a deterrent to rabbits and other animals that may otherwise eat your vegetables. Grow catnip from seeds or plants starting in the spring or fall. Keep warm but out of direct sunlight. And I slept well at night having breathed their fumes in all day. The seeds are contained in the spent flower head. Cutting it just above a leaf joint will promote more rapid new growth. If you have a friend or neighbour who has some catnip growing and you have access to a cutting, it roots very easily either in a glass of water or by putting it directly into the ground. If you're planning on using it for tea, then the answer would be yes. It maybe didn’t get as big as some of those in full sun, but it did OK. If you want to distill the dried catnip for its essential oil, then you really want the stalks too, but you will have to chop them up. Plant them about 20 inches apart so they are able to spread and grow (they make a fantastic ground cover). Catnip grows to a height of three or four feet and has featherlike, light green foliage and small clusters of lavender flowers that grow on spikes. Cut a stem and leaves to harvest it. You will need to have, or have access to, either a glass distillation kit or a pot still like mine. Can I give catnip to my cat fresh, or do I have to dry it first? How to Grow Catnip Plants in 5 Steps. If anyone knows why this happens, please drop a comment down below in the comment section. Then, water them every day until they germinate and start to grow leaves. But when they grow and it becomes a power struggle for space, the catnip wins. If it doesn’t, leave it there for longer. Bit by bit, the whites of their flowers drop off as seed heads develop, and pollinators continue to show a keen interest. (Yes, I had to Google it too. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 336,147 times. If the soil feels moist or wet, don’t water the plant and check it later that day or the next day. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. 1. Most survived, amazingly. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you’re planting seeds directly into your outdoor garden, sow them as soon as any threat of frost has passed. After reading it draws all cats, that's fine, but a movable low, narrow pot is better for control. How do those two statements marry? If you want to save money, or if you know of someone who already is growing catnip, you could ask them for a plant or some seeds. 2. Catnip plants are fairly hardy and quite drought-resistant, so you should be more concerned about over-watering than not watering them enough. I almost feel as if I should phone the green save-the-bees people to inform them. For whole plants, hang them upside down in a cool location for a few weeks. This easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant perennial blooms for months. Cut what you are taking down to leave at least one stem nodule on the plant. They might look thin when you first plant them, but they will need the room to grow and will soon fill out the space. Just pick off a bit of stem that is at least 2” high, remove the lower leaves, and place in water. Last Updated: December 4, 2019 Look for shoots and new spouts that might try to grow beyond the pot. That said, scientists are very interested in the product, because according to their own research, pure catnip essential oil is more potent than DEET at repelling mosquitoes under laboratory conditions. If you have access to a warm sunny area for at least 8 hours a day you won’t need a grow light. Cats get … It is actually good for me as well, because it means I can grow as much catnip as I want, knowing they will not be damaged outdoors or indoors. Something like 0.3% of any weight of dried catnip can be extracted. Seeds sown in the fall tend to yield a denser, bushier crop of plants. Then, water them every day until they germinate and start to grow leaves. Since bees love catnip, the plant acts as an excellent pollinator. When kept as a houseplant, Nepeta cataria flowers continually. Continue to water frequently after you’ve divided the plants. Catnip grows best in full sun and only need water if growing in drought conditions. Finally comes the day to harvest. If you want the look of an herb garden, but don’t want to risk catnip taking over, plant it in containers then bury the containers in your garden. In hot and humid climates, … You should begin to see sprouts after this period. You may find this happens if you live in a warm climate. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Those I did manage to plant out in a timely manner have grown fantastically well, but those that stayed home saw me having the most insect-free kitchen ever. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Whether you grew from seed or from a cutting, catnip will start pushing through the soil as soon as at warms up in spring. Catmint is perfect for containers, borders, herb gardens, and pollinator gardens. After the plants have grown a few inches, pinch back the shoots to promote bushy growth. You don’t need to harvest everything though. The web is uncertain whether it needs a cold … I have two cats, both siblings. Placing the plants in containers beneath the soil will help confine and control their roots, preventing them from wandering throughout your garden. 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