Plant and care for catnip


Catnip in the perennial garden

Plant and care for catnip: catnip

The catnip flowers from May to October Almost throughout the summer, with its predominantly blue-violet flowers, numerous flower beds appear in a sea of ​​color. The catnip attracts a variety of beneficial organisms such as bees and bumblebees in the home garden and was therefore even elected the perennial of 2010.

The name is based on the herb-spicy scented leaves and the preference of many cats for this plant. Actinidin, a valerian-like active ingredient, is why the plant is so appealing to cats and causes noise-like states. If you plant the catnip in the bucket, even small tomb tigers can enjoy the pleasant scent.

Here you will learn interesting Information about cultivation and care the robust catnip as perennial plant in the own garden.

Recognize catnip

There are a variety of bred Nepeta species that as a cut and bedding tree Find use. Common to all are the aromatic leaves and a long flowering period from July to early October.

The color palette of the flowers is enough from violet to light blue to dark blue, a few varieties bloom white, pink or even yellow. The flowers are pollinated by hymenopterans such as bumblebees and bees. The flower shape may vary depending on the type of catnip.

The height of the plant varies from 20 to 120 cm. The shape of the leaves is similar to that of melissa, but they are mostly covered with glandular hairs, thicker and of a more grayish-blue color. Even the scent of the plant is reminiscent of his tart-refreshing citrus scent to the lemon balm.

Claims and location of catnip

Plant and care for catnip: plant

When choosing the location, the claims of different Nepeta varieties must be taken into account.

The catnip is a frugal plant that growing at the ideal location perennial and wears long blooms with little care. Nevertheless, it should be noted when cultivating catnip that different varieties also set different demands on the soil.

The most common gray-powdered species are much easier to clean and less demanding. They thrive in sunny places with moderately dry soil very well and are therefore mainly planted in rock gardens.

The green-leaved Nepeta species however, you need one sunny location with nutrient-rich and moist soil, but it does not tend to waterlogged. A clay soil with a pH of 6.4 is considered ideal.

Tip: Inform yourself before purchasing which plant is suitable for your site option healthy and optimal plant growth to be able to guarantee.

Plant catnip

Plant and care for catnip: care

Whether in a bucket or in a bed - cats love catnip.

The catnip will especially like to plant in a scented garden, but even in the tub on the terrace or in boxes on the balcony, it thrives well and exudes its pleasant aroma over the summer months.

The containerware is Can be planted all year round. For faster growth, experts recommend premature watering of the root ball. To do this, remove the disposable pot and place the root ball in a jar of water until no more air bubbles appear. Now place the root ball in a twice as large planting hole or a sufficiently large bucket and cover everything with fresh garden soil.

When planting outdoors, ensure a planting distance of at least 30 centimeters and allow potted plants to use a drainage layer of small potsherds to ensure optimum drainage of liquid to ensure lasting moisture and thus to avoid a rottenness of the sensitive roots.

Tip: Plant catnip next to rose bushes. Both plants benefit from each other and enable a fantastic play of colors in the flowerbed.

Maintain and cut catnip

Plant and care for catnip: flowers

The catnip can flower a second time and attracts numerous insects.

Also with the care of the catnip it applies to differentiate according to different varieties: Graylead catnip requires little water and does not need to be taken care of, while green-leaved specimens depend on a steady supply of water and targeted fertilization with nitrogen-containing products. Alternatively, nutrient-poor soil can be treated with compost.

Nevertheless, both species should be after the main flower cut back in July in order to achieve a new flowering phase until autumn. To cut the shoots down to a few centimeters, the plant can drive out again and form colorful flowers.

The next pruning takes place only in early spring, as the new shoots of the plant serve as additional winter protection. In addition, through the targeted pruning a inhibited uncontrolled plant growth.

Tip: In the specialized trade you find likewise Species that bloom only once and do not have to cut in the summer.

Use of catnip

Plant and care for catnip: catnip

The flowers and leaves can be processed fresh or dried, for example to tea.

The catnip will due to their essential oils commonly used in natural medicine, for example as a tea for stomach problems, flu or chronic bronchitis. In addition, folk medicine writes the catnip tea an antispasmodic, sweat-inducing and thus fever-reducing effect.

From the fresh leaves of the tea is prepared. Alternatively, leaves and flowers can be picked and dried between July and August. Heat the tea not to the boiling point, otherwise health-promoting ingredients could be destroyed.

Also in cat toys Find dried and crushed leaves of catnip use. Just sew the leaves crushed in the mortar into small fabric cushions and make your little tiger tiger a great pleasure. In the specialized trade such products are to be found under the designation "Catnip".

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Plant and care for catnip

FAQ - 💬

❓ Do catnip plants come back every year?

👉 In smaller gardens, potted catnip plants may be the only way your cat can have a consistent, fresh supply. Planting catnip in a pot is also attractive, with the notched, heart-shaped leaves and pretty spikes of purple-blue blooms. Catnip is a perennial herb and will come back year after year.

❓ Is catnip an indoor or outdoor plant?

👉 Catnip grows outdoors in USDA growing hardiness zones 3 to 9 and makes great container plants for growing indoors, allowing you to extend its growing season to year-round.

❓ Should I cut back my catnip plant?

👉 Cutting back catnip will restore the plant. Prune after the first round of blooming to encourage a second flowering prior to winter. Then, after the first frost, you can cut the plants down to 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) in height, which will encourage new growth in the spring.

❓ Does catnip like sun or shade?

👉 Full sunThin catnip seedlings to 12-18 in. apart. Grow Catnip: Full sun or part shade. Drought tolerant, catnip looks best with average water, in well-drained soil.

❓ How do you winterize catnip?

👉 Catnip Winter Care In late fall, prep your catnip for winter by trimming it back. Cut the stems down to just a few inches (8 cm.), and especially trim back any new growth so it won't get damaged in the cold. Give the plant a last, long drink of water and then don't water it over the winter.

❓ Can catnip grow in pots?

👉 The plant bears tiny, white blooms that are not very showy. You can also grow it in containers. For indoor cats, grow several pots that you can rotate between outdoors and indoors. Growing catnip requires a lot of light, so you'll need to move indoor pots back out every couple of weeks and bring in new ones.

❓ How long can a catnip plant live?

👉 Catnip can live for years if transplanted into a larger pot when it becomes rootbound. Proper care would include routine watering, occasional feeding and plenty of sunlight.

❓ How do you keep a catnip plant alive?

👉 Catnip is a very drought-tolerant plant, and sitting in waterlogged soil can kill it. Keep the soil of seedlings lightly moist but not soggy. Mature plants likely won't need watering unless you have a prolonged period of drought. If the foliage is wilting, give your catnip a deep watering.

❓ Should you let catnip flower?

👉 Catnip plants spread readily by seed, so in order to control its spread, you'll need to remove the flowers before they go to seed.

❓ Is there a difference between catmint and catnip?

👉 Catnip has a weedier appearance, while catmint is often used as a pretty, flowering perennial in beds. Catmint flowers more continuously than catnip. Catnip flowers are typically white. Catmint flowers are lavender.

❓ Where does catnip grow best?

👉 full sunCatnip herb grows best in well draining soil in the full sun, but it will tolerate part sun and a wide variety of soil types. Once catnip plants are established, they need very little in the way of care. They don't need to be fertilized, as fertilizer can decrease the potency of their smell and flavor.

❓ How do you take care of catnip in the winter?

👉 Cut the stems down to just a few inches (8 cm.), and especially trim back any new growth so it won’t get damaged in the cold. Give the plant a last, long drink of water and then don’t water it over the winter. For catnip frost protection in locations where you get some very cold weather, you can use a cloche to cover the plant.

❓ How to grow catnip in your garden?

👉 Mix some compost into the soil at the time of planting to give your catnip a boost. After that, catnip typically won’t need additional feeding. But if you have very poor soil, you can use an all-purpose liquid plant food or a layer of compost each spring. Catnip is a self-pollinating plant. It will attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.

❓ Does catnip need a lot of water?

👉 Catnip is a very drought-tolerant plant, and sitting in waterlogged soil can kill it. Keep the soil of seedlings lightly moist but not soggy. Mature plants likely won’t need watering unless you have a prolonged period of drought.

❓ When is catnip harvested?

👉 The harvesting season for catnip is late spring to early fall if you plant your catnip in the early spring. Wait to harvest your catnip until after your plant blooms because flowering catnip plants have stronger and more aromatic leaves. When your plant is six inches or taller, it’s ready to harvest.


Video Board: Grow Catnip Plants for Your Health and Your Cats