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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2007 - 10:15:57 AM |
Catnip is a fascinating plant native to Eurasia. In addition to having a rather unusual effect on felines (both wild and domestic), it is showing some promise as a natural insect repellent. Moreover, it has numerous medicinal and culinary properties which may be of interest to those gardeners who don’t own cats. Learn more about catnip’s medicinal and culinary history at Purdue University’s Horticulture website .
Catnip, Nepeta cataria L., comes from the Lamiaceae (Labiatae, mint) family, and grows as a perennial herb. As an ornamental it is an attractive plant, with grayish foliage and spiky flower heads with white and purple flowers. The flowers themselves will attract bees and other pollinating insects and look quite pretty in a dried flower arrangement. Catnip can grow to about 2 to 3 feet in height and tends to spread out a bit.
Its attractiveness to cats is due to “nepetalactone,” a chemical which is found in the stems and leaves. The plant releases only a trace of this chemical while in place, but when damaged or crushed, the leaves and stems release even more nepetalactone. Catnip may have a rather limited effect on some cats due to their genetics, and most kittens don’t like catnip at all. As cats mature, they bodies change and they will probably find more interest in the plant.
To grow catnip, you’ll need to do some basic prep work, but once your get your plant started, it will be relatively maintenance free. Start off with well-drained soil with plenty of organic compost mixed in. Your soil pH should be around 4.9 to 7.5. Make sure you place the starter plant in full sun. This will ensure hardy growth and will also help release the plants pleasant scent as it grows. You can grow catnip from seed by planting the seeds directly in your garden during the spring or summer or by growing seedlings indoors in the early spring and transplanting them into your garden.
As is the case with most garden plants, pests and diseases tend to target weak plants growing under stressful conditions. Thus, the key to growing catnip without chemicals is simply to provide healthy soil, and the proper amounts of sunlight and water. This is a fairly hardy plant that requires little maintenance compared to other flowers and herbs out there. For more information on organic gardening, composting, soil testing and other gardening tips, check out this site: Organic Flower Gardening Tips .
To prepare catnip for your cats, you can use all parts of the plant. Cut off a stem from the base and place it in a shady spot to dry. Break up the leaves and stems and place in a container for storage. You can give your cats the dried and crushed herb or use a toy with a pouch for the catnip. Most cats find toys infused with catnip difficult to resist and much more interesting than regular toys.
We of course recommend growing your catnip and all your herbs without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. After all, these plants aren’t just for display, they are for eating! Therefore, if you’re interested in growing a fully organic herb garden for medicinal or culinary purposes, we highly recommend this site: Herb Gardening Tips.
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