How to Grow and Care for Catnip in Containers
Intro: Cats love catnip, and growing catnip on the balcony is easy and a great treat for your cats. Catnip grows so well that it can become an invasive weed in the garden if you don’t grow it in its own plant container. Catnip can grow to 3 or 4 feet tall and looks like mint (it also belongs to the mint family). This herb has tiny white flowers with purple spots. Its flowers will attract bees, butterflies and some birds. Before you learn how to grow catnip, check out these 10 Cute Cats in the Garden (Photos)!
Scientific name: Nepeta cataria
Plant Type: Herbacious perennial
Light: Partial to full sun
Water: Give your catnip well-draining potting soil and water it regularly. Keep the soil moist but never soggy.
Zone: Catnip can be grown from Zones 3 to 9.
Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Pests and Diseases: Some insect pests can include whitefly and spider mites. You should not encounter any diseases with your catnip plants, although you may have problems with mildew.
Propagation: Plant seeds in the spring, and seeds germinate in 5 to 10 days. You can collect seeds from flowers, but the plant will self-sow and grow in the same spot year after year. You can also propagate by taking cuttings or dividing the roots.
Misc. Info: Catnip grows well in hydroponic systems.
Keep your catnip plant trimmed so it grows compactly and looks nice. The trimmed bits can be a treat for your cat. Harvest your catnip and dry it. Then keep it in a cook, dark spot until you have enough to sew into your own homemade cat toy!
