• All
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • Plants
Bookmark and Share



Page 1 of 2[12 Last

catnip?

Member Message
mcmartian
Joined: 4/29/2008
Location: NY State
Posts: 121
Posted: Apr/30/2008 8:30 AM PST

I have 5 cats and was thinking about planting some catnip for them in the garden. then drying it and lettign them have it.

If it plant it indoors they tear up the plant and walk off with the plant in their mouths and the soil trailing behind them which is why i'm thinking outside.

but if I plant it outside, does anyone have suggestions on how to keep the neighborhood cat community from deciding that they love our place? If my cats look out the window and see another cat outside they go nuts (they like eachother most of the time but are very territorial about "non-family" cats).

also any catnip planting tips? I don't recall if this is a sun or shade plant. We have a small shade area on the property, but most of the property is open field and full sun.
witt blog photos
Joined: 3/28/2008
Location: The Bucolic Bungalow Lancaster, SC
Posts: 9086
Moderator
Posted: Apr/30/2008 9:17 AM PST

I don't know how you'll keep the other cats out. They'll just love to roll in it. I believe it likes the sun not shade. I've had it, but mine went bye and I've never replaced it.
I hope that this helps.
Briarwoods photos
Joined: 3/16/2006
Location: Let's Go Mets!!
Posts: 1207
Posted: May/16/2008 5:33 AM PST

I have a catnip "bush" that does fantastic in just a few hours of sun. Be warned though...it will make babies that will pop up in odd places.
biyu_wolf_77 blog photos
Joined: 3/05/2008
Location: around
Posts: 1457
Posted: May/16/2008 8:19 AM PST

oh yea catnip can be a re-seeding weed but we have acouple cats in our area i have mine in containers an no issues yet tho inside we have 1 cat that loves it an 1 tyhat is in differrent once i brought a giantic piece some stem on up popped it on my stereo where i thought it was safe next day NO traces of it!!!!!!!!!!

--i also have dryied catnip fer the one that loves it ill crack that out tho i think she likes fresh nore
biyu_wolf_77 blog photos
Joined: 3/05/2008
Location: around
Posts: 1457
Posted: May/16/2008 10:07 AM PST

oh i forgot to mention some say catnip is invasive

--i grow in pots in moddled shade an fer me chocolate mint is more invasive then catnip BY FAR but ivent had issues
Fedupofweeds
Joined: 5/20/2008
Location: The EU
Posts: 75
Posted: May/21/2008 3:54 AM PST

Quote:
Originally posted by Briarwoods
I have a catnip "bush" that does fantastic in just a few hours of sun. Be warned though...it will make babies that will pop up in odd places.


Are you serious? They self seed? Wher I have planted my new catmint as we call her over here it receives full sun and is against a fence where I can sit under my tree and admire the beautiful blue flowers, but I have two dogs no cats heehee, I have it rehre to attract predatory insects plus the flowers plus the nice smell it lets off. Is it invasive by means of root spread? Can it be propagated by cuttings?
CountryKitty
Joined: 12/30/2007
Location: SW KY/zone 6
Posts: 256
Posted: May/21/2008 7:06 PM PST

Catnip does start from cuttings--I swiped a cutting from someone I know (Okay, okay, I had permission) and stuck it an inch into the soil on the shady side of the house in damp soil. It looked really wilted for a couple of days, then slowly straightened up and now is putting out new leaves.
maynard1 blog photos
Joined: 6/13/2009
Location: Germantown, NY
Posts: 3
Posted: Jun/14/2009 8:06 PM PST

I have recently started catnip in containers and is doing very well in containers. It would be a miracle if it reaches any kind of maturity due to my impatient cat.
carolyncat353 blog photos
Joined: 4/29/2008
Location: Westlake, La
Posts: 5733
Posted: Jun/17/2009 6:18 AM PST

The first time I planted catnip, I planted it in the ground, let if flower, and I had catnip everywhere! The next year I planted it in a pot, where it has been ever since. I never replant-just cut it to the ground when it gets cold, and it comes back. I have mine in a pot that I can put out of the way of the cat. My current cat is not as wild about it as one I had once. Oreo would SIT in the pot and graze! Motley rolls on her pieces I snip off for her.
bussete1 blog photos
Joined: 8/18/2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 209
Posted: Jun/23/2009 7:11 AM PST

If I wanted to keep neighborhood cats out of catnip, I'd plant it in a hanging pot.

Since catnip is a mint, it sends out roots to make babies, you can root cuttings, and it sends out seeds. All mints are kind of like Pandora's Box. If you let them out of their "box" (planter), you have a mess on your hands that it will take years to clean up.
Page 1 of 2[12 Last
Read Next Discussion