Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Do you have a cat? Growing catnip is for you!
Do you like to drink relaxing teas? Growing catnip is for you!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, but because it is not part of the Mentha genus the majority of people don’t think of it as a fantastic addition to their garden unless they have a spoiled feline.
Other than acting as crack for cats, catnip also:
- Can calm the human nervous system and mind
- Has gentle fever reducing properties
- Repels insects like cockroaches, mosquitoes, aphids and squash bugs
- Attracts pollinators
- Does not spread as aggressively as other mints
I have grown catnip in containers both inside and outside. Inside, I’ve kept it in a long rectangular pot on my window sill. One plant grew for 5 years on my window sill before I finally managed to kill it! Outside, I keep my catnip in a circular bucket. The main difference between growing your ‘nip inside vs outside is that your inside plant will grow year-round, and your outdoor plant will only grow during the warmer months, but it will grow larger.
Catnip can also be grown in-ground, but that is for folks who have really nice landlords or don’t rent so we won’t be talking about in-ground gardening as a part of this article.
How to Grow Catnip in Containers
- Sun: Catnip thrives in full sun to partial sun. I place my container in a location that receives a lot of sun in the morning but shade in the afternoon.
- Moisture: This plant prefers mild moisture. The soil should feel lightly moist to the touch but not wet. You will see the plants visibly wilt when they need water, but they recover very quickly!
- Soil: I have kept my plant in a standard potting mix since 2019 and it has thrived! You do not need to regularly fertilize but if you do your plants will grow much l larger! If you make your own potting mix make sure the mix is well draining.
- Container Size: I recommend planting this herb in a 10 inch pot. You can definitely start it in a smaller pot, but the larger the pot the larger and more vibrant the plant will get.
- Planting/Propagating: You can plant this herb by seed, start, or division. This plant grows readily by seed but will form rhizomes that can be divided as it gets older.
- Yearly Maintenance: This plant does not need yearly maintenance when grown in a container.
- Winterizing: The stems all tend to die off during the winter months so I like to prune all stems to the dirt right before the first frost. This seems to help the plant go dormant over the winter months and then it comes back without a problem in the spring.
- Pruning/Harvesting: Prune catnip by pinching the top clusters of leaves off, just like basil. The more frequently you prune the bushier the plant will become.
- Preserving: You can hang stems to dry or use a food dehydrator.
- Pests & Diseases: The closest thing I’ve found to a regular pest or disease for catnip is that if you do not keep it in well draining soil it can get waterlogged.
Using Catnip
When a person refers to using catnip they refer to using the aerial, or above ground, parts of the plant. Those parts are either used fresh, or more often, used dried. It is used as a medicinal herb and as a treat for cats.
My favorite way to use catnip as a human is as an ingredient in tea. I like to mix it with rose petals to make a soothing tea when I’m suffering from menstrual cramps.
Soothing Catnip Tea
Steep 1/2 tsp of dried catnip & 1/2 tsp dried rose petals in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
Important note! There is some evidence that catnip can trigger menstruation so if you are pregnant this may not be the tea for you.
For my cat, I like to stuff the dried leaves in his old toys and sometimes in small fabric bags. He loves to roll on them and bat them around!
Good luck growing your own catnip this year!
Learn More
Online Resources:
- Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension – Catnip, Nepeta cataria
- University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension – Catnip and Catmint
Books I love:
I am an Amazon Associate and that is reflected in the below affiliate links. I will make a small commission if you purchase the below books with my affiliate link. That being said, please check your local or favorite indie book store for them! I’d much rather you support a small business than give me a kick-back.
