Put your pussy on a plak! Find out how to make your pussy cat high and happy with a homegrown pot of catnip.
Growing catnip for cats is easier than you think. Similar to growing cat grass, all you need is some seeds, potting soil, a large pot and some patience.
Should you decide to make your pussy cat high with a pot of homegrown catnip, you’ll be happy to know that the plant also offers plenty of benefits for humans. Fresh catnip is a real treat for cats, but some additional uses for humans can be found in cooking, as well as its use as a calming tea.
Homegrown catnip is an invaluable asset to the home herb garden and a fun activity to tackle with your feline friend. This garden project promises to deliver joy to all parties involved, from start to finish!
If your laziness level is higher than that of the cats of Cape Town, fear not! Get your hands on this catnip grow kit, made with love by luxury designer cat brand KAT KULT and delivered to your door by one of the sexy cat citizens, working for the cats of Cape Town. (T&C Apply)
Before we get lost in translation and totally carried away… Let’s get those hands dirty! In the garden, please people!
How to plant and grow catnip in a pot
Catnip can either be grown in a pot from seeds or from stem cuttings taken off another plant. For this gardening project, we’ll be using catnip seeds.
Sowing the seeds of catnip joy!
1.) When growing catnip in a pot indoors, it’s best to sow seeds in Spring or Autumn. Catnip seeds sown in fall, however, tend to yield a denser, bushier crop of plants.
2.) Before sowing the catnip seeds, place the seeds in the freezer overnight.
3.) After this period, allow the seeds to soak in water for a period of 24 hours. This will allow for easier and more uniform germination rates.
4.) Fill a small to medium size pot with moist and quick-draining potting spoil. Press each little seed into the soil and lightly cover it with more soil. No need to use all the seeds in the pack. Make sure the catnip has room to breathe by allowing enough space between each seed. Five seeds evenly spaced about 5cm apart in a small to medium pot should do the trick.
5.) Catnip flourishes in the sun, so find a sunny spot where you and your cat spend a lot of time in, like the kitchen. Place the pot with the catnip seeds by a sunlit window, preferably one that will receive at least six hours of sun daily.
6.) Water the catnip seeds daily. It’s important to keep an eye on your little seedlings and keep them moist daily until the first spouts. Patience is a virtue and seeds take roughly 2 weeks to germinate, however, if you are lucky enough to stay in Cape Town or anywhere in South Africa, your catnip plant babies should be sprouting within 5 to 10 days, thanks to the country’s sunny, hot yet pleasant weather conditions during the warmer months and leading up to winter.
How to care and keep your catnip purr-fect
The catnip plant is a fast and aggressive grower and can quickly spread throughout the landscape if not kept in check. For this job, you need a pussy cat! Don’t have one? Adopt a kitten or adult cat from a trusted pet adoption centre, such as the SPCA or Cat Charities in Cape Town.
1.) Before letting the cats lose, wait until the catnip has grown to a decent size. One leaf won’t make your cat high. After you see that the plants have adjusted and are starting to grow into a bush, only then do you let the cats lose.
2.) Water only when the soil has dried out. Catnip plants like drier soil. Root rot can set in if the soil is too moist. When you water, thoroughly soak the soil to saturate the roots. Let the soil dry out completely, and test it out by touching a finger to it before watering.
3.) Put your pussy to work to trim and groom the catnip bush and maintain the homegrown pot of catnip. Cats can’t overdose on catnip. When pussy cats had enough, they’ll refuse to eat or play with it.
4.) Don’t forget to save some catnip leaves for yourself to enjoy in your favourite feline-inspired cuisine and cat-tastic recipes. Cats love catnip more than humans, so should you not keep some separate for human consumption, then don’t come crying when your feline beats you to it!
Here’s to happy gardening with your pussy cat! May your catnip crop harvest many high moments for your cat and bring happiness to your heart as you watch your pussy live its best life, one bunch of leaves at a time!
