Catnip plants

Grrr... I bought one of those live catnip plants from Petsmart about 5 days ago and its already dying! Does anyone have one and know how to keep them alive? I'm soooo bad with plants :o

Aly,

I'm REALLY bad with plants too, but, the one I planted a week ago is still alive and kickin'. Even after Noah and Basie have had their way with it. ;)

I always use Miracle Grow soil....it gives them a fighting chance. ;)

I have never grown them inside - I have so much growing wild here, from my original two plants I started from seed about eight years ago!

Plenty of light, although I have seen them in shade, that's been outdoors. Or maybe they're rootbound? Check the pot, if the roots are tight (a lot of roots in the pot) you will probably need to pot them up to a larger pot.

I hope they're not too difficult to handle because I'm just growing some... but they are only tiny little plants at this point - hundreds of them btw! LOL

Aly, is the one you bought in a plastic pot? I've noticed many plants don't like that (roots are addling), terracotta pots may be better.

LOL, I will tell you in a couple of weeks about MY experiences with cat nip! ;)

Kirsten

I just bought 2 of those at petsmart too... so far they are both doing ok. I gave one to my mother for Muffin and Callie, I just watered mine and set it in the window. its doing fine and I think the other one is too. did the plastic tag say on it, live catnip by bell rock?( it have have one didnt it?) here's the website.
hope it helps.


http://www.bellrockgrowers.com/

I planted them outside, and they have doubled now! I don't think they can be kept inside; I've tried that too, and no luck, just like you!!

Heaps of light and lots of water to be grown inside. Its best if you have 2. one outside growing well and hte other being decimated by the cats inside. They do need a break from being indoors as well.

It grows like wildfire outside :)

I bought one from Petsmart too.... it didn't do too well at first, now it's growing really well! Don't over water it! Mine is sitting in my kitchen window, over the sink. I only water it when the soil is dry and hard! I also started using Miracle Gro on all of my plants, and boy does that stuff work! hehehe:eek:

Yes - its that Bell Rock brand. Thanks for the link!

Since I only had it for a few days, I still had it in the plastic container it came in :o

I watered it when I got home so maybe its dying from overwatering already?

Yesterday while I was gone for the day, I had it sitting outside. When I got home, it looked even worse off than before! I'm pretty sure the thing's a goner now. I don't know if I can revive it or not.

Kim - if its not too much trouble, can I see a pic of the pot you have it in? I'll go buy a similar one before I go get another plant!

Aly,
Hmm....I seem to have good luck with them...I think they need plenty of water...and sunlight...and no cats eating off of them....try it again?

Funny you should mention catnip plants. MooShoo and I took a trip to Frank's (the gardening store). I bought a plastic window box and a bag of Miracle Grow potting soil along with 4 packets of catnip seeds. I poked holes in the bottom of the window box for drainage, then poured the potting soil half way into the box. I scattered the seeds and then watered them a little. I covered them again loosely with more potting soil and watered them again. The box is outside in the sun. The package said they can be in the sun and even tolerate a little shade. The last time I watered them (it's rained here the last 2 days) the soil LOOKED like it was doing something, so I guess the seed are taking.

The directions also said that when they first start coming up, to cut them back and they'll really take off. I'll let ya know how it goes. I have a black thumb so I'm not getting my hopes up.

I believe that catnip is of the mint family. I am familiar with mint because it grows profusely on the West Coast. But catnip, I have been looking for some seeds or plants already started so I can try my hand at growing some. Generally,I have a green thumb because whatever I put into the ground usually grows. One question; is it best to bring it inside during the winter months, or does it automatically sprout again when the weather warms up?

Actually mine is still in the little plastic tub it came in. Mine is from PetSmarto too. I always water it in the kitchen sink and let it drain good, so the roots don't stand in water. Try some miracle gro solution when it's good and dry! ;o)

Aly - it's not too late - catnip is part of the mint family, which is so hardy a p[errenial as to be virtually a weed - Dad's yeard is fragrant when mowing because the oregano (mint relative) the peppermint and the "black mint" have all overgrown their boundaries, so get mowed! :)

Repot them in a bigger pot with more good dirt - potting soil would be fine. If they are tall and stringy looking, you can pinch them back and they should recover just fine.

Damp, not drowned! They don;t like having "wet feet" - would you? They're probably root-bound in the teeny pot they're in, so are vulnerable. Bigger pot, more dirt and some sunshine ... let us know how it goes!

Ah, that sounds encouraging, Kim and Karen! :) I'll try to keep that in mind - just in case my tiny plants decide to grow! :)

Kirsten

We have some catnip in a pot and it seems to do best with morning and a bit of afternoon sun, but not all day sun. It tends to dry out a bit quicker than our other pot plants, so we water it daily over the hot periods of summer (only if the top half-inch of soil is dry). Give it a good prune to remove all the dead bits and some Seasol help (don't know if you have that brand, but it's a seaweed solution from the nursery used as a plant tonic). Good luck!

I came home tonight and found my catnip plant all wilted! I watered it and it has perked up. they probably like some sun but the strong Az sun was too much for it, and I let it dry out! anyway its ok now and I am going to re-pot it tomorrow.

I have both catnip and catmint growing in my garden. Both plants usually tolerate any kind of soil. Once established outside the plants will take of and grow like wild fire. If you cut the plants back they tend to double in size. They are also a perinnal plant and will come back year after year. They do not need to be taken in for the winter. In the fall they will "die off" but come spring time they will come right back.

I started the season with 2 plants, one is still in it's plastic container and is not doing well, the other I planted right away and it has tripled in size.