Can You Grow Catnip Inside?
It is easy to grow catnip indoors. The plant does best in soil that has sun and drains well. If it blooms, cut off the flower buds so there will be more leaves. Even though the indoor plant’s potency won’t match that of an outdoor one, your cat will still love it. Use a container that’s at least 8 inches wide and 8 inches deep for growing catnip inside.
The catnip plant is related to mint and is part of the Nepeta genus. The real catnip plant is called Nepata cataria. There are other kinds of Nepata plants, but none of them seem to have the same effect on cats that this one does – it’s like magic!
Preparing to Grow Catnip Indoors
Container and Size
If you plan on keeping your catnip inside, choose a pot that is at least 8×8 inches. To be safe, avoid breakable materials like clay pots; if your cats are anything like mine, they’ll get rowdy and could easily send the plant crashing to the floor.
The best container setup is one where you have an inner container with draining holes and an outer pot that’s more for decoration. That way, when you water the plant you can just take out the inner container with holes and water it right in the sink to let the excess water drain out.
Potting Soil and Drainage
Good potting soil is key for this project – it must drain well and the container you choose should have drainage holes.
Make sure to buy potting soil specifically for indoor plants. Don’t use soil from outside or old soil that’s been used on previous plants. The soil you choose will provide most of the nutrients to the plant, so don’t skimp on this part. Any home improvement store will have the proper potting soil you need.
How to Grow Catnip Indoors
Sunlight
Catnip plants need a lot of sunlight. While it doesn’t need to be in direct sunlight to grow, it does need to be in a sunny area of the home. Up to five hours a day of intense sun on a bright windowsill is the best. If there is less light, the catnip will not grow well.
Alternatively use a grow light if you live in a place that doesn’t have a lot of sunlight. Grow lights are relatively cheap these days and offer better, more consistent light than even sunlight.
Temperature and Humidity
Catnip grows the best in moderate temperatures, between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not grow well in hot or humid environments.
This means that you can grow it indoors without needing to worry about temperature or humidity levels. It’s for this reason that catnip makes for a great indoor plant.
Watering
To keep your catnip healthy, give it an average amount of water–not too much and not too little. If you think it needs more water, test the soil first; if it’s dry a few inches down, then give the plant some water. Remember: it’s always better to underwater than overwater. Too much moisture might encourage root rot.
For the first two weeks, water your young plants twice a week. After they become well-established, reduce watering to every other week.
The best way to water plants is to put the plant (in the container with holes at the bottom) in a sink and water in there. You can either leave the sink on low and let the water run through the soil for a few minutes or pour water in. Pouring water in allows you to include liquid fertilizer in the with water. Let the plants sit in the sink for a few minutes to fully drain excess water. This keeps the soil nice and moist but prevents rot.
Fertilizer
Feed your catnip a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season for best results. Look for organic varieties of fertilizer to avoid any harmful chemicals that might upset your cat. Be sure to follow the directions on the label of whichever fertilizer you choose.
It’s best to mix in the fertilizer with water to maximize absorbency. A lot of catnip growers don’t do this step, but it’s really key in getting strong, healthy plants.
Pruning and Maintenance
While pruning isn’t essential, it will help you get the most out of your plant. Flowering too much and too soon will result in a lower catnip yield.
To keep your catnip plant from flowering, cut off any stems that are starting to bloom. This will make the plant grow fuller. If you harvest the leaves regularly, it will keep the plant strong and produce more leaves. If the Plant gets too tall, trim it back to a height of 6 inches.
Growing From Seed
Buying the catnip plant already started is going to be a lot easier and faster than growing from seed. However, growing from seed is cheaper and gives you more control of the full growing cycle.
To plant catnip, first put the seeds in the freezer overnight. Then soak them in water for 24 hours. Plant them in a seed starting tray, one seed per container or every 2 inches of soil. Keep it in a warm place near a window or under grow lights. Keep it moist—the seeds will start growing in 5-10 days if everything is right. When the seedlings start sprouting, move them to an even brighter location.
Potting and Repotting
Catnip is a perennial plant that grows anywhere from 2 to 3 feet tall when given the proper amount of care, whether it be outdoors or indoors. Even though catnip grown indoors generally doesn’t grow as tall as those plants cultivated outside, they can still reach up to 2 fee in height with enough direct sunlight and water. The problem lies in the fact that indoor catnip’s potency pales in comparison to its outdoor counterpart; thus, it is rarely worth growing them inside for only a single season.
When you move a small catnip plant to a new pot, choose one that’s only slightly larger than the original. Fill it will fresh potting soil, and avoid disrupting the roots too much.
Growing Catnip Indoors in the Winter
Assuming indoor temperatures are kept between 55 and 85 degrees, catnip is an excellent indoor winter plant. You can grow catnip all year inside, keeping you cat a fresh supply of catnip.
