Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed: Cat Mint

Cat mint is a perennial herb known for its ability to drive cats crazy. Little known is its potential to help solve various human diseases, from anxiety to migraine. Whether you want to provide snacks for cats or add medicine cabinet, planting cat mint is the answer. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.

Plants belong to the mint family and contain nepalectone, which is similar to cat pheromone in chemical properties. Cats like the smell of this plant, so dried cat mint is often used in cat toys to attract pets to play. I used to grow cat mint in my garden, but it didn't last long. When I realized that my cat would soon find my garden, I pulled it out.

I planted cat mint to please a cat in my garden. The lovely grey cat I called Bento appeared in the first week when we moved in and never stopped appearing. I planted it far away from the main bed, trying to stop her running around on my plants.

The introduction of cat mint had the opposite effect. The cats came in groups and used the bed I raised as a litter box. Now I have left my garden, and the problem has been corrected. Thank God! One day, when I finally have my own cat, I will definitely plant a cat mint worthy of the name. After all, it's easy to grow!

I found it interesting how catmint affects cats. As a dog owner, seeing the cat's response to cat peppermint really distinguishes animal species. Cats are calm and indifferent most of the time, but if you show them cat mint, they will lose it. Dogs are energetic most of the time. They seek attention and give them a good bone to chew. They will calm down.

Why do we plant cat mint?

Why bother to plant cat mint? There are many good reasons to plant it, including:

Cats like it

This herb is safe for pets. Cats like it, so whether you have a pet cat or try to appease a friendly neighbor cat, this plant will not harm your furry friends. If you are the cat owner, give your cat friends a good enjoyment. Dried and added to the cat toy, this plant drives the kitten wild. They become playful and energetic. After eating, this herb has a calming and sedative effect. The attractive smell of cat mint makes it a good training aid. Avoid filling your kitten with snacks, and use cat mint to help with training.

Redirect Animals

Plant it far away in the garden to distract the wandering cat who has passed through your plants. They will lose interest in your garden bed and go straight to the cat mint. At home, use cat mint to encourage cats to play with certain toys or scratch certain areas of your home and avoid other areas.

Medicinal properties

Cat mint is not only useful for soothing cats. This plant has medicinal value and has been used as a treatment for various diseases, including stomach discomfort, anxiety and the common cold.

Attract pollinators

Flowering herbs attract not only cats, but also pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are vital to the health of the garden.

Attract beneficial garden predators

One of the most important benefits of planting cat mint may be that it can attract predators such as lace and parasitic wasps, which can help or control specific pest populations.

Delicious ingredients

You can use cat mint anywhere you use it: as tea, cut into soup and salad, or as a topping for dessert.

Is there any reason to avoid planting and using cat mint? For your fur friends, the only risk is that in some cases - and in large quantities - it may cause stomach discomfort. Cat mint can also encourage cats to enter your garden, which is not appreciated by everyone.

Cat mint variety

There are several kinds of cat mint. Some are more suitable for viewing gardens, while others are better if you are looking for medicinal things.

Real cat mint (cat mint)

If your main goal is to please your feline friends, or if you are planting cat mint for medicinal use, this is what you want. It is about 3 feet tall and has white flowers with light purple spots. The real cat mint originated in Europe, but it has been naturalized throughout the United States.

Cat mint (Nepetta Museni)

Cat mint belongs to cat mint family, but its plants are different. It tends to have more dense growth habits and more gorgeous flowers. The flowers are purple, unlike those of cat mint, they are usually white. Cat mint has no compounds that drive cats wild, so it is more useful as a mint substitute or ornamental plant.

Planting Cat Mint: A Complete Guide to Planting, Nursing, and Harvesting Cat Mint

Printed by Stephen Coelho

Cat mint is a perennial herb known for its ability to drive cats crazy. Little known is its potential to help solve various human diseases, from anxiety to migraine. Whether you want to provide snacks for cats or add medicine cabinet, planting cat mint is the answer.

The plant belongs to the mint family and contains nepalectone, which is similar to the cat pheromone in chemical properties. Cats like the smell of this plant, so dried cat mint is often used in cat toys to attract pets to play. I used to grow cat mint in my garden, but it didn't last long. When I realized that my cat would soon find my garden, I pulled it out.

I planted cat mint to please a cat in my garden. The lovely grey cat I called Bento appeared in the first week when we moved in and never stopped appearing. I planted it far away from the main bed, trying to stop her running around on my plants.

This video cannot be played because of a technical error. (Error code: 102006)

The introduction of cat mint had the opposite effect. The cats came in groups and used the bed I raised as a litter box. Now I have left my garden, and the problem has been corrected. Thank God! One day, when I finally have my own cat, I will definitely plant a cat mint worthy of the name. After all, it's easy to grow!

I found it interesting how catmint affects cats. As a dog owner, seeing the cat's response to cat peppermint really distinguishes animal species. Cats are calm and indifferent most of the time, but if you show them cat mint, they will lose it. Dogs are energetic most of the time. They seek attention and give them a good bone to chew. They will calm down.

Why do we plant cat mint?

Why bother to plant cat mint? There are many good reasons to plant it, including:

Cats like it

This herb is safe for pets. Cats like it, so whether you have a pet cat or try to appease a friendly neighbor cat, this plant will not harm your furry friends. If you are the cat owner, give your cat friends a good enjoyment. Dried and added to the cat toy, this plant drives the kitten wild. They become playful and energetic. After eating, this herb has a calming and sedative effect. The attractive smell of cat mint makes it a good training aid. Avoid filling your kitten with snacks, and use cat mint to help with training.

Redirect Animals

Plant it far away in the garden to distract the wandering cat who has passed through your plants. They will lose interest in your garden bed and go straight to the cat mint. At home, use cat mint to encourage cats to play with certain toys or scratch certain areas of your home and avoid other areas.

Medicinal properties

Cat mint is not only useful for soothing cats. This plant has medicinal value and has been used as a treatment for various diseases, including stomach discomfort, anxiety and the common cold.

Attract pollinators

Flowering herbs attract not only cats, but also pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are vital to the health of the garden.

Attract beneficial garden predators

One of the most important benefits of planting cat mint may be that it can attract predators such as lace and parasitic wasps, which can help or control specific pest populations.

Delicious ingredients

You can use cat mint anywhere you use it: as tea, cut into soup and salad, or as a topping for dessert.

Is there any reason to avoid planting and using cat mint? For your fur friends, the only risk is that in some cases - and in large quantities - it may cause stomach discomfort. Cat mint can also encourage cats to enter your garden, which is not appreciated by everyone.

Cat mint variety

There are several kinds of cat mint. Some are more suitable for viewing gardens, while others are better if you are looking for medicinal things.

Real cat mint (cat mint)

If your main goal is to please your feline friends, or if you are planting cat mint for medicinal use, this is what you want. It is about 3 feet tall and has white flowers with light purple spots. The real cat mint originated in Europe, but it has been naturalized throughout the United States.

Cat mint (Nepetta Museni)

Cat mint belongs to cat mint family, but its plants are different. It tends to have more dense growth habits and more gorgeous flowers. The flowers are purple, unlike those of cat mint, they are usually white. Cat mint has no compounds that drive cats wild, so it is more useful as a mint substitute or ornamental plant.

Lemon cat mint (Platycodon grandiflorum)

As the name implies, this variety has a lovely lemon flavor. It is excellent as an insect repellent. You can use the natural oil in the leaves to drive away mosquitoes.

Greek cat mint (Panacika cat)

This breed is a little smaller than the real cat mint, only about 18 inches tall. It has white or pale pink flowers.

Six Mountains Giant Cat Mint (Masini Fassenini Masini Masini)

This variety is very beautiful in the garden and can be planted as an ornamental plant. It has a lot of flowers. If you prune it after the first bloom, it will bloom for the second time in summer. The Six Mountain Giant is very drought tolerant and stands three feet tall.

Camphor cat mint (Camphor cat)

Camphor cat has beautiful white flowers and purple spots. It is only about 18 inches tall.

Planting cat mint

It's easy to grow cat mint. This low maintenance plant can withstand various conditions and soil types. Mint plants may spread as actively as mint cousins. If possible, put it in a container.

Planting Cat Mint: A Complete Guide to Planting, Nursing, and Harvesting Cat Mint

Printed by Stephen Coelho

Cat mint is a perennial herb known for its ability to drive cats crazy. Little known is its potential to help solve various human diseases, from anxiety to migraine. Whether you want to provide snacks for cats or add medicine cabinet, planting cat mint is the answer.

The plant belongs to the mint family and contains nepalectone, which is similar to the cat pheromone in chemical properties. Cats like the smell of this plant, so dried cat mint is often used in cat toys to attract pets to play. I used to grow cat mint in my garden, but it didn't last long. When I realized that my cat would soon find my garden, I pulled it out.

I planted cat mint to please a cat in my garden. The lovely grey cat I called Bento appeared in the first week when we moved in and never stopped appearing. I planted it far away from the main bed, trying to stop her running around on my plants.

This video cannot be played because of a technical error. (Error code: 102006)

The introduction of cat mint had the opposite effect. The cats came in groups and used the bed I raised as a litter box. Now I have left my garden, and the problem has been corrected. Thank God! One day, when I finally have my own cat, I will definitely plant a cat mint worthy of the name. After all, it's easy to grow!

I found it interesting how catmint affects cats. As a dog owner, seeing the cat's response to cat peppermint really distinguishes animal species. Cats are calm and indifferent most of the time, but if you show them cat mint, they will lose it. Dogs are energetic most of the time. They seek attention and give them a good bone to chew. They will calm down.

Why do we plant cat mint?

Why bother to plant cat mint? There are many good reasons to plant it, including:

Cats like it

This herb is safe for pets. Cats like it, so whether you have a pet cat or try to appease a friendly neighbor cat, this plant will not harm your furry friends. If you are the cat owner, give your cat friends a good enjoyment. Dried and added to the cat toy, this plant drives the kitten wild. They become playful and energetic. After eating, this herb has a calming and sedative effect. The attractive smell of cat mint makes it a good training aid. Avoid filling your kitten with snacks, and use cat mint to help with training.

Redirect Animals

Plant it far away in the garden to distract the wandering cat who has passed through your plants. They will lose interest in your garden bed and go straight to the cat mint. At home, use cat mint to encourage cats to play with certain toys or scratch certain areas of your home and avoid other areas.

Medicinal properties

Cat mint is not only useful for soothing cats. This plant has medicinal value and has been used as a treatment for various diseases, including stomach discomfort, anxiety and the common cold.

Attract pollinators

Flowering herbs attract not only cats, but also pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are vital to the health of the garden.

Attract beneficial garden predators

One of the most important benefits of planting cat mint may be that it can attract predators such as lace and parasitic wasps, which can help or control specific pest populations.

Delicious ingredients

You can use cat mint anywhere you use it: as tea, cut into soup and salad, or as a topping for dessert.

Is there any reason to avoid planting and using cat mint? For your fur friends, the only risk is that in some cases - and in large quantities - it may cause stomach discomfort. Cat mint can also encourage cats to enter your garden, which is not appreciated by everyone.

Cat mint variety

There are several kinds of cat mint. Some are more suitable for viewing gardens, while others are better if you are looking for medicinal things.

Real cat mint (cat mint)

If your main goal is to please your feline friends, or if you are planting cat mint for medicinal use, this is what you want. It is about 3 feet tall and has white flowers with light purple spots. The real cat mint originated in Europe, but it has been naturalized throughout the United States.

Cat mint (Nepetta Museni)

Cat mint belongs to cat mint family, but its plants are different. It tends to have more dense growth habits and more gorgeous flowers. The flowers are purple, unlike those of cat mint, they are usually white. Cat mint has no compounds that drive cats wild, so it is more useful as a mint substitute or ornamental plant.

Lemon cat mint (Platycodon grandiflorum)

As the name implies, this variety has a lovely lemon flavor. It is excellent as an insect repellent. You can use the natural oil in the leaves to drive away mosquitoes.

Greek cat mint (Panacika cat)

This breed is a little smaller than the real cat mint, only about 18 inches tall. It has white or pale pink flowers.

Six Mountains Giant Cat Mint (Masini Fassenini Masini Masini)

This variety is very beautiful in the garden and can be planted as an ornamental plant. It has a lot of flowers. If you prune it after the first bloom, it will bloom for the second time in summer. The Six Mountain Giant is very drought tolerant and stands three feet tall.

Camphor cat mint (Camphor cat)

Camphor cat has beautiful white flowers and purple spots. It is only about 18 inches tall.

Planting cat mint

It's easy to grow cat mint. This low maintenance plant can withstand various conditions and soil types. Mint plants may spread as actively as mint cousins. If possible, put it in a container.

Growth zone

Cat mint is a cold resistant perennial plant, located in Zone 3 to Zone 9.

Solar Requirements

Although cat mint likes hot weather and plenty of sunshine, it will grow in partial shadow.

Soil requirements

This plant has a strong tolerance to poor soil. It can grow almost anywhere, which is why it is so prone to radical growth. In other words, if you want your cat mint to be happy and effective, plant it in a fertile and well drained soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.8.

Planting site

Be careful, cat mint will obviously lure cats to your yard. Think about the consequences of planting some food in the middle of the garden. Put the plant in the container. If the cat becomes a problem, you can easily move the plant to a more convenient area. If it is for your feline pet friends, please consider planting it indoors to prevent pollution caused by bird droppings or air pollutants.

Stare at by the seed

Seeds need to be layered to germinate because they have a tough outer coating. Freeze the seeds before germination and soak them in water to promote germination. Sow the seeds gently on the soil surface, not too deeply.

live broadcast

This perennial herb will come back after winter every year, so it is expected that it will continue to spread over time. You can sow directly in early spring, after the soil can be processed, or in late autumn.

Another option? Eat some cat mint from friends or neighbors, they have too much to deal with.

Start indoors

If you want to have a good start in planting, please start sowing indoors and transplant. Start eating cat mint indoors a few weeks before you want to plant it. The seeds germinate within 5-10 days.

transplant

Once the spring temperature rises and the danger of frost is over, the transplant begins. Harden the plants for a few days, then put them into the soil. If you start too early, the cat may come to find your seedlings. To prevent damage to seedlings, cover your crops.

spacing

Give cat mint 18 inch plants and lines.

Take care of cat mint

As cat mint is a member of the mint family, it is not surprising that cat mint is relatively easy to care for.

Water requirements

Most varieties are drought tolerant and prefer the dry spots in the garden. Avoid watering too much, because it will cause root rot of plants.

cover

Considering the vigorous growth habit and tolerance to drought conditions of cat mint, covering is unnecessary.

trim

After flowering, before the plant starts to self seed, actively prune to prevent the spread of this mint plant. Plants that grow in large garden areas are more likely to need pruning. In the container, it is not so important. Pruning after flowering will also encourage the second flowering period.

Succession seeding

Because catmint is easy to spread, there is no need to inherit and sow.

apply fertilizer

There is no need to fertilize cat mint plants, because they can well tolerate poor soil. Don't waste fertilizer on these plants.

Problems and Solutions of Growing Cat Mint

When I said that catnip is easy to grow, I was not joking. The factory has few problems. It looks like a weed, so it is a plant with few problems. Low maintenance cat mint is an excellent choice for new gardeners who have difficulties in establishing other pollinator friendly plants. Anyone can plant it.

However, here are some issues you may need to pay attention to.

Growing problems

Why doesn't it grow back after winter?

If the plant is not well established and experiences deep freezing, it may not be able to return. Your container may not provide adequate protection for your factory. Another reason? Cats may have destroyed your crops.

My plant doesn't look healthy (or it's dying), what's the matter?

Your plant may have been exposed to some disease. Fungal infections such as Sekosporidium may affect your cat mint plant. If fungal diseases are suspected, treat them with fungicides and remove plants that are too far away. Too much water can cause root rot. Maybe you planted it in the soil where there is no drainage. Remember not to plant cat mint where you used to grow mint.

The cat keeps destroying my cat mint! How to prevent this from happening?

If you have problems with cats trampling on your cat mint, cover it with a net and prevent damage. If the net does not work, please use stronger protective measures, such as chicken shreds, to keep the cat away.

Whitefly

As the name implies, this pest looks like a small white fly. They are related to aphids. Like their cousins, they suck life from plants. They will also leave a honeymoon, which may attract other diseases. Get rid of them by blowing them off plants with a strong spray of water. Then apply neem oil regularly over the next few weeks.

Spider mite

Few plants are immune to the sucking jaws of spider mites. Fortunately, they are fairly easy to control. Use water spray to blow them away from the plants, and then use azadirachta oil regularly.

Menthol rust

Peppermint rust affects all plants in the mint family. It causes orange red marks on the leaves. Encourage beneficial insects and provide sufficient air circulation for plants. Water at the bottom of the plant in the morning. You can also use azoxystrobin for treatment.

slug

It is well known that slugs can bite cat mint. Use your favorite snail control method.

aphid

Aphids feed on plants, causing them to develop slowly or become weak. Get rid of them, just like you treat whiteflies.

powdery mildew

Powdery mildew covers plants with fine white powder. Ensure that the plants have a lot of good air circulation, water at the bottom of the plants, and water in the morning, so that cat mint has time to dry, and apply neem oil in the rainy season.

Cat mint companion planting

Because it grows very actively (like mint), it is better to plant cat mint separately from the tender plants in the garden, because they will soon be suffocated.

Plant catmint in containers and place it near aphid infested crops to encourage lace to settle in the garden. If you are dealing with potato bugs, asparagus pests or annoying pumpkin insects, this plant is also an excellent deterrent. Cat mint is also a good insect repellent for Japanese beetles, which may attack many plants, including beans.

Cat mint is planted nearby:

Tomatoes

Pumpkin

beet

Pumpkin

Hyssop

potato

rosemary

sage

Mint

tulips

Lavender

Do not plant cat mint next to kale or cucumber.

Harvest and store cat mint

As a cat snack or cat toy, cat mint is best dried before use. Cut the leaves as needed to make tea (with sedative effect) or decorate dishes or add them to salads. Flowers and leaves are edible. To dry the catmint, cut off the whole stem and dry it in the sun. Remove and mash the leaves and add them to the cat toy. Harvest plants often to promote bush growth and prevent early sowing of plants. Frequent harvesting also helps prevent invasive transmission of cat mint plants.

What are you going to do with your cat mint plant? Please let us know in the comments.