Many cat owners enjoy giving their pets toys filled with catnip, a type of mint that is delightful to the feline population. Sometimes owners will buy dried catnip, too, to “recharge” the toy or to sprinkle on a play area, only to notice that their cat doesn’t seem interested in the catnip. The reason is that the dried catnip was likely stored too long and has lost too much of its potency.

Cat owners often will then decide to purchase growing catnip plants from a specialty store, only to find the price prohibitive. They then turn to the idea of growing their own catnip plants, from seed. The leaves and most especially the blossoms of fresh catnip truly bring out the playful kitten in most cats, and are easy to grow and maintain. They can even be grown in pots on patios or porches, as long as they receive some direct sun each day.

However, sometimes pet owners will be disappointed to discover that their catnip seeds are not sprouting, or quickly die without even unfurling their first two leaves.

Catnip seeds are small, round black seeds that are easy to handle and to grow. The catnip plant, Nepeta cataria, is a vigorous perennial that can flourish in both poor soil and harsh sun. With its excellent germination rate and its non-picky growing habits, most people can very successfully grow this plant from seed. So what could be the causes of catnip seeds not sprouting?

Happily, the reasons people experience problems with growing the seeds are easily corrected and don’t require any expensive equipment or materials to be bought. Look through the list of reasons for seed-sprouting difficulties, then correct any you think may be occurring and sow a batch of seeds again. Soon your cat will be enjoying fresh catnip and you will have a pretty flowering plant that you grew yourself from seed.

Seed-Sprouting and The Three Little Bears

Seeds can bring to mind the story of Goldilocks, because like that famously picky porridge-eater, seeds are just as picky about their surroundings. Don’t be fooled by how catnip seeds can sprout in the wild, seemingly without care. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of seeds don’t make it in an outdoor catnip patch while just one or two do. Those are poor odds, and when planting just a dozen or so seeds, those odds are against having any viable seedlings unless care is taken.

Fertile Ground Needed

Sure, seeds can grow in regular dirt, but soil that is “too hard” – that is, too heavily packed, too “soft” or loose, carrying fungal spores, or lacking in nutrients is a primary cause of catnip seeds not sprouting. Use commercially prepared potting soil for best results. It is free of weed seeds and plant diseases, and it is designed to be the right density for seedling rootlet growth. Place the potting soil in small containers, such as those designed just for seed-starting purposes. It’s easier to control the seed-sprouting process when the size of each seed-pot is neither too large nor small for the correct conditions to be easily maintained.

Tuck Seeds in, But Don’t Bury Them

Some plant seeds are so tiny that they are merely placed atop the potting soil. But catnip seeds need a light covering of soil over them – about 1/8 inch deep. Deeper than that, and you will never see the tiny seedling, as it uses up all its energy before it can emerge from the soil. If you use too little soil to cover the seed, it will tend to be too dry right where the seed rests and it won’t be able to access the moisture it needs to sprout.

Soil Moisture

Soil that is “too wet” will inhibit seed germination, and tends to cause fungal death to the few seedlings that do sprout. Soil that is “too dry” doesn’t allow the seeds to form the microscopic rootlets that enable seedling growth and emergence. Try to use soil that is “just right,” in that it is damp without being soaking wet and without tending towards having dry spots right where seedling roots need to go.

If you accidentally over-water your potting soil, simply let it dry out a bit before planting any catnip seeds. And if adding water to the already-seeded soil, be careful not to “wash” the seeds into the corners of the container, where the walls inhibit rootlet growth and keep seeds from sprouting.

Water Basics

Don’t wet your potting soil or water the seeds with distilled water. Seeds need the tiny bits of minerals contained in regular water. Consider using tepid spring water to wet the potting soil and to water the emerging seedlings.

Tempering Temperature

Temperature extremes – too hot or too cold – are a primary cause of seeds not germinating and of failing to grow even if they do manage to emerge. For catnip seeds, try to keep the temperature between 61 and 74 degrees F. That mimics spring temperatures and gives seeds their best chance to sprout.

Shed Some Light on Seed Sprouting

Don’t place your seed-pots in a sunny window, even though mature catnip enjoys full sun. Seeds need to be in a bright spot, but never in direct sun, which tends to dry out the soil too quickly and overheat the soil around the seeds.

Fresher Is Better

Old seeds don’t have a good germination rate, so be sure the seeds you are planting are from last year’s crop. Commercially packaged seeds will always say “Packed for Such-and-Such Year” on them. Look for that date and use them before the year is over.

Seed-Sprouting Secrets

If you do everything recommended, and your seeds still don’t sprout, try this trick experienced growers use: Take a very fine emery board and lightly press the seeds onto it, rubbing them slightly – sanding off a bit of the protective seedcoat, actually, to allow the embryonic plant inside to emerge with less energy use. Then plant as usual. Or, soak the seeds in warm spring water overnight before planting, which helps give the seed a micro-boost of moisture in order to sprout.

Catnip is a favored asset when it comes to pleasing your cat, or even simply entertaining yourself. If you are unaware catnip is a mint related plant which has a strong appeal to cats, cats will hungrily eat, consume, and roll allover the plant. Catnip is much like the happy drug for cats. Problem is the plant can be rather expensive purchasing from pet stores being cats will consume catnip so quickly. This article will help you understand how you can easily grow it yourself.

First thing you need is some seeds to start growing your plant, you can find catnip seeds at any online pet products store, gardening store, and sometimes miscellaneous other stores. Before you seek out to purchase seeds you may want to make sure you do not already have some in your yard already. Catnip is a highly invasive plant which multiplies quickly and once it begins spreading it can be hard to control.

Whether you are planning to plant your plant either outdoors or indoors to successfully and properly grow catnip you need to be sure your plant can get what it needs to grow. If you live in an area which does not get sunny often it would be best to plant your plant and grow it indoors. Catnip needs a lot of sunlight and moisture in the soil to grow efficiently.

Fertilizer just like with any other plant should be supplemented into the soil of your plant at least 2 to 3 times a year if you would like your plant to meet the optimum development potential which it could reach.

Once you have successfully planted your plant seeds and you are getting your first stems with leaves, pinch and prune these leaves down so that the stems multiply into more stems leading to a much thicker plant. This will double to triple the amount of harvest you achieve from your plant.

To protect your plant from other threats such as cats (Yes cats will work hard usually to eat the plant before it is even fully grown.) if your plant is outdoors use a fence or wire cage to prevent neighbors cats from eating your plant while you are indoors, if your plant is indoors consider keeping your plant at a high elevation or in a room which your cat will not be able to access.

During off seasons you should consider harvesting and keeping some of the plant to the side being the plant may get buried in snow or die due to harsh weather, but may return in the springtime although typically this is a yearlong plant in the right conditions. It can either be stored by drying or freezing in air tight containers such as plastic bags like zip lock.

Remember although if you do grow the plant in your yard outdoors you risk not only spreading a plant invasion throughout your garden, but also attracting all the neighbor’s cats into your yard. Some other animals I have personally experienced being attracted to this type of plant are possums, skunks, and the occasional oddball raccoon.

If you are in the market for catnip seeds there are a wide variety of sources you can go to to buy them for a decent price. Thanks to the internet, you do not have to spend a fortune to purchase seeds because there are countless places available just at your fingertips.

There are actually several places you can turn to for cheap catnip seeds. One very good place is, of course, Ebay which gives you a wide variety of options. Most auctions for 200 seeds start around 99 cents plus shipping costs. A simple search on this site pulls up hundreds of items all within the price range of 29 cents to $3.00 for 200-500 seeds. So, it is safe to say that you can purchase a bundle of 200-500 seeds off Ebay.com for less than $4.00.

Another great place to purchase catnip seeds for cheap is a site called cheapcatnip.com. They show you all of their Ebay listings right on their page. The good thing about this is generally if you buy multiple items from the same seller they will offer you shipping discounts which can save you more money in the long run. The interesting thing about this site is it appears to have auctions for different qualities of seed. So, depending on what you are looking for, you can purchase 5000 seeds for only $3.00 plus $2 shipping and handling costs.

Bonanzle.com is a site which is similar to Ebay in that you can buy and sell your items on it. The good thing about this is you are able to find deals for just about anything. A simple search for catnip seeds on this site yields some of the best deals for catnip seeds. One seller’s price is $6.45 for about 9,500 seeds plus $2.50 shipping costs. Thus, for under $10 you can purchase about 9,500 seeds.

If you want to buy direct from an Iowa farm you can check out localharvest.org. They have good quality seeds that start at 95 cents for 50 or $3.79 for 200. As is usually the case, the more you buy from them, the more you save since you can combine shipping costs. As an added bonus, if you are unsatisfied with their product they offer you a money back guarantee.

One last place you may want to try is craiglist.org. This site gives you the opportunity to buy from local sellers. Click on the city closest to you from their homepage and then find the “for sale” category. This will give you listings of what is for sale in your area. The only problem is there is a chance no one in your area will be selling catnip seeds. Plus, you have to contact the seller directly and they may or may not be willing to ship. Many sellers on craigslist.org only offer local pickup. It is worth checking out though because working face to face with the seller might prompt them to give you a better deal.

Catnip
Kitties love it. They can’t get enough of it. Pet owners howl with laughter after kitty gets a whiff of the stuff. What is this magical feline elixir? Nepeta Cataria, otherwise known as “catnip”. Catnip is a perennial of the mint family that has dark green foliage and grows to approximately 4 feet. It is indigenous to Europe and has been naturalized for growth in North America.

Where To Buy Catnip Plants
Catnip is grown from seed. So, the first place to look for catnip seeds would naturally be in a local garden center where herbs are sold. Catnip is considered an herb because it has an aromatic scent which is more pronounced after the downy leaves have been dried. There are also many seed catalogues where catnip seeds can be purchased. It generally takes 8 to 10 days for the shipment to arrive. Then, there are online herbalists and pet emporiums that sell catnip. This is also a good source for live catnip plants. One other possibility might be a local florist who can custom order a live catnip plant. Since catnip is part of the mint family, live plantings might also be sold in regular department, hardware or speciality stores.

Catnip Plants
While it’s a good idea to start a catnip plant indoors, it isn’t the only way for kitty to enjoy catnip year round. In most warmer climates, catnip can easily flourish in a small patch of garden. Although, it’s likely an outdoor catnip planting will attract more than just a handful of neighborhood felines. Catnip plants require minimal watering and care. They look pretty on a winter windowsill and have fluttery branches and terminal racemes. Look for pale purple flowers as they begin to bloom. Allow the catnip plant to go to seed so that a new generation of plants can be started.

Windowsill Catnip
Choose a fairly sunny windowsill for catnip. Just choose a windowsill kitty cannot access easily. Feline sense of smell can pick up a live catnip plant faster than a human. Be aware that your cat may choose to eat the leaves and not wait for you to arrange a formal catnip sachet. The problem with this is that the catnip plant may not grow if top leaves have been removed. Too much catnip ingested may also cause digestion problems as with an excess of any food. Place the windowsill catnip planting out of your cat’s reach for the best growing results.

Drying Catnip Plants
When you select leaves from live catnip plant to use for your cat’s enjoyment, choose leaves from the bottom rather than the top. The reason for this is that the larger leaves grow about an inch above the base of the stem. By choosing these leaves, the plant continues to grow until it blooms or goes to seed. The larger leaves are a continuous supply of catnip. Place the leaves in a brown paper bag in a dry place until the leaves turn a brownish-green hue.

Planting catnip seeds is the least expensive way to grow catnip. It can be a part of a flower garden or an attractive single planting, and it does well indoors, too.

You can buy catnip seeds from most regular flower and vegetable garden companies, and sometimes from seed racks, although they are less common than other mints. If you know someone who has catnip already growing, it’s easy to get the seeds from the spent flower stalks in the early fall.

Like other mints, catnip is not hard to get started from seed, but because it’s a tender plant, you’ll need to start it indoors in most climates.

If you live in a warm climate or where it warms up early enough to start it outdoors, simply dig a fine seed bed, press the seeds into it and cover with a light layer of soil. Keep the seed bed evenly moist until the seeds sprout. Be aware that you may have a few stray cats in your yard if you plant it outdoors.

To start indoors, about eight weeks before your last local frost date, gather together potting soil, small planters or pots with good drainage, a tray that will hold your pots, some plastic wrap and a small trowel or scoop with which to handle the soil. You will eventually also need a sunny spot that can’t be accessed by any indoor cats because they’ll eat the catnip or tear it out of the soil as soon as the seeds sprout, but only a warm place is necessary until the seeds begin to grow.

Using the scoop, fill the pots with potting soil to within a quarter inch of the top and dampen it. Don’t make it too wet, but be sure it’s uniformly damp. Potting soil can take a few minutes to absorb water if it’s dry, so you may have to wait a few minutes for it to spread evenly. When it’s ready, press three or four catnip seeds gently into the soil in each pot and sprinkle a little more of the potting soil over the top of them. Just a light layer of soil will do.

Place the pots on the tray and cover all of them, along with the tray, with plastic. Be sure the plastic is sealed well around the tray and plants, or the soil will dry out and the seeds will not sprout. Set the tray in a warm place. The top of a refrigerator or water heater are good choice, or you can use a heating pad set on the lowest temperature.

As soon as the seeds sprout, remove them from the heating pad or warm area, and put them where they can get plenty of sunshine, but not where they will have to endure scorching heat. A south facing windowsill is ideal if it doesn’t get too hot. Watch them closely and water as needed, but don’t overwater them. You can remove the plastic as soon as the plants are established.