Catnip (Nepeta) is a popular and easy-to-grow perennial known for its small blue flowers and ability to attract insects such as bees and butterflies.
Flowering time typically extends from June to October, depending on the level of care and environment.
Catnip is a genus of flowering plants in the Lamiaceae family, commonly known as catmint, native to Europe, Asia and Africa and naturalised in North America. The tubular flowers can be lavender, blue, white, pink or purple, and spotted with small lavender-purple dots.
Nepetalactone is a substance in certain types of catnip (Nepeta) that acts on the sense of smell in cats, including our common domestic cats and large predators such as jaguars and tigers.
Det kan få nogle katte til at blive helt vilde og glade, men det virker ikke på alle. Udover den sjove effekt den har på katte har de også været brugt til medicin i lang tid. Folk har brugt bladene og blomsterne til at lave te, som kan hjælpe på forskellige helbredsproblemer. Allerede i 1735 blev det nævnt, at det kunne hjælpe mod mavepine, kolik, feber, menstruationssmerter, berolige nervesystemet, styrke maven, og endda mod diarré og forkølelse. Der var også nogen, der troede, det kunne bruges mod kræft.
Forskellige sorter
Catnip comes in many different types, each with its own look and benefits for the garden.
Here are some of the most popular ones:
Nepeta cataria – Denne almindelige type er mest kendt for at gøre katte glade. Den har hvide til lyslilla blomster.
Nepeta faassenii – Denne har smukke lavendelblå blomster og er super til pynt i haven.
Nepeta racemosa – Perfekt til kanter i haven med sine blå blomster.
Nepeta grandiflora – Har storkronet, flotte blomster og er god til at skabe farver i haven.
Nepeta mussinii – Denne er lav og busket med lyslilla blomster, god til tørre steder.
Nepeta sibirica – Denne Sibiriske type trives godt i køligere klima og har dybblå blomster.
Each variety has its own charm and can be used differently in the garden, not only for their appearance but also to attract cats and as herbs with various beneficial properties.
Grow catnip in the garden - Your guide
To get the most out of your catnip. And extend its flowering period, follow these tips:
- Placering: Vælg et solrigt sted med veldrænet jord. Det trives bedst i fuld sol, men kan også klare delvis skygge.
- Water: Catnip is drought tolerant, but it is important to water regularly, especially during periods of drought. Make sure the soil is not too wet as this can lead to rotten roots. - If your soil is very heavy, you can add more coconut flour to make it more airy.
- Gødning: Det kræver ikke meget gødning. En let gødning i foråret med en langsom frigivende, organisk/økologisk gødning er ofte tilstrækkelig.
- Pruning: To promote a new flowering period and keep the plant looking good, you can prune it by removing wilted flower stems and cutting it back to about half its height when the first flowering period is over.
By following these steps, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful blue flowers of your catnip and create an attractive environment for garden insects.
Passage
Caring for catnip (Nepeta) is fairly straightforward. This makes it a popular choice for both experienced and new gardeners.
Here are some tips on how to care for and maintain your catnip so it thrives in your garden:
Planting
- Location: Den trives bedst i fuld sol, men kan også klare sig i delvis skygge. Vælg et sted med god dræning, da planten ikke kan lide at stå i vand.
- Land: Planten er ikke krævende med hensyn til jordtype, men vokser bedst i en velafvandet, let sandet til leret jord, måske tilsæt lidt coconut flour som gør jorden lidt mere luftig.
Water and fertiliser
- Irrigation: Catnip is drought tolerant, so it only needs regular watering until it's established. After that, it can often get by with the water it receives from rain.
- Fertilizer: Den har generelt ikke brug for meget gødning. Hvis du vil fremme vækst og blomstring, kan du anvende en let gødning f.eks. urtegødning tidligt på sæsonen.
Cropping
- Pruning: Cut the plant back in early spring to encourage bushy growth and again after the first flowering to encourage a second flowering period.
Overwintering
- Winterisation: In most climates, catnip is perennial and will come back every year. In very cold climates, you may need to cover the plant over winter to protect it.
Issues
- Diseases and pests: Catnip is generally resistant to most pests and diseases. However, slugs can sometimes be a problem.
Tips
- If you have cats, you can plant some catnip in pots or a confined area, as cats like to roll in and chew on the plant, which can damage the plant in the garden.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure your catnip grows healthy and blooms beautifully throughout the season, while attracting cats and beneficial insects to your garden.
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Do cats eat catnip
Ja, katte kan godt lide at gnave på og rulle sig i katteurt (Nepeta cataria) på grund af den duft, planten udskiller. Det aktive stof nepetalacton påvirker de fleste katte, hvilket kan få dem til at virke legesyge. Nogle katte spiser planten, og andre vil primært blot snuse til den og gnide sig op ad den.
Eating catnip in small amounts is generally safe for cats, but eating too much can occasionally cause mild stomach upset.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Katteurt har et stof kaldet nepetalacton, der påvirker katte på en særlig måde og får dem til at rulle rundt, gnide sig mod ting og lege mere. Denne effekt varer normalt mellem 10 til 15 minutter, og bagefter kan katten stoppe med at være interesseret for en tid.
Ja, den er en flerårig plante, der kan overvintre udendørs i de fleste klimaer. Den dør om vinteren og spirer tilbage igen fra rødderne om foråret.
Nej, de er ikke det samme. Kattegræs refererer ofte til hurtigtvoksende græsser, som katte kan spise, mens katteurt (Nepeta cataria) er en staude, der påvirker katte adfærdsmæssigt gennem duften.
