Love catnip in your garden and can't get enough of it? With these methods you will propagate the plant in a flash.
Not only cats are enthusiastic about this versatile labiate plant, which is particularly good for edging beds or can also be used to green rock gardens and dry stone walls. Catnip (Nepeta) flowers continuously and the leaves give off an aromatic scent. Clever hobby gardeners plant catnip in the bed together with roses. The essential oils of cat balm deter pests from the roses. No matter what you intend to do with the pretty plants, you can read here how catnip can be propagated and what needs to be considered when cultivating the young plants.
Propagation is possible in these ways
- Self Seeding
- Cuttings
- Division
- Sowing
❶ Everything works by itself - self-seeding
If you don't want to worry about targeted propagation, you can just let nature take its course, but then you have to be careful that the catnip doesn't literally grow over your head. If they are given the opportunity, the plants are very happy to spread out and form stately cushions. If the flowers are not cut back in time, seeds will form. If you let them mature, self-seeding begins.
Self-sowing can be a problem, especially for the varieties with gray foliage, which are less demanding than the green-leaved catnip. Without our intervention, the little plants grow in practically every crack in the wall. But the all-clear can also be given a bit, the small plants can be removed effortlessly.
➔ Tip: Cutting back the flowers in good time not only prevents self-seeding. The plant will also be animated to bloom a second time.
Self-sowing in keywords:
- no action required
- mature seeds fall to the ground
- new seedlings emerge
- Removal uncomplicated
❷ Good growth guarantee - propagation by cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is a particularly reliable method, which can also be used by beginnerscan be recommended. The cuttings are preferably cut in spring. Anyone who has failed to do this can still grow new plants in the fall, but they should overwinter indoors and only plant them outdoors next spring.
You can use shoots about ten centimeters long as cuttings. These are removed from the plant with a sharp knife or scissors. To prevent the plant from rotting when the leaves come into contact with water, remove the lower leaves. The cutting is now placed in a container and placed at the warm flower window.
➔ Tip: The water should be changed regularly.
Tender roots should have formed after a few weeks. Once the roots are sufficiently developed, the cuttings can be planted outdoors. This applies to cuttings cut in the spring. As mentioned earlier, cuttings taken in the fall overwinter indoors. To do this, place them in a suitable planter.
Propagation of cuttings in keywords:
- Pruning cuttings in spring or autumn
- Length of the cutting between eight and ten centimeters
- use sharp cutting tool
- Root the cuttings in a glass of water at room temperature
- Plant out cuttings
❸ Easy as pie - propagation by division
Anyone who has he althy and strong plants can start propagating by division. Spring is the best time to divide the rootstock. Division is possible until early summer. Once the plant is in bloom, it should not be divided if possible. This could affect flowering.
In order to be able to divide the plant, it is first taken out of the ground. So that the root system is clearly visible, the soil should be shaken off or scraped off a little. Now the plant can be divided into individual segments with a sharp spade. Depending on the size of the catnip, it can also be divided into several pieces. It is important that each segment has sufficient roots, otherwise the plant will not grow well and cannot obtain sufficient water and nutrients from the soil. After division, the individual plants should be watered thoroughly. You can then put them straight back into the ground and cultivate as usual.
Multiplication by division in keywords:
- Pick plant out of the ground
- Clean root of soil
- Root with a sharp spadeshare
- Water new plants thoroughly
- Plant catnip and cultivate as usual
❹ Needs a little patience - propagation by seed
This method is probably only interesting if you don't already have a separate catnip plant. The seed does not necessarily have to be purchased. Other hobby gardeners are certainly willing to donate seeds, otherwise their plants will quickly outgrow them.
The seeds can be sown directly outdoors. The catnip does nothing else when it sows itself. No further care measures are required. The first germs become visible after two to four weeks. The young plants should be pricked out after a few weeks. The strongest young plants need space to develop properly.
Propagation by seed in keywords:
- possible to go outdoors at any time
- Germination time two to four weeks
- Prick out young plants and cultivate as usual
The individual methods of propagation with their advantages and disadvantages
| Method | Advantages | Cons |
| Self Seeding | ▶ No action required. ▶ The flowers are full of seeds. | ▶ The flowers must not be cut off until the seed has fully formed. ▶ This is at the expense of a second flower. ▶ Uncontrolled self-sowing can become a problem, since the undemanding plants grow almost everywhere. |
| Cuttings | ▶ The method is simple and reliable. | ▶ The plants must be sufficiently developed. ▶ It will take some time before the cuttings can be rooted and planted out. ▶ Care must be taken to change the water daily during rooting. |
| Division | ▶ You immediately get a full-fledged plant, which can be cultivated as usual. | ▶ Must be well developed plants. ▶ The root system could be injured during division. |
| Seeds | ▶ Seeds are easy to obtain. ▶ Numerous plants can be grown. | ▶ It takes a little patience until finished young plants have emerged. |
What should be considered when cultivating young plants?
The young plants should only be moved outdoors when they are sufficiently developed. The delicate roots might get injured when transplanting, which is awould result in the death of the plants. If the young plants are not yet strong enough, they should not be placed outdoors in autumn. Although catnip is hardy, young plants are less robust and are therefore better off in a bright spot in the room.
Beware cats!
Catnip is not only pretty to look at for the hobby gardener, but also a feast for cats. Almost half of all free-roaming cats are magically attracted to the cat balm - not always to the delight of the hobby gardener. This frowns when Mieze lolls in the bed, tears off plants or even digs them out completely. Young plants are particularly at risk. If you want to protect your plants, put a wire basket over them or stretch a wire mesh around the plants.
➔ Tip: Catnip is less endangered when planted in groups than single plants.