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Catnip is a wonderful, underrated herb. It can be used to stuff your pet cat's toys, as a treat for them, or even as a tasty home brewed tea for yourself! Below we will discuss the technique of drying catnip.
Steps
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Locate catnip plants growing wild either on your property, or visit a garden store during the spring or summer, and purchase a catnip plant or two. Is it winter? Simply buy seeds. It is very important to note that if you are picking wild catnip, be certain it has not been treated with chemicals as this could be deadly for you and your cats! Do not pick catnip that is growing near a road.
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Cut the plant at the base with scissors so you have long stalks of catnip. Be aware that you will want to cut more than you think you need, because the plant is going to dry up and shrink. [1] X Research source
- Wait till the plant is at least 5 inches (12.7 cm) before cutting it.
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Secure the catnip together with either yarn or heavy thread. [2] X Research source
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Dry the catnip by hanging it upside down in a dry, dark area such as a linen closet. Stick a tack to the inside of the door, and tie your catnip around it.
- Keep in mind that the plant must be hanging upside down and the door must be closed most of the time for the herbs to dry properly. The catnip will lose potency if exposed to light.
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Wait four to eight weeks (or more depending on the humidity and light conditions) you will have completely dry catnip! Enjoy the smell and watch your cats go wild for the favorite treat! [3] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionDo I use the entire plant, stalks and all?Community AnswerNo, typically once the plant is dry you will remove the leaves and flowers and throw the stalks away.
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QuestionCan catnip be frozen?Community AnswerNo, do not freeze your catnip. You should dry catnip, which you can do using the same methods used to dry other herbs. If you aren't sure how, wikiHow has an article with lots of information about drying herbs that you might find helpful.
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QuestionDo I have to wait until it flowers?Community AnswerIt's best if you wait to see flowers. When flowers are there, the oils in the leaves (stuff that appeals to cats) are at a maximum. Pick/cut the stem with flowers and leaves, and then thoroughly dry and crumble leaves and flowers for your pets. You then can compost or toss out the stems.
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Tips
- If you only want a small amount of catnip, visit a pet store. They have them year round, at cheap prices. Also, some grocery stores will carry them during the summer in the garden or produce sections.Thanks
- Try putting the catnip into a brown paper bag and closing it at the top. You don't have to worry about light hitting it and it will keep dried leaves from falling off onto the floor and making a mess.Thanks
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Warnings
- Only use catnip plants that have not been commercially sprayed! If you are not 100% sure about wild catnip, or the herbs growing by a farmer's field, please do not use them!Thanks
- Make sure wherever you are storing the catnip can not be easily accessed by your cats.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Catnip plants
- Scissors
- Pots, water, sunlight
- A dark closet or room
- A willing cat
- A brown paper bag.
References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 181,123 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I have an older cat; 13 years old. My son got me a kitten for Mother's Day. Well, they love catnip so I thought I would try to do the natural way. It looks great in my flower garden. Thank you." ..." more
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"I have an older cat; 13 years old. My son got me a kitten for Mother's Day. Well, they love catnip so I thought I would try to do the natural way. It looks great in my flower garden. Thank you."
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"I wanted information, as a new grower of fresh catnip, about harvesting and drying catnip. This article answered all of my questions. The cats in my extended family and I thank you."
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"Very helpful. I didn't know that it was best to wait until the flowers grow on the catnip before harvesting. Have some growing now, but it's only approximately 4 cm high."
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"I had no idea that you need to keep it in the dark! I'd just assumed it would dry best in sunlight. Lucky me that I found this great advice in time! Thank you so much. "
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"This article laid out 5 helpful steps in short, to the point sentences. I had no idea how to dry catnip for my cats and now I do! Simple. Thanks for the info."
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