drying cat mint

Robyn hewson

Hi I'm making a small crochet owl for my sisters cat and I'm wanting to add dried catnip inside it, only problem is I don't know how to dry the mint - any help people? Thanks in advance x

pansyface

Nepeta mussinii is catmint. Nepeta cataria is catnip. Catnip is the one you want. It is a much bigger, softer plant than catmint. From a distance it almost looks like a nettle. Catmint has smaller silghtly harder leaves.

Robyn hewson

Its cataria I have but label also says catmint but either way just want to dry it, thanks for the tips edd x

GardenGrower11

Hi Robyn. Don't know why Edd is suggesting letting the leaves dry on the plant. If you're gong to be discarding the stems anyway, why not just remove the leaves at the start? They dry out a lot more quickly then.

My plants are growing vigorously, so I can just pick leaves when I need them for indoor toys, and leave the plants where they are in the garden.

 

Daisyday

I have had to be a spoiltsport with my nepeta six hills giant, because the local cats eat it, attack itand lie down in it! I put a wire hanging basket over the last remnant of the original plant and managed to find a little piece of it to transplant to a safer place. I don't mind the cats visiting my garden and feel quite sorry to spoil their fun!