Plant an herbal treat for your cat

Tag : lavender herb

Catnip is the common name for a perennial herb of the mint family.It is native to Europe and is an import to the United States andother countries. The catnip plant is now a widespread weed in NorthAmerica.
Given to the right cat, catnip can cause an amazing reaction. Thecat will rub it, roll over it, kick at it and generally go nuts forseveral minutes. Then the cat will lose interest and walk away. Twohours later, the cat may come back and have exactly the sameresponse.
Most garden centers and large home-supply centers sell catnip,along with other herbs. Mail-order nurseries are also a goodsource. However, be sure that you do not buy ornamental catnip bymistake. There are now at least four different types of "catnip"grown as ornamentals. They will not get kitty high or even slightlytipsy. You want common catnip, Nepenta cataria .
The dry catnip available in pet stores is a pale imitation of thereal, fresh item and does not even belong in the same category aswhat you can preserve for kitty's winter enjoyment.
Because it tends to become invasive, you might want to grow theplants in a container. You can shelter the outdoor plants frompotential pests, such as whiteflies and spider mites, with somestaked netting. Catnip is known to attract bees and butterflies.Catnip self-sows freely; remove flowers if you do not wantseedlings the following spring.
Catnip grows to a height of 3 or 4 feet, and features downy, lightgreen foliage with small lavender flowers that grow on spikes up to5 inches long. Catnip grows well in almost any soil, but does bestin loamy well drained soil. Alternative growing media are soillesspotting mixes such as perlite, vermiculite or rock wool. It willgrow best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Water theplants regularly, taking care not to overwater.
My geraniums have something white and fuzzy on the flowers and someof the leaves. I cut off the flowers and leaves that have thismold, but it keeps coming back. What should I do?
From your description I suspect that your geraniums have botrytis,also known as a gray mold. This fungal disease affects dyingflowers and older leaves. Its development is favored by highhumidity and poor air circulation.
You can remove dead leaves and flowers (as you have been doing) toslow the spread of this disease. Do what you can to promote rapiddrying of plant foliage.
Redirect your sprinklers so they do not hit the plants. You shouldwater early in the day. Spacing plants father apart, if possible,will improve air flow around the plants. Spraying with anappropriate fungicide should also control the fungus.
Tom Bruton is a master gardener with the Duval AgriculturalExtension Service and the University of Florida. Gardener on call

A Duval County master gardener is in the Times-Union newsroom from9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays to answer questions from readers. The numberto call is (904) 359-4199. Readers outside the Jacksonville areamay call (800) 472-6397 and ask for extension 4199. Their articlesappear in Saturday and Tuesday Life sections.