Homegrown Catnip
Every spring I plant a few catnip seeds so that this little chap can have a fresh supply of his favourite treat. When autumn comes around, I harvest the seed and lots of tender leaves to dry for his winter stash of catnip.
I've tried cutting long stems of catnip and hanging them up to dry but honestly, it just doesn't work for me. I find the best way to prepare the leaves for storage is to pick them on a warm sunny day and zap them in the microwave until the leaves are dry and crunchy.
Place dry, freshly picked catnip leaves between two pieces of paper towel, making sure the leaves are in a single layer. They will not dehydrate properly if you have them in a deep mound. Set the microwave to HIGH and zap them for 30 to 40 seconds. The catnip leaves will come out dry and slightly crisp. Let them cool properly and store in an airtight container. There is no better treat for a little cat on a cold winter's day than a few crisp catnip leaves.
I've tried cutting long stems of catnip and hanging them up to dry but honestly, it just doesn't work for me. I find the best way to prepare the leaves for storage is to pick them on a warm sunny day and zap them in the microwave until the leaves are dry and crunchy.
Place dry, freshly picked catnip leaves between two pieces of paper towel, making sure the leaves are in a single layer. They will not dehydrate properly if you have them in a deep mound. Set the microwave to HIGH and zap them for 30 to 40 seconds. The catnip leaves will come out dry and slightly crisp. Let them cool properly and store in an airtight container. There is no better treat for a little cat on a cold winter's day than a few crisp catnip leaves.
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ReplyDeleteRacines de valériane sèches dans de la vodka pendant 2 mois...quelques gouttes sur le coussin des chats, ils adorent. Il faudrait essayer avec le catnip.
ReplyDeleteI knew that valeriane was a good plant for cats but I didn't know how to use it. Thank you!
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