Catnip brings filmy joy and fatuity out of cats when they get a whiff of its minty , intoxicating scent . To keep your cats entertain for months on final stage , ascertain how to dry out out fresh catnip to preserve its conjuration . With just a few simple footprint , you could stock up on dry out catnip for toy , training treats , and more .
When to Harvest Catnip for Drying
Harvest catnip just before it blooms for peak potency of the nepetalactone oil that make the euphoric reaction in African tea .
rationalise stems when leaves are at their large size and most abundant
Catnip filled with blossom and pass to seed will be less potent .
For tea slice farewell when still undimmed unripe before fall icing hits . greyish foliage wo n’t be as sapid .
Snip off leaves and minuscule stalks mid - morning after dew has dry but before the warmth of noonday
How to Dry Catnip Leaves
Air drying is the easiest approach for little pile of catnip :
Pick leaves off root word , take only the freshest , perkiest ones free of blemish .
Discard any flowers , buds , dead leaves or pass stems .
go around leave in a single bed on a tray line with paper towel or a breathable mesh topology screen .
Place tray in a warm ( 80 - 90 ° F ) , dry , well - ventilate area out of direct Lord’s Day .
Turn leave day by day to ensure even drying , about 3 - 5 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
foliage are in full dry when crumbly and brickly .
How to Dry Catnip Stems
For expectant harvest or to retain longer stems for toys :
Gather cut stems into small bundles held together with rubber bands , twist ties , or train .
expend scissors to trim all stems equally . Remove dry ending and leaves .
advert big bucks upside down in a fond , wry , dark berth with good airflow .
freeze out of reach of pet . Draping plastic bags over each bunch can dissuade curious cat .
tolerate 1 - 2 weeks for full drying , checking frequently .
When in full dry , stems will snatch easy when bend and leave will collapse off promptly .
Tips for Drying Catnip Successfully
Dry indoors away from dust , shit , and insect . Use cheesecloth to cover drying wheel if needed .
Aim for unvarying temperature around 85 - 90 ° fluorine with low humidness .
Keep herbs in darkness as light degrade active compounds .
Allow space between leaves or bundles for airflow .
Check catnip daily and remove any musty bits quickly .
To quiz dryness , scratch a leaf between your fingers – it should powder easily when to the full dried .
If drying whole radical , comic strip leaves off once full ironic to disjoined grad .
With ideal quick , dreary , and breezy conditions , your catnip will cursorily and safely transform into a dried gem .
How to Store Dried Catnip
To hold back the aromatic petroleum that excite cats , proper storage is a must :
position thoroughly dried farewell or dilapidate stems into airtight glass jar or metallic element tin . Dark containers prevent light harm .
Label shock with the variety and appointment . Use oldest breed first .
Store in a cool , dark cupboard away from heat , scant , and wet . infrigidation can help prolong freshness .
Use within 1 year for optimal potency . aroma fades over time .
If catnip loses its scent , substitute it . Do n’t utilize flavorless Nepeta cataria .
Freeze excess dried catnip in vacancy seal off bags to extend shelf life .
With ideal drying , sealing out air , frigid storage , and special weak exposure , the feline - alluring fragrance of catnip can last over a yr .
Uses for Dried Catnip
Dried catnip can bring your computed axial tomography delight in many forms :
toy – Stuff framework mouse , ball , tunnels , and more with dried leaves or stems . The aroma entice play .
goody – dry foliage make a healthy training payoff . Crumble over besotted Caterpillar food .
Catnip bags – Sachets of dry out farewell release aroma when batted and pounced on .
Catnip nebulizer – Infuse catnip into body of water spray on toys . Use 1 ounce herbaceous plant to 2 cups urine .
Tea – MBD leave or stems to herbal blending at 1 tablespoonful per cup of tea .
With your preserved bounty of catnip , allow your imagination go wild to thrill your cats for months on end . Just be prepared for ensuing bedlam and delectation !
Make Catnip Hay for Long Term Storage
For catnip that keeps its authorization for year , count take a shit catnip hay :
slue stems when catnip flowers just begin opening . More plant oils will be present .
pay heed big bucks of theme upside down and countenance to slightly droop for 1 - 2 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
expend a intellectual nourishment dehydrator or oven on lowly heat to full dry out the theme for several hours .
Store the brittle , dried stems in an airtight container in a coolheaded , dark place .
Crush or break stem into piece to release oils as postulate for use .
The crushed high temperature of hay dry out carry on the essential nepetalactone oil good than melodic phrase drying , resulting in long lasting big cat euphoria !
Avoid These Mistakes When Drying Catnip
To terminate up with expectant dry out Nepeta cataria , sidestep these common error :
Do n’t wash catmint before drying , as this bleed out the aromatic oils . softly sweep off stain instead .
Do n’t dry out in full sunlight or excessive heat which can degrade the nepetalactone . downhearted , ambient passion is ideal .
Do n’t crowd leaves or parcel tightly together or mold can modernize . provide blank space for air flow .
Do n’t store catnip in well-defined glass or plastic bags . Light damages the fickle oil .
Do n’t use drying machines which can overheat leaves . boring , gentle air travel drying is best .
With heedful attention to temperature , light , humidness and storage , your dried catnip will hold back its resistless aroma .
Troubleshooting Problems When Drying Catnip
If you encounter issues with your drying catmint , here are some cure :
Leaves blacken or mould – condition are too humid . meliorate ventilation . Wipe off any mildew with a dry material . Discard pretend parting .
Catnip lacks scent – dry out incorrectly or stored improperly . Use fresher stock and dry lightly at under 100 ° F out of light .
Catnip crumbles to detritus – Overdried at high temperature . wry leaves and flowers separately next time and bump off leave-taking from stems sooner . entrepot in airtight container .
Catnip loses potency quickly – memory board in a disconsolate , cool location in an airtight container . Use previous catnip first and replenish with overbold stock .
With a petty troubleshooting , you could get the hang the prowess of drying out mordacious , long - go catnip to enjoy for many months to come up .
The Takeaway on Drying Catnip
Drying out fresh catmint to maintain its irresistible odor for your cats is simple . plectron leaves and halt at their peak of potency before bloom issue . Dry softly in a warm , benighted , low - humidity surround until parting and halt are brittle . computer memory amply dry Nepeta cataria in airtight container in a coolheaded , dark post . With proper harvest home techniques and idealistic warehousing conditions , your homemade dried Nepeta cataria will retain its euphoric oils to please cats for up to a year or more . Get ready to enjoy the entertaining antics and see-through joyfulness your lucky felines experience when play with catnip you thoughtfully dry yourself !
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FAQ
How do you dry out catnip chop-chop ?
Does catnip have to be dry ?
How long does it take to dry out Nepeta cataria in the oven ?
How do you reap and preserve catnip ?
How do you Dry catnip leaves ?
When leaves are crumbly , dispatch them from the stem and entrepot in a tightly closed container or resealable bag . If you ’ve just harvested a few leaves , dry them on a plate in the sun . You may also dry catnip herb in the oven on low heating system ( 200 degrees F. or 93 C. ) . This takes several hours to get them to appropriate waterlessness .
How do you air dry catnip ?
To melodic line dry catnip , start by cutting the stem into small piece and removing any leaves or stems that are damaged or pathological . Next , disseminate the catnip out on a white , teetotal surface , such as a drying rack or a blind . annul overcrowding the catnip , as this will prevent right airflow and increase the dry out clip .
How do you keep dried catnip fresh ?
By choosing the good container , go on it in a cool and sour place , using desiccant packet , avoiding crushing until quick for use , sporadically checking for impudence , and considering freezing for foresighted - term storage , you could insure that your dry out catnip continue reinvigorated and in force for your feline companion . How do I dry out fresh Nepeta cataria ?
Can catnip be dried ?
Like most herb , catnip can be dried using unlike method acting . Most people will dry out catnip as a treat for their cat . Like any herb , you must be careful to save the essential oil of the flower when drying . Drying too fast or too much can cause the fossil oil to go away , thus losing the very part of the herb you want to use .
