How To Plant Cat Grass Indoors ~ Cat Grass Diy Garden Pots Indoor Typicallysimple Kelly
Tips For Growing Catnip Inside.
Did you know that some carnivores also eat turf? There are several groups of plants they usually consume, and then we know it as cat grass.
This plant, which is also popularly known as pet grass, is not a specific crop as we can find many. It is a side food for cats and dogs, especially those living in the wild.
The habit of eating grass is indeed unique, considering that their food is meat. But apparently, this habit is not without benefits. Turf can aid their digestion.
Because of its great benefits, many people have started to grow cat grass themselves at home. However, it does not seem to be as easy as turning your palm.
Hence, if you want the perfect result in growing cat grass, please read this article from start to end. After that, you will know exactly why and how to do it.
What is Cat Grass?
As noted above, cat grass does not have a specific name of plant species. This term refers to a mixture of plants that grow from seeds, such as wheat, barley, or rye.
Simply put, this turf is a breed that is safe for cats. Some cat grass seeds also become human food and become ingredients for cereals that you eat every day.
At first glance, the green color and general structure will look the same as a garden weed. However, it is different. Generally, this grass grows intentionally indoors or outdoors and is specifically for pets.
The plant has become a concern in recent times as it is considered the first aid for cat digestive problems. People believe that the nutritional content in it will neutralize all stomach-related sicknesses.
However, sometimes people confuse it with catnip that grows in the wild. Although they look physically similar, they are very different.
Catnip is a perennial plant that your cats can eat but not to treat digestive problems. Animals like this plantation because it gives a euphoric effect that impacts temporary behavior changes.
Meanwhile, cat grass is a plant that grows specifically to provide vitamins and nutrients to the animals that eat it. Thus they will grow well and be healthy.
How Important Is It?
Since a long time ago, cats have had a hobby of eating grass. This habit is from instinct and existed long before these animals became popular as pets.
This habit is not just for fun. This carnivorous animal gets many benefits by chewing the herbs. Some advantages of cat grass for pets are as follow.
It contains natural laxatives to treat constipation.
Help remove swallowed hair when a cat licks the fur.
It prevents the appearance of parasites in the body.
Pet turf contains vitamins and minerals so that your pets stay happy and healthy.
It helps remove accumulated substances that the body does not need.
The plant is useful to maintain mental health.
Neutralize the effects of excessive meat consumption.
It contains vitamin A, vitamin D, chlorophyll, niacin, folic acid, and other substances that help the cat’s growth and development.
Therefore, cat grass is necessary for pets. The content in it will help with growth and maintain the health of pets.
Where to Find the Seeds?
Finding grass seeds is not a big problem. You can easily find them in various shops that sell pet supplies.
You will get a complete package upon purchase. In addition to the seeds, a kit of cat grass seeds consists of a box, planting medium, and other supporting objects as needed.
The quality of the seeds is usually quite variable, which affects the length of growth and nutrition. One of the most popular types is wheatgrass because many people consider it the greatest nutritional content.
Why You Should Have a Cat Grass Garden?
Growing a cat grass garden will help in providing maximum nutritional needs at a minimal cost. You should not rely on stocks from stores that do not necessarily exist.
Besides, this turf will also help maintain the cat’s digestive health. It will also be happy to eat the fresh grass planted in the garden, buying the dry one.
Another benefit, this grass will also benefit its owner. Humans can take part in consuming it due to its essential minerals and vitamins.
Planting plants in your area will not hurt either. Apart from giving the greenery a beautiful feel, it will also help create oxygen and produce fresh air throughout the day.
How to Grow Cat Grass?
As previously mentioned, the purchase of seeds is generally complete with other supporting objects such as planting media and small pots. But of course, you can make modifications.
A kit with planting media usually leads to a hydroponic system, which is without soil. There are several options, such as crystal, sand, or husk beads. But you can still use the land.
The method of planting cat grass may differ from one location to another. But in broad outline, the steps are as follows:
First of all, prepare a box for placing the planting medium.
Planting media can use soil or apply a hydroponic system (for example, with sand, husks, crystal beads, etc.).
Put the planting medium into the box. If using crystal beads, you need to add water and let it sit for 10 hours.
Sow the seeds and make sure they are perfectly-covered by planting media.
Water every morning and evening, but do not let the water stagnate.
Use moist but not too wet media.
For the first three days, prevent the seeds from direct sunshine. Cover them up with something safe.
Open the lid on the 4th day and let the shoots appear.
Start harvesting them from the seventh to the ninth day.
When harvesting, do not forget to leave approximately 2 cm of grass so it can grow back.
It turns out that planting cat grass seems to be quite easy. If you have spread the seeds, do not forget to control them to make perfect results.
Caring Your Plants
After successfully growing it well, your job is still not finished. You still have to take care of the cat grass to keep it in good condition and produce fresh food for your beloved one.
The treatment is not that difficult. You should not spend a lot of money on fertilizers and other expensive treatments as long as you do the following steps:
Trimming Regularly
Your cats will probably be more than happy to help with this task because they require nutritional intake. However, there is no harm in checking and pruning them regularly.
Trimming is a strong recommendation. Do it at least 1 inch each week to keep the plant length in ideal conditions. Besides, this will keep them fertile and grow well.
Resowing the Seeds
Although the grass continues to grow, it also has a lifespan. If the plants are too old, the quality will decrease. The taste is no longer delicious, along with fewer nutrients.
Therefore, you need to re-seed the seeds regularly. You should not change the old one, place it around the existing plants. The new plants that appear will be fresher and more nutritious.
Pest Inspection
An indoor plant in a small pot is not free from pests. Aphids or white worms may be secretly eating away at your grass. Usually, their whereabouts are not known until it is too late.
To avoid unwanted things, you must be diligent in checking the condition of the plant. It is okay to use pesticides or herbicides but do it only if necessary.
Surely you do not want your cats to consume the chemicals in pesticides and herbicides. It gives a bad effect on the pets’ health.
If the pests and weeds invasion is too severe, you will need to replace plants with new ones. It will not take long since you can harvest the grass in a matter of weeks.
Giving Wet Mulch
Instead of using chemicals, you can use some mulch to prevent weeds. In this way, the plants that can steal nutrients will be disturbed so that the cat grass growth will be great.
Mulching the grass will also help keep it in ideal temperature conditions. Again, this is important for growing quality turf.
Watering Wisely
Watering plants is a mandatory activity in cat grass maintenance. But do not overdo it. Flush sufficiently as much as the growing medium can absorb.
Do not overwater and make it stagnates the planting medium. It will make the growing media condition moist.
Besides being able to rot the roots, the excess fluid can also trigger fungi and other nuisance plants. It will be bad for your turf.
Caring for cat grass is not difficult. The steps are standard like treatment on other plants. Take good care so that the nutrition for your cats is maintained apart from the staple food.
Some Tips to Do
Throughout the discussion above, you have studied the properties, ingredients, and even the methods to plant cat grass. However, there may be things that are missing from the points above.
For your plants to provide maximum benefits for cats, you need to know various tricks and additional information. Besides, it is necessary to study the ideal conditions for the grass.
Where to Place the Cat Grass?
Cat grass is physically similar to many other plants. It can be similar to other plants that you grow for decoration or daily consumption. Do not let your pets get confused.
Sometimes, the pets are difficult to tell which ones they can and cannot eat. Therefore, place the grass where they often traverse but not near other plants.
For example, you can place pet grass near your beloved one who usually plays. You can put plants other than cat turf in a higher place or away from the reach of the cat.
Besides, you need to place the pet grass in a place that has access to sunlight. Putting outdoor is not necessary as long as they get bright light. It is okay to have glass as a separator.
Knowing the Normal Diet
Cats eat grass, one of which is to aid digestion and remove a hairball in the stomach. Regularly, they will regurgitate lumps of swallowed hair while licking their bodies.
Because cats regularly lick their fur to clean themselves, cat grass consumption will continue. These pets go on to do so throughout life. But what is the normal dose?
This question does not have a definite answer. Every cat has different conditions and standards. However, you need to be vigilant if they experience the following conditions:
They do not digest grass properly whose indication is the leaf blade in the cat vomits.
The cat vomits immediately after eating grass.
They keep eating every time, exceeding the limit he was used to eating.
If these things happen to your cat, then the best way is to go to the vet. Ask if there is something wrong with the beloved one.
Maximizing Cat Grass Nutrition
Cat grass is one way to provide fiber intake for pets. It is very beneficial for digestive health, which will ultimately make them healthy and agile.
There is no definite limit to how many plants you should grow. If the cats need a lot of food, planting more grasses will be a great idea.
One plant can still produce new grass even after the cats have consumed it. However, this does not last forever. Gradually the quality will decline.
Besides being diligent about inserting new seeds between old plants, it’s a good idea to check the plant condition. If the color starts to change, such as yellow and pale, that is a sign that it is quite old.
Thus, you need to regenerate. Replace old plants with new seedlings. But before remodeling everything, make sure you have spare pet grass for your cat food.
Conclusion
Eating grass has become an old cat habit. It is crucial for maintaining digestive health and preventing various diseases in the stomach.
Therefore, consumption of grass can be an option to provide maximum nutrition to your favorite pets. The easy way to plant it at a low cost won’t burden you.
I am a houseplant and gardening enthusiast with an equally enthusiastic cat, so I grow wheatgrass for her to save my plants!
Fresh wheatgrass keeps Lucy out of my potted plants! Suzanne Bennett
Wheatgrass Is Healthy for Cats and Cheap to Grow
My cat, Lucy, loves fresh greenery, and she has made short work of a good many plants. When Lucy goes after a plant, she tears up the leaves, knocks it over, pulls all the soil out of the pot, and strews it far and wide. For this reason, I've had to set up all my plants in areas where they can be behind a closed door when I'm not there to supervise. Even so, occasionally Lucy gets shut in with the plants and mayhem ensues.
I wanted to give her an alternative, so I looked into grass-growing kits for cats and found that they are outrageously expensive. For $10 or more, you get a small plastic tray and a handful of seed. The cat enjoys it for a few days and then it's gone. Then one day, when I was doing research for an article on growing sprouts, I hit upon the idea of growing wheatgrass for Lucy. You probably already have almost everything you need for this project. Here's what I figured out.
The only thing you have to buy specially is the big bag of wheat grass seed. Suzanne Bennett
Reuse Veggie Packaging to Make Your Wheatgrass Trays
Supplies
Growing wheatgrass is an excellent way to reuse the little tubs that are used as mushroom packaging. You'll need two.
Styrofoam veggie trays* make good drainage trays after watering. Use the kind that veggies come in, not meat. Styrofoam trays that have held meat may harbor dangerous bacteria. *Update, November 2021: Actually, I have found that the Styrofoam tray is unnecessary. I just allow the water to run through the holes in the bottom of the inner tub before placing it in the outer tub. Doing this encourages the roots to grow in a way that holds the grass in place so kitty can't pull the whole thing out of the tub!
A single, half-size paper towel, cut in half makes your growing medium. No messy soil.
A piece of plastic wrap(or a clear plastic bag) keeps moisture in for the first couple of days.
You'll also need scissors and some sort of sharp implement to make holes in one of the mushroom tubs.
I use the tip of a heated awl to poke four holes in the corners of the inner tub. 1 / 2
1. Make Drainage Holes in One of the Mushroom Tubs
You'll need one mushroom tub to plant your seed. Begin by poking holes in the bottom of the tub to allow excess water to drain out. I use a heated awl for this purpose because I have found that using a cold implement just tears up the container. They are a little bit fragile.
Be careful using a heated implement. Make sure it has a handle that will protect you against accidental burns. Set it on a hard, non-flammable surface (like the top of your stove or in your kitchen sink) to cool off completely before putting it away.
Once you've made your drainage holes, cut your half-sized paper towel in half and line the bottom of the tub with one half.
Sow a handful of wheat grass seed on the paper towel. 1 / 3
2. Prepare Your Growing Medium and Sow Your Seed
Sprinkle a handful of seed over the piece of paper towel to result in a single layer of seed completely covering the towel. Put the other half towel over the seed and press it down.
Gently run water from the tap over the seed. I usually let it half fill the tub and then just set it in the sink to allow the excess to run out. Don't tip the tub to hurry the drainage because this will displace the seed. You want to keep it in a single layer.
Water generously and gently. Allow water to drain out gradually. 1 / 2
3. Water the Seed, Cover With Plastic Wrap, and Set Aside to Germinate
Once most of the excess water has drained out of the tub, set it on your Styrofoam tray to prevent dripping.
Cover the tub lightly with plastic wrap, or place tub and all into a clear plastic bag, to hold moisture in.
Put the tub in a warm area with bright, indirect sunlight to germinate. Run water over the seed and allow it to drain every day. You should see sprouts within a day or two.
Days 1 and 2 Day #1: You can barely see the sprouted seeds through the paper towel. 1 / 2
4. Water Daily and Give Your Sprouts Some Head Room
Every day, take the tub to the sink and run fresh water through the seeds/sprouts. This provides them with the water they need and washes away any fungus that may try to grow.
On the first day, you'll be able to see that the seeds have just started to sprout. On the second day, you'll see green. This means you can remove the top towel so the grass can start to grow upward.
Leave the plastic in place for another day or two.
Days 3 and 4 Day #3: Remove the plastic and continue watering daily. 1 / 2
5. When It Looks Like Grass, Remove the Plastic
Once green grass starts to grow, remove the plastic so that it can get tall. You'll want to let it grow for another two or three days before you give it to your cat. If you want, you can move the tub to an area that gets some direct sunlight. This will encourage it to grow a little faster and produce more chlorophyll.
Continue to wash water through the container every day to water the grass and prevent fungal growth.
Day 5 and 6 Day #5: This grass is just about ready, but I want it a little taller. 1 / 2
6. Now It's Ready to Meet Kitty
Your grass should be tall enough to give to your cat on the fifth day, but I like to give it another day to get a little taller. Before I present it to my cat, I set the planting tub into the second tub (the one without drainage holes). This prevents leaks and protects the roots, which grow out through the holes.
Lucy comes running when a fresh batch of wheat grass is ready. Suzanne Bennett
Start a Fresh Batch Right Away
I like to keep two batches of wheat grass growing at once. It's a good idea to start the second one three days after starting the first one so that you'll always have fresh grass ready. I alternate the pots of grass every day to give them a break from Lucy and make them last longer.
I let her keep one pot to chew on during my waking hours. Before I go to bed, I take that pot away and water it. The next morning I put out the alternate pot so that the one that's been chewed on can have a rest.
Doing it this way makes each pot last about a week. When one really begins looking ragged, I just let Lucy keep it until it's destroyed. I dump the grass in my compost bin, wash out the pot and start over again.
This Grass Is Ready to Be Retired This grass is a couple of weeks old altogether. 1 / 2
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2020 justmesuzanne
justmesuzanne (author) from Texas on November 23, 2020:
My pleasure! :) Glad I could help!
JC Scull on June 23, 2020:
I am a cat person, so I appreciate this tip. Thank you for sharing.
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on March 26, 2020:
Great tips on how to grow wheat grass. I did grow wheat grass a few years ago for the Christmas tradition and succeeded however your tips are useful
Anya Ali from Rabwah, Pakistan on March 26, 2020:
Thank you for a very useful hub.
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