How to... Grow a Cat Plant

Welcome to today's blog on how to grow your own Cat Plant

This is a picture of the lovely Ginger Cat Plant that I have managed to grow this Spring. I don't know which was more surprised; me to find the Cat Plant growing here, or the Cat Plant upon being discovered!! I suspect it thought it was well hidden and camouflaged against the brickwork. It is certain that if it can just hide its head, its body will surely blend in!

You can see from this first picture I took (below left) as I was slowly approaching the Cat Plant, that it seemed a little annoyed at having been discovered growing here!

In the second picture (above), it is resigned to the fact that it has been discovered. And the third picture (below, it is our main picture repeated again, but smaller), the Cat Plant seems to have convinced itself that perhaps all is not lost, and it has almost certainly eluded detection after all!

Cat Plants are highly elusive you see, they prefer a sheltered spot, and preferably a warm one too. This Cat Plant has grown well next to some bricks that warm up nicely in the sunlight. Bricks are ideal as they also stay warm for a couple of hours after the sun has gone down. The planter raises the Cat Plant about a 9 inches to a foot off the ground, although it is worth noting that Cat Plants generally prefer a higher vantage point.

This planter is filled with earth and some remnants of more traditional (and might I add, fairly unsuccessful) planting. Curiously it seems to have gained a few weeds as well. The planter was left unattended for some time which allowed the Cat Plant to take up its position at pride of place in the planter. If you tend to your planter too regularly this could actually discourage a Cat Plant taking root, as they don't appreciate wet soil so much, and of course if the planter is too full, the Cat Plant will have nowhere to position itself.

Overwatering your planter can have another adverse effect as well. If the soil is too wet to grow in, Cat Plants may decide to use it for other means... and this is not such a pleasant alternative! So beware any brown nuggets discovered in your planter!! Personally I am much relieved to find an actual Cat Plant in my pots and tubs outside, rather than alternative brown nuggets!!

One advantage of a Cat Plant over a normal plant is that you do not have to buy seeds in order to grow one, all you really need is a cat and a suitable planter. And if your neighbour has a cat or two, you may only need to supply the planter, and of course vice-versa, if you have a cat, your neighbour may find they get a lovely Cat Plant from it.

Below is another fine specimen of a Cat Plant I found growing on the garden table. Again, this was a neighbour's Cat Plant that had started to grow in my planter...

This tub was going to be for the tomato plants in the foreground of the picture, but sorry tomato plants, the Cat Plant is possibly evolutionary superior and beat you to it!!

Af first we can just glimpse the Cat Plant in its fairly sheltered position amongst the young tomato plants. Growing on this table, it is fairly high off the ground, which a Cat Plant does seem to prefer. The Cat Plant is relatively small here, it is not at its full height and has not yet unfolded...

Here it has unfolded. It is also alerted to my presence. Note it is still sheltered and fairly well hidden (to the untrained eye) amongst the young tomato plants...

And finally, it has bloomed!! Cat Plants, unlike tomato plants, move quite freely and easily, a bit like tulips really; they can turn fairly quickly in almost any direction and often like to seek the sunlight!

This lovely Tortoiseshell Cat Plant has since repotted itself from this particular planter. The tomato plants never grew as quickly or as big as the Cat Plant, and I must say, the tomato plants didn't respond quite so well to a bowl of Whiskers either!

So to recap on the main points for Cat Plant success:

1) Do ensure your planter is positioned in a secluded spot, both warmth and quiet are important, a Cat Plant likes to remain undisturbed
2) A stable yet elevated position will encourage your Cat Plant to take root
3) Ensure the soil is dry
4) Cat Plants seem to prefer a fairly snug fit so make sure your planter is not too large
5) Do not over-plant with traditional plants, you need to leave room for a potential Cat Plant
6) And most importantly, DO NOT WATER!!

If you are lucky enough to grow your own Cat Plant, it will make a most enjoyable edition to any garden, and, unlike traditional plants, it has the added benefit of being furry, warm and purring.

Thank you for reading! And best of luck with your gardening endeavours.



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