Growing the Newest Nepeta

Mike Fernandez

This nepeta really is the cat’s meow, with a superior resistance to disease, plus the added benefits of heat and drought tolerance. Aroma, new for 2016, sports lovely little purple flowers covering its semi-trailing habit, complemented by deep green leaves. It provides a lovely lemony aroma for the garden. While nepeta can be aggressive, and should be managed and contained as such, their beauty and scent add to gardens and containers. Ideal for bed liners, rock gardens and roadsides, this Aroma catmint is not to be missed.

Nepeta Aroma is a Zone 5 perennial with a medium habit and can be grown in quarts and gallons. It flowers in early spring and will flower until frost in the garden. Use in mass plantings to fill areas and eliminate maintenance.

Rooting

Provide optimum growing conditions with one week of temperatures of 72 to 74F (22 to 23C), then lower temperatures to 65 to 68 F (18 to 20C) for three weeks.
Pinch once at week three.
Root in a light, well-drained medium, avoiding surplus irrigation. Provide a preventive spray of a fungicide like Daconil on the day of sticking. Provide a second application in week two.
Mist with 50 ppm nitrogen in weeks one and two. For weeks three and four, feed 100 to 150 ppm nitrogen.
Maintain pH at 6.0 to 6.5 and electrical conductivity (EC) at 0.80 to 1.0 throughout rooting.

Planting
Transplant at week five, two cuttings per pot into 6-in. (15-cm) or 8-in. (20-cm) pots. Plants will be ready for sales (from rooted cuttings) within approximately 14 weeks.

Light Intensity
Nepeta Aroma can be rooted in short days with supplemental lighting in northern climates. In the garden, give full sun to partial shade.

Temperature
Produce plants at 65 to 68F (18 to 20C) for the remainder of their approximately 14-week growing cycle. Plants may be grown colder if desired.

Fertilization
Fertilize the crop weekly with 100 to 150 ppm of nitrogen in a balanced formula. Avoid overfeeding. Feed programs should always be based on the needs of your water. In the garden, little to no fertilizer will be necessary.

Flowering
Aroma Nepeta is day neutral, requiring no vernalization to flower.

Irrigation
Keep moist, but not over watered, to prevent root damage. Plant in a well- drained area.

Medium, pH & EC
Use a well-drained, disease-free potting mix. Maintain pH at 6.0 to 6.5 and electrical conductivity (EC) at 0.90 to 1.0.

Pinching & PGRs

Pinch once at week three.
Consider a tank mix of plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as A-Rest and B-Nine, weekly from weeks three to five. From week six on, drench with 2 to 3 ppm Bonzi as needed. Follow label recommendations.

Diseases & pest control

Nepeta has few pests and diseases. Monitor and scout vigilantly to prevent disease or insect activity.
Maintain a preventive program that includes good air circulation and moderate humidity levels. Insects and diseases typically aren’t a problem with proper environment management.

For more information on Nepeta Aroma or any of Danziger’s products, call (972) 3-9602525,
email danziger@danziger.co.il or visit www.danziger.co.il. GT

Mike Fernandez is North American Product Manager for Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm. He can be reached at mike@danziger.co.il.