Suggestions to maintain Cat Grass inside

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Mocha aka Cold Play

Mocha aka Cold Play

Member Since 2015
Hi Friends,

I bought my first container of cat grass from the pet store today. Latte would have demolished it entirely if not for my monitoring. Miss Mocha not being here for the grass festivities. They always shared in the grass munching. Felt sad for me, despite Latte being thrilled at not having to share.

Our condo balconies are under reno the whole summer so we cannot put anything out. But, with the indirect light requirement, it should be ok near a window inside. I thought it may be a diversion from the noise that is coming.

I am hoping that if I cut with scissors sections for her that the grass will regrow again. Is this not possible?

If I can't maintain the store container, how can I have something growing more consistently for her from inside? Thanks for any suggestions.

Mocha's pawprints on my heart remains forever.

Kari
 

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I always buy cat grass seeds and plant them in a pot for the winter months when there is no grass and for when I go on vacations. They grow really fast.
 
Andy & Pimp said:
My advice would be to re-pot it into a larger container with good organic soil. It will become rootbound in the store container, if it's not already. Cutting with scissors should be fine, just like mowing the lawn.
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You are right about the root issue. Saw it as I gave water today. I wondered about replanting. Will do it tomorrow. Thanks!
 
Chris & China said:
You can also just buy some plain oat grass seed from any seed store and keep planting it as you need it....It's a LOT cheaper than buying special "cat grass" and it's the exact same thing
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Love this idea but I don't know that there is a seed store in the nw burbs. Can you toss me some national store names? It would not be at a Walmart's garden center would it?
 
rhiannon and shadow (GA) said:
you can get a cheap work light and put a plant light bulb in it....
i have one of these....
http://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-300-Clamp-Aluminum-Reflector/dp/B007RKKEHA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1462924282&sr=8-6&keywords=clamp plant light

with a plant light bulb in it....
out in my greenhouse
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Does a "sunlamp" do the same thing? We inherited one from the prior owner when we bought this condo and I know those bulbs are terribly expensive but I do have theirs to use up as I don't need it for my lighting.
 
Even large cities have feed stores...go to the railroad track area of business and look for a tall grain elevator. There's usually a feed/seed/pet/farm animal supply store nearby if not in front of the elevator.

It's not really worth repotting - you're not going to set it seed so it will soon die. I grew my wheat in little 4" pots - one ready to eat, the other growing. It was usually about a 2 week cycle. It does do better with plenty of light altho' direct sun tends to wilt it some. Most of the time I had a small desk lamp with a grow bulb in it.

I couldn't let KT just have the pot, he'd have eaten the whole thing immediately...and threw up his toes. I cut it and gave him his 'allotment' every day. I held it so he still got the feeling of doing it naturally but I'm a bit wierd that way...
 
oh... a sad lamp....(seasonal affective disorder)

Use full-spectrum lighting for your indoor garden
Good news! There’s an easy and inexpensive way to replicate natural sunlight indoors—full spectrum lighting. Used for years to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, (SAD) full spectrum lights simulate the sun at noon, and plants love it. Manufacturers even produce inexpensive screw-in full-spectrum light bulbs like these, so all you have to do is replace the light bulbs in nearby light fixtures, and voila!—you’ve got happy plants basking in the next-best-thing to sunlight.


sounds like plants love those type of lights...
 
I have had the best luck using deep pots. cat grasses like to have deep roots. I have used something as simple as a deep plastic large yogurt container after stabbing a few holes in the bottom.

I often stagger planting seeds so there is a section that is coming up fresh while the older stuff is dying off.

don't worry about the lighting too much. unless you live in a basement apt or something. I put the pot near a window and it does just fine. I put the seeds on the soil, wet them, then cover with paper towel. I check daily, wet it if dry, and once the seeds germinate, I take off the paper, and then just water when needed.
 
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Just so I know the cause, the store bought container, is already somewhat wilting in only a week!

The blades are turning lighter green and they are not as sturdy, and will bend when I hold for her. Does that mean it needs more sun? more water? It appears I did wrong by letting the excess water sit in a bowl under the container so I removed it. But, I am at a loss what to do now as the soil is damp.

My need seeds arrived quickly. I have them planted and will check them daily. Hope they do well.
 
Mocha aka Cold Play said:
Just so I know the cause, the store bought container, is already somewhat wilting in only a week!

The blades are turning lighter green and they are not as sturdy, and will bend when I hold for her. Does that mean it needs more sun? more water? It appears I did wrong by letting the excess water sit in a bowl under the container so I removed it. But, I am at a loss what to do now as the soil is damp.

My need seeds arrived quickly. I have them planted and will check them daily. Hope they do well.
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Pale grass is from lack of light, in my experience. There is no need to keep the soil wet all the time so excess water might not be helping.
If you've got a nice warm sunny spot i'd put it there to help dry out soil and give it a boost.
 
How tall are the blades on the storebought? Actually it might be just its time to pass on. If it isnt eaten the blades get tall and start to expire no matter what. I dont know if trimming would help at this point.
 
Misterbeesmom said:
How tall are the blades on the storebought? Actually it might be just its time to pass on. If it isnt eaten the blades get tall and start to expire no matter what. I dont know if trimming would help at this point.
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I did trim some off the top because of the dry ends.....where I have not cut it down to the height of the top of the container from feeding her, it is about 3" above the top of the container in the middle. It has not really grown since I got it last week. At purchase it may have been 6".

So what I cut to give her from will not keep growing again?

Maybe this one was not a good quality, although it looked healthy enough in the store.

It is in the sun since yesterday, despite saying indirect sun....I think it needed more direct sun and we have had too much rainy/cloudy days.
 
Mocha aka Cold Play said:
I did trim some off the top because of the dry ends.....where I have not cut it down to the height of the top of the container from feeding her, it is about 3" above the top of the container in the middle. It has not really grown since I got it last week. At purchase it may have been 6".

So what I cut to give her from will not keep growing again?

Maybe this one was not a good quality, although it looked healthy enough in the store.

It is in the sun since yesterday, despite saying indirect sun....I think it needed more direct sun and we have had too much rainy/cloudy days.
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I dont think this 'grass' works like lawn grass. It doesnt regrow after chopping off the tops. I had to think about it a bit because i havent grown any wheat oat grass in a while, but what happens is it does die off unless kitty eats it. Thats why i stagger the seed germination so there is always new growth coming in to replace the die-off.

Sorry i had forgotten that. If the young growth are pale, then they're not getting enough light, but if its old growth going pale, its probably just naturally dying off.
 
Misterbeesmom said:
I dont think this 'grass' works like lawn grass. It doesnt regrow after chopping off the tops. I had to think about it a bit because i havent grown any wheat oat grass in a while, but what happens is it does die off unless kitty eats it. Thats why i stagger the seed germination so there is always new growth coming in to replace the die-off.

Sorry i had forgotten that. If the young growth are pale, then they're not getting enough light, but if its old growth going pale, its probably just naturally dying off.
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Thanks for getting me up to speed, sounds like my store plant is on its way out. Thankfully she has eaten most of it in about a week. Looking forward to seeing my seeds sprout in a few days and hoping they do far better. I will stagger another "batch" about a week later, depending on how much she is getting thru. She does love having it.
 
Chris & China said:
WOO HOO!! That bag should last you a pretty long time too....for a lot less money than buying them already grown from PetsMart/PetCo
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Is it likely that I will be able to reuse that organic soil? My pots are 6" across and 6" deep. I am wondering if I need to grab another bag of the organic soil before they stop stocking them @ my Walmart?

Yep, at a Tablespoon a pot, a pound will keep her munching a long time! The store bought one did not last well in the home @ all. Mine are much more healthy and I just say "grass" and she will cry and literally jog to me! I taught her "grass" from when I gave them pampass from the yard.
 
Yes, I'd think you could reuse the soil....you could always add fertilizer to it if your grass starts to act like it doesn't want to grow but you sure should be able to get a lot of grass grown before that becomes a problem
 
Mocha aka Cold Play said:
Yep, at a Tablespoon a pot, a pound will keep her munching a long time!
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That's what I was thinking too....I've considered buying it, but I have a black thumb and have never had any luck growing much of anything (never tried grass indoors though)...but with my luck, I'd end up with a pound of grass seed that died as soon as I got it in the house....LOL
 
Chris & China said:
That's what I was thinking too....I've considered buying it, but I have a black thumb and have never had any luck growing much of anything (never tried grass indoors though)...but with my luck, I'd end up with a pound of grass seed that died as soon as I got it in the house....LOL
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Great! I was very concerned because I overwater. But they suggest watering with a water bottle. Anyhow, the comments on the ratings were so high that it was hard to fail.....true. So this may be the premium seed to try if you ever want to.:D

http://www.amazon.com/Marleys-Cat-Grass-Wheat-Pound/dp/B00H25LDY8?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
 
Hi, Kari! Glad that is working out. You can buy organic composted cow manure and add a little to the soil after you have grown a couple of grass crops in it. You could also compost your own kitchen scraps (not meats or cheeses) and mix that soil in periodically.
 
Lydia & Rosie & Basil(GA) said:
Hi, Kari! Glad that is working out. You can buy organic composted cow manure and add a little to the soil after you have grown a couple of grass crops in it. You could also compost your own kitchen scraps (not meats or cheeses) and mix that soil in periodically.
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Being w/o disposals in the condo and not permitted, the compost may be a good option to keep little food pieces in the draining.
 
Misterbeesmom said:
I dont think this 'grass' works like lawn grass. It doesnt regrow after chopping off the tops. I had to think about it a bit because i havent grown any wheat oat grass in a while, but what happens is it does die off unless kitty eats it. Thats why i stagger the seed germination so there is always new growth coming in to replace the die-off.

Sorry i had forgotten that. If the young growth are pale, then they're not getting enough light, but if its old growth going pale, its probably just naturally dying off.
Click to expand...
@Misterbeesmom Now that I have a great organic potting mix w/o fertilizers (as Miracle Grow has some that fertilize for months and warn against children/pets).....I am running low b/c I used it also for some of my flowers. I thought I could surely get 2 more bags before July 4th. Walmart does not seem to stock it anymore. Online only has the huge bag and it is more than I paid for volume, probably for shipping.

What other source might I find that won't have fertilizer. I had hoped to stock up for the fall and winter, but I can't even give her a few more pots. Mine have not gone light in color but they do become less sturdy and thin out and she detects (as do I) the smell of fresh grass is different than a few weeks old and "wobbly."
 
Mocha aka Cold Play said:
@Misterbeesmom Now that I have a great organic potting mix w/o fertilizers (as Miracle Grow has some that fertilize for months and warn against children/pets).....I am running low b/c I used it also for some of my flowers. I thought I could surely get 2 more bags before July 4th. Walmart does not seem to stock it anymore. Online only has the huge bag and it is more than I paid for volume, probably for shipping.

What other source might I find that won't have fertilizer. I had hoped to stock up for the fall and winter, but I can't even give her a few more pots. Mine have not gone light in color but they do become less sturdy and thin out and she detects (as do I) the smell of fresh grass is different than a few weeks old and "wobbly."
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Any health food stores in your area that might carry that? Something like a Whole Foods might? I saw organic at the Shaws supermarket yesterday but offhand i dont know if that was potting soil or for the garden, or if you have Shaws, but maybe a different local supermarket chain would have some?

No home and garden stores carry the organic kind? I would think maybe home depot or lowes etc might be forward thinking enough to carry some of that now?

I have ordered online Organics Mechanics. That was some time ago and i dont know about the shipping. Amazon carries organic potting mix as well i am sure, and they ship fast and can be inexpensive.

The only other thing i can think of is find some sort of local garden club and perhaps get some small quantity from a kind person that way, or through some university extension.

Sorry i cant be more helpful.
Glad to see you're keeping up with the grasses. Lucky kitty!
 
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