That's a good point about what a cat could have done to it. We don't have outdoor cats, but there are several around that go nosing around in this plant. They nuzzle it and even roll on it. But the vegetation on this plant was two feet across. It didn't look like it got rolled on. So if it's about spraying, that's a LOT of spraying! There was one healthy stem left out of ten. I ripped out those ten, and we'll see what happens with the healthy one. That in itself is pretty odd. You'd think a disease would just kill the whole thing. What gives when one stem comes through unscathed? Yes, that's very true that containers in a hot climate make any plant thirsty. But even my catnip plants inside do the same thing. They want to be wet.

Hello! I see this is an old thread, but I'm going to take a chance and ask away anyway. I'm having trouble finding information for this particular question. I am interested in growing some organic catnip in Nicaragua. It's pretty much equatorial, so I'm not quite sure what zone one would call it. The sun rises and sets about 6 a.m. and p.m. everyday. There is usually a slight breeze. The temperature is usually around 80 to 85 during the day, and around 75 at night. It is humid as well. I don't think the soil quality is great, it's an arid jungle type vegetation in the area. Not super Lush and green and moist, but rather dry and prickly and thick. I have access to about one acre that is pretty much cleared, and is ringed by trees and such. I have unlimited access to water from a nearby River. I'm going to plant some seeds, maybe in both raised beds and directly into the ground, small little patch there, just to see what happens since I have nothing to lose and I want to experiment. So, anyone out there have any thoughts or advice or comments? I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank you!

I have a ton of 4 o'clocks, too, but have never seen a JB on them. My four o'clocks are all white and planted in my white garden with all my white roses...white roses are favorites of theirs, so they may ignore the 4 o'clocks because of better things to choose from in there. Vaporvac, I have tons of birds of many varieties. My birds definitely don't eat the adult beetles, and although, I watch them pull earthworms out of the ground constantly, I've never seen them with a grub in their mouth. Maybe the grubs are deeper than the birds go...much to DH's annoyance, the armadillos dig fairly deep holes all over the place when they feast on grubs.

Thank you for all of the replies. I couldn't figure out how to attach a photo initially but I was able to on this post. I live in Southern California where we basically have no seasons! I tend to think gardengal nailed it. I think it needs to be transplanted. It's been this way all year, not just recently. I do fertilize it but I think repotting is a great suggestion. I don't expect my plants to be gorgeous all year round although they usually are but since it's been this way all year, had stunted growth and no sign of fall in sight I knew something could probably be done to fix it. I've grown catnip for many years and have never had this problem. This particular plant is on its 2nd year so maybe it's just time to buy a new one but I will always try to save it first! If seeing the picture helps, please let me know if you think it might be something else. Thanks to all!