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Growing salvias in pots


Growing Salvia in Pots | Plant Addicts

Can salvia grow well in pots? Absolutely! Salvia plants are considered thriller additions and are great to add anywhere that receives full sun (6+ hours of sunlight per day). Whether you’d like to add a pop of color on your patio, balcony, deck or sunroom, salvia plants are quite adaptable to growing in pots or planters. Most salvia varieties possess an upright habit, so may not be ideal for hanging baskets as they lack the trailing habit.

Planting Salvia in Pots

Salvia varieties are plentiful and some are annual, while others are perennial. Determine your planting zone and the applicable salvia varieties you wish to plant to determine when is the best time to plant in pots.

Annual salvia varieties such as Rockin'® Blue Suede Shoes Salvia; Saucy Red Salvia; Saucy Wine Salvia; Unplugged® So Blue Salvia; and many more varieties all do well planted in pots outdoors once the last frost has occurred and before the first frost of fall/winter. If you wish to keep annual salvia varieties alive as perennials, bring them indoors to a spot where they will receive full sun. Bring the annual salvia plants back outdoors once the last frost has occurred in early spring.

Perennial salvia varieties such as Color Spires® Indiglo Girl Salvia; Color Spires® Back to the Fuchsia Salvia; Perfect Profusion Salvia; Pink Profusion Salvia and so many more, do well throughout the entire year outdoors. The only time you will need to be wary of planting perennial salvia outdoors is when you are first establishing your new plant. You can start your potted salvia indoors if the weather is on the colder end of the spectrum and bring it outdoors once the danger of frost has passed. Once established, your salvia will thrive and do well with minor maintenance.

Whether you choose annual or perennial varieties of salvia, keep in mind that the best size pot or planter will be at least twice the size of the salvia’s root ball. The chosen pot or planter should have sufficient drainage holes on the bottom of the container to allow water the ability to freely pass through without submerging the roots. Placing a thin layer of small stones at the bottom of the container(s) will provide better drainage. Use a 50/50 ratio of compost and potting soil that has a pH of 5.5 - 6.5 within your chosen container(s).

Best Soil For Salvia in Pots

Salvia plants are quite adaptable and do well in many conditions. With this in mind, for the best results, it is best to start with a basic potting mix and mix with aged compost in a 50/50 ratio. Checking the pH and amending (if needed) to be within the range of 5.5 - 6.5 will provide the best environment for your salvia to thrive and bloom to its heart's desire.

Drainage is quite important, however potted salvia does tend to dry out a bit quicker than in-ground planted salvia. By ensuring your chosen planter has sufficient drainage holes on the bottom, first and foremost, you will eliminate most of the worry of submerged roots. Adding a thin layer of small stones on the very bottom of the container will allow proper drainage.

Mulching your potted salvia plants will ensure to keep the weeds at bay and help retain necessary moisture. You may choose to use pine straw, pine bark nuggets or shredded wood mulch. The type of mulch does not matter too much to the highly adaptable salvia!

Caring For Salvia in Planters

Salvia plants do quite well within containers, whether that may be pots or specific planters. With proper initial planting and occasional maintenance, your salvia will thrive in many areas within your landscape or indoor space. By keeping the soil moist and placing your potted salvia in full sun, you will achieve a healthy and happy plant that will bless you with incredible blooms!

Watering Salvia in Pots

If placed outdoors, your potted salvia will be mostly dependent on rainfall. If your average weekly rainfall is 1” or more, your salvia will be quite happy. If you instead receive less rainfall, check the soil within your potted salvia for moisture and water accordingly.

Indoor potted salvia will need weekly or twice-weekly watering during spring-fall to ensure its roots have the sufficient amount of water needed to thrive. Soak your salvia and allow the excess water to drain away sufficiently. You can successfully monitor your salvia’s water needs by observing the leaves and checking the soil for moisture. During the winter, watering bi-weekly should be sufficient in keeping the roots watered while dormant.

Fertilizing Salvia in Pots

When you first plant your salvia in pots, it is best to create a healthy mix of aged compost and potting mix that will allow your plant the best chance to establish itself within the pot/container. After your salvia has established itself with your chosen container, occasional feeding will greatly benefit your plant as naturally occurring nutrients are less likely within containers. By observing the quality of your salvia’s foliage and/or blooms, you will be able to determine when it is in need of feeding.

To feed your potted salvia, remove any existing soil and add a thin layer of aged compost over the entire root base. Replace the mulch and water thoroughly. Congratulations, feeding your salvia is that easy!

Winter Care For Salvia in Pots

For annual salvia, you will need to bring your plants indoors and place them in partial sun to full shade and water at least once bi-weekly while dormant. Place your annual salvia in a space that will be above freezing to keep your plant alive.

Perennial salvia plants can do well outdoors with a proper sized pot that allows soil space to act as a natural insulator for the roots. Keep in mind that newly potted salvia should be protected from frost and freezes as they establish their new roots. Allow your perennial 

Growing Salvia Indoors

Either annual or perennial varieties of salvia can do quite well in indoor planting! Keep in mind that salvia plants soak up the full sun and will need sufficient sunlight to thrive.

Watering salvia that is potted indoors will likely need to be done weekly or twice-weekly. A thorough soak will provide the necessary amount of water needed for your salvia to thrive. To determine your salvia’s watering needs, observe the leaves and/or flowers for any wilting and check the soil to ensure it is moist.

How To Grow And Care For Salvia

Salvias (ornamental sage) are a must in the summer garden. They come in a vast range of forms and colours and their nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. They flower for months on end, often from midsummer until the first frosts, and many have aromatic foliage, too. The name ‘salvia' derives from the Latin salveo, meaning ‘I heal’ or ‘I save’. The culinary herb, Salvia officinalis, was used as a healing plant by Greeks and Romans and is part of part of the huge Salvia genus.

Salvias look good in almost all planting schemes. They look great in a mixed or herbaceous border and are great for underplanting roses – they begin flowering just as the roses are going over and are said to keep mildew and black spot at bay. They also look great in a tropical or exotic planting scheme, alongside dahlias, bananas and cannas. Salvias are ideal for a coastal garden and are often a key plant in a dry garden. They also grow very well in pots, making long-lasting displays on the patio – check out this salvia, euphorbia and pelargonium pot.

The spikes of tubular, lipped flowers come in almost every colour imaginable, from white and pastel pink to deep purples, magenta, scarlet and electric blue. The size and appearance of salvias can vary greatly, and they can be divided into four main types:

Annual salvias such as Salvia farinacea, S. horminum and S. splendens are grown as vibrant summer bedding before being discarded at the end of the season.

Herbaceous perennial salvias such as Salvia nemorosa and Salvia x sylvestris are hardy and come back year after year.

Tender perennial salvias such as Salvia greggii can come back year after year but are not completely hardy and may need protection over winter.

Shrubby salvias such as Salvia x jamensis and Salvia microphylla are sub-shrubs, with woody stems. Most are hardy and some are evergreen in mild winters but they may also need protection in winter.

How to grow salvia

All salvias grow best in full sun, in well-drained soil. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Salvias may be lost over the winter if the soil is very cold and wet, so take cuttings at the end of the summer to insure against winter losses. Alternatively, grow tender varieties in pots and keep in a frost-free spot over winter. Wait until late spring to cut old growth back.

Growing salvia: jump links

Where to grow salvia

Salvia nemorosa growing with perennials and grasses

All salvias thrive in a sunny spot. They need well-drained soil and thrive on stony or poor soils. If you are gardening on heavy clay, you will need to improve the soil before planting. All salvias are likely to die in waterlogged soil in winter.

How to plant salvia

Salvia 'Mulberry Jam' growing with grasses

The best time to plant salvias is from late May to early June, after the risk of late frosts has passed. If you buy a plant in autumn, it's best to keep it it in its pot in a frost-free place and plant it out the following spring to avoid losing it in a cold, wet winter.

More like this

  1. Before planting, trim back the plant a little to encourage sturdy, bushy growth
  2. On heavy soils, such as clay, add some horticultural grit to the planting hole to improve drainage
  3. Dig a hole that is the same size as the pot your plant came in. Plant your salvia at the same depth it was in the pot
  4. Backfill with soil, firm in and water in well

If you're growing a salvia in a container, plant into peat-free, multipurpose compost with some horticultural grit or sand added for extra drainage. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes at the bottom.

Where to buy salvia online

How to care for salvia

Watering a pot planted with salvias and African blue basil

Salvias in the ground should get all the moisture they need from rainfall; they are drought tolerant once established. However rain rarely reaches the compost in pots, so salvias growing in containers need watering regularly.

There is no need to feed plants growing in the ground – they will produce foliage at the expense of flowers. Feed salvias in pots from spring to early autumn with a high potash feed such as tomato food.

Deadhead to keep new flowers coming.

In this Golden Rules video, William Dyson of salvia specialist Dyson's Nurseries reveals his three top tips on growing salvias successfully, including when to water and feed.

Protecting salvias in winter

Cutting back salvias in spring

To ensure that you can enjoy salvias from year to year, take cuttings in late summer.

In mild areas, mulch tender salvias with a 10cm layer of well-rotted manure or garden compost to protect them from frost. In colder areas, lift them as you would dahlias, and overwinter them in pots indoors.

Don't cut salvias back in autumn – wait until late spring, as the foliage gives a degree of protection from winter frosts. In late spring, cut the plant back to quite low down on the plant, above the fresh shoots that are appearing at the base.

How to take salvia cuttings

Potting up salvia cuttings

Salvia cuttings can be taken in April, August or September. This gives you lots of new plants that you can plant in your garden or give away.

  1. Remove non-flowering stems that are about 8cm long
  2. Remove the lower leaves and trim each cutting just below a node
  3. Insert cuttings into a pot of pre-watered cutting compost
  4. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag – try to avoid the bag touching the foliage
  5. Place cuttings in a cool greenhouse and put up shading to prevent scorching from strong sunlight
  6. After three weeks, cuttings should be ready to pot on

In this video, Monty Don explains how which salvia shoots make good cuttings, what compost mix they need to root successfully, how to trim the cuttings and the best conditions to aid root development:

Growing salvia: problem solving

Pests and diseases are rarely an issue for salvias. Keeping plants through the winter is the biggest challenge. Plants growing in persistently wet clay soil over winter may die.

Some plants hit by frost in winter may re-emerge from the base in spring – if the plant is showing no signs of re-growth by mid-June, however, it has probably died.

Advice on buying salvia

Where to buy salvias online

Great salvias to grow

1

Salvia 'Amistad'

Salvia 'Amistad' is a half-hardy perennial. It is long-flowering and particularly floriferous, with rich-purple flowers. It's often still blooming when first frosts arrive, and is a good food source for late-season pollinators. Height x Spread: 50cm x 1.2m

2

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ (balkan clary) is a hardy perennial with spires of electric blue flowers in July to early September. Deadhead to prolong flowering.
H x S: 50cm x 50cm

3

Salvia x jamensis 'Hot Lips'

Plants for easy summer flowers: Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Salvia x jamensis 'Hot Lips' is a striking, shrubby salvia with bi-coloured red and white flowers. It is a frost-hardy but may need some winter protection. Other 'lips' cultivars are also available, including 'Amethyst Lips' and 'Cherry Lips'. H x S: 60cm x 1m.

4

Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' (balkan sage)

Salvia nemerosa 'Ostfriesland' in flower

Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ (also sold as 'East Friesland') is a hardy perennial which is extremely popular with pollinators. It bears tall spikes of purple flowers from June to September. H x S: 45cm x 60ccm

5

Salvia patens (gentian sage)

Few flowers match the vivid blue blooms of Salvia patens, which contrast beautifully with the deep green foliage. It is hardy in mild parts of the UK; in colder areas, mulch or lift the tubers, as with dahlias. Watch out for slugs, which enjoy the young shoots. H x S: 75cm x 50cm

6

Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosi'

Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosi'

Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’ is a hardy, evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves and striking neon-pink flowers from midsummer to late autumn. H x S: 90cm x 75cm.

7

Salvia x sylvestris 'Viola Klose'

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Viola Klose’ is a stunning hardy salvia with radiant violet flower spires. It is an excellent alternative to lavender, flowering over a long period. H x S: 50cm x 50cm

  • Buy Salvia 'Viola Klose' from Crocus

8

Salvia 'Love and Wishes'

Salvia 'Love and Wishes'

‘Love and Wishes’ has a generous flowering period, usually from June to November. Its rich pink-purple flowers, deep burgundy stems and a tidy growth habit make this a great choice for containers. H x S: 80cm x 50cm

  • Buy Salvia 'Love and Wishes' from Crocus
  • Buy Salvia 'Love and Wishes' from Gardening Express

9

Salvia uliginosa (bog sage)

Salvia uliginosa

As its name suggests, this sage prefers a moist (but not waterlogged) soil. This tall plant has clear blue flowers and is a good option for the back of a border. H x S: 2m x 90cm

  • Buy Salvia uliginosa from Crocus

10

Salvia x jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'

Velvety, purple-hooded flowers in summer and autumn. This tender perennial is frost hardy but may need some winter protection.

  • Buy Salvia 'Nachtvlinder' from Crocus

photo, description, varieties, cultivation, planting, care

It so happened in the world of floriculture that out of the vast genus Salvia (Salvia), only one got this Latin name - a luxurious flower, all the advantages of which lie in decorative qualities . Other types of salvia we call sage. Most of them are valued not only for their spectacular appearance, but also for their valuable medicinal and nutritional qualities.

So we will talk about the most famous decorative type of sage - this is brilliant salvia or brilliant (Salvia splendens). It is she who glows with red flashes in the front flower beds, adds a cold blue color or becomes a white background in the summer flower beds of gardens and parks, summer cottages and city streets. The plant is so textured that it is often used in carpet flower beds, where it is used to “draw” simple or complex patterns.

What kind of flower is salvia

Salvia is a perennial subshrub with a woody lower part. But this is a tropical plant, its homeland is Brazil, therefore it is grown as an annual in our latitudes.

Its stems are branched from the base, they are strong, slightly pubescent. Dark green leaves are oval with a sharp end and a serrated edge. Spongy flowers are collected in whorls, which form an inflorescence up to 20 cm long. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, but they have bright bracts.

In nature, salvia stands out for its bright red colored bracts, but the efforts of breeders have created many varieties and hybrids with white, creamy, pink, purple and all shades of red color. Bicolor varieties are also of interest, in which bracts are coral with white speckles or scarlet with white strokes.

Today you can find compact, densely leafy varieties and hybrids of Salvia for carpet flower beds, up to 30 cm high, and hybrids with strong growth, high inflorescences and resistance to adverse weather conditions.

Salvia cultivars

Of particular note are the dwarf salvia cultivars, specially designed for growing in pots. They have a dense compact bush with smaller leaves and dense inflorescences. Among the best profusely blooming bright scarlet Reddy ( Reddi), red Scarlet (Scarlet) and white-scarlet Cassiopeia , whose height does not exceed 25 cm, while the height of peduncles reaches 15 - 20 cm.

  • Red sponges - plant up to 30 cm high with large inflorescences of bright red flowers;
  • Red Alert (Red Alert) - no more than 35 cm high, with dense inflorescences of fiery scarlet flowers up to 20 cm long and dark emerald leaves;
  • Red Magic (Red Magic) - up to 45 cm high, with dense inflorescences of red flowers up to 20 cm long;
  • Vista Elite (Vista Elite) - a series of compact plants with dense large inflorescences of white, pink or lilac flowers;
  • Crimson salute - with very showy pink crimson flowers;
  • Amore Lavender (Amore lavender) - no more than 35 cm high, dense bush with large lilac inflorescences;

    This plant needs light, moderately fertile soils that are neutral to slightly alkaline. The place should be well lit, closed from cold winds.

    The decorative effect depends on the quality of the seedlings - the stronger and more hardened it is, the faster it will take root in the open ground and begin flowering. In flower beds, plants are planted according to the scheme 25x25 cm. Planting holes are filled with humus (1 handful) and wood ash (1 tbsp. Spoon).

    Seed outdoor

    Salvia takes about 3 months from germination to flowering. The plant is heat-loving, for the emergence of seedlings a stable temperature above 20 ° C is needed. Therefore, it is not advisable to sow seeds in open ground in our climate - the plants will bloom only at the end of August. So you can decorate flower beds with salvia only by buying seedlings or growing them with your own hands.

    For seedlings

    To obtain high-quality seedlings, salvia seeds are sown in the first days of March. Such an early date is due to the fact that from the moment of germination to flowering, 85 - 95 days.

    The soil is sifted, compacted and watered abundantly. Seeds are laid out on the surface and only lightly sprinkled with sifted sand. Seedlings appear in the light after 7-12 days, if you keep containers with crops at a temperature of 22-25 ° C. After germination, the temperature is reduced to 20 ° C.

    Salvia does not like waterlogging, so watering should be moderate and no condensation. In stage 1 - 2 true leaves, plants dive into cassettes or separate cups and cover with thick paper for 2 days. After the appearance of 6 true leaves, pinch the tops of the plants.

    2-3 weeks after picking, fertilizing watering is carried out once a week with a solution of 1/2 dose of fertilizer for flowering plants, once a month - with wood ash infusion.

    2 weeks before planting in the ground, seedlings begin to harden off (2).

    Caring for Salvia

    Caring for salvia is generally easy and does not cause any particular problems.

    Watering She needs stable watering only in the first 2 weeks after planting in the ground. Further, they are watered only with noticeable drying of the soil, because salvia is a drought-resistant plant and feels good in the heat.

    Top dressing. Perhaps the most time-consuming care is top dressing. For abundant flowering, every 2 weeks after planting in the ground, the plants are fed up to mass flowering.

    As a rule, these are 3 complete top dressings. The first feeding is carried out with calcium nitrate, and then with potassium monophosphate with the addition of calcium.

    Protection against diseases and pests. Unfortunately, aphids and whiteflies love salvia. If aphids can still be fought with folk methods, for example, ash infusion (this is also good for plant development), then whitefly can only be dealt with with insecticides. A good result is given by a double spraying with Teppeki with an interval of 7 to 10 days.

    Seed collection. Seeds can be harvested from salvia, which remain viable for 5 years. To do this, cut off the flower stalks when the lower buds become dry and brown. They are laid out on newsprint in a dry room or in the sun, then they are threshed and the seeds are poured into paper bags.

    Of course, it makes little sense to collect seeds from hybrids, but varietal ones germinate perfectly and almost always repeat parental traits.

    Wintering. With the onset of frost, salvia dies. But you can prolong its flowering if grown in pots that are brought into the room. By the way, cuttings can be cut from such plants, rooted in water and planted in pots in which the plants will bloom on warm loggias.

    Popular questions and answers

    We asked an agronomist about growing salvia Oleg Ispolatov - he answered typical questions of summer residents.

    Where to buy salvia?

    Salvia seeds are presented on most marketplaces, online stores for summer residents, in shops and shopping centers. Since the end of April, salvia seedlings grown in professional greenhouses have appeared in garden centers and shops.

    When does salvia bloom?

    With the seedling method of growing Salvia, flowering begins in early June and continues until frost.

    Where to plant salvia in a flower bed?

    In gardens, salvia can be used to create bright, well-shaped summer beds, narrow and wide borders. The combination of salvia with seaside cineraria, compact varieties of girlish feverfew or ageratum is a classic option for both flower beds and borders. A narrow wall border of coronal cochia with salvia in the foreground creates a solemn look.

    What is the difference between salvia and sage?

    Historically, all purely ornamental types of sage are called salvia in our country. And species that, in addition to decorative qualities, also have nutritional or medicinal properties, are called sages. That's the whole difference.

    Sources

    1. Dryagina I. V., Kudryavets D.B. Flowers for the Moscow Region // M.: Moskovsky Rabochiy, 1982
    2. Kolesnikova E.G. Modern florist calendar // M.: MSP Publishing House, 2003

    planting and care, growing from seedlings

    Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden Plants Retracked: Last amendments:

    Content

    • Listen Article
    • Planting and Care for Salvia
    • Botanic description
    • Salvia Growing from seeds

        Since ancient times, salvia has been called a sacred herb, the herb of immortality and a life savior because of its ability to rid women of infertility, strengthen the mind and spirit. After the plague epidemics, the survivors restored strength and health with decoctions and infusions of sage.

        Garden salvia is represented by a large number of cultivars that can create compositions of amazing beauty and brightness on the site. From our article you will learn how to choose a variety of salvia for your garden;

        • ;
        • how to sow and grow sage;
        • how to properly care for the plant.

        Listen to article

        Planting and caring for salvia

        • Planting: sowing seeds in open ground in spring or before winter. Seedlings are sown for seedlings from mid-February to early March, and seedlings are planted in open ground in late May or early June.
        • Flowering: from June to autumn frosts.
        • Lighting: bright sunlight or partial shade.
        • Soil: rich in lime, light, dry, permeable.
        • Watering: in the evening, after the topsoil has dried out.
        • Top dressing: the first time - in the seedling period with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizer, the second time - during the budding period.
        • Propagation: one- and two-year-old species - only by seeds, perennials - by seeds, dividing the bush and stem cuttings.
        • Pests: thrips, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, snails and slugs.
        • Diseases: downy mildew, root cancer, rust, powdery mildew, chlorosis, fusarium wilt, rhizoctoniosis.

        Read more about the cultivation of salvia below

        Plant salvia (lat. Salvia) , or sage is a numerous genus of herbaceous and shrubby perennials of the Lamiaceae or Lamiaceae family, common in tropical and temperate regions of all parts of the world except Australia. The name "salvia" is derived from the Latin "salvus", which means "to be healthy", and this is due to the fact that some types of plants have been used for medicinal purposes since time immemorial. Nothing heals a flux faster than gargling with sage tea.

        There are only about 900 representatives of the Salvia genus, and they all prefer to grow in bright places. To avoid confusion, the medicinal plant and spice are called sage, and the ornamental plants of this genus are called salvia. And although salvia is also sage, it is used for decorative purposes. Salvia officinalis has been known to people since the time of the Roman Empire, but salvia flowers were brought to Europe only in the 18th century, during the era of the horticultural boom. Separate from other species in the classification is salvia divinorum, the so-called "predictor's sage", or narcotic sage, from the leaves of which salvinorin, a psychoactive hallucinogen, is extracted. But in our article we will focus on salvia - an ornamental shrub.

        Botanical description

        Salvia flower is a rhizomatous plant, perennial in nature, but in our latitudes it is almost always grown as an annual or biennial, and although some species tolerate winter well in the garden, they freeze in snowless or little snowy winters. The stems of Salvia are erect or ascending, tetrahedral, sometimes reaching a height of 120 cm. The leaves are whole, sometimes pinnately dissected, located oppositely on petioles, the upper side of the plate is darker green, while the lower side is whitish.

        In the photo: Violet salvia

        Small flowers are collected at the ends of the stems in complex whorled spike-shaped or paniculate inflorescences 15-20 cm long, brightly colored bracts - pink, white, lilac or purple attract the eye. Salvia fruit consists of four nuts. Salvia seeds reach maturity a month after the start of flowering and remain viable for up to five years.

        Growing salvia from seed

        When to sow seeds

        Annual and biennial salvia is grown from seed, perennial salvia is propagated both by seed and vegetatively by dividing the bush or cuttings. Growing salvia from seeds involves the use of both seedling and seedless methods. With a seedless method, seeds are sown in the ground before winter or spring.

        But such a species, for example, as brilliant salvia, or sparkling salvia (Salvia splendens), reproduces exclusively by seedlings.

        • Tenacious: growing from seeds, types and varieties

        By the way, in stores both seeds and granules are sold as planting material, which, in addition to the seed, contain substances that make seedlings stronger and more resistant, but the granules germinate more slowly than an ordinary seed. When is the best time to sow salvia seedlings? Sowing salvia in boxes is carried out from mid-February to early March.

        In the photo: Growing salvia in a flower bed

        Growing seedlings

        Sow seeds or granules in moist loose soil superficially or to a depth of no more than 2 mm, keeping temperature - about 25 ºС. You will have to water the crops in a pan or from a sprayer, and to keep the soil moist longer, cover the box with crops with paper. Shoots will appear within two weeks or a month. Your next task is to grow seedlings with a strong root system that will allow the plant to quickly take root in the ground.

        How to plant asters correctly - directly in the ground or as seedlings

        When the third or fourth true leaf develops, the sprouts are pinched to stimulate tillering. From April, you can start hardening seedlings, for which the night temperature is lowered to 10 ºС.

        Pictured: Red salvia

        Planting salvia

        When to plant

        Salvia prefers a light, sandy soil that is rich in lime, humus and permeable to water. The site should be sunny, since all types of salvia are sun-loving, and only salvia sticky can grow in partial shade. Salvia seedlings are planted in the ground when the threat of night frosts recedes - approximately at the beginning of June.

        How to plant

        Planting and caring for salvia will not seem difficult even for novice gardeners, especially since hardened seedlings prepared for life in the garden tolerate transplanting perfectly. In each hole dug at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, before transferring the salvia bush from the pot, add a handful of humus.

        Salvia Care

        Care Instructions

        Salvia care includes the same gardening activities as caring for any garden plant - watering, weeding, loosening the soil, top dressing with fertilizers. All these works should be done as the need arises. Water the soil when the ground under the salvia is well dry after the previous watering, and only in the evening, but do not overwater, as the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the roots. Some time after watering, loosen the soil and remove weeds, if any.

        • Stonecrop: growing from seeds, types and varieties

        Top dressings from complex mineral fertilizers are applied at least twice during the summer: the first time seedlings are fed with a weak solution, the second time - during the formation of buds.

        How to care for fuchsia in the conditions of our apartments

        Perennial salvia will give you more trouble than one-year or two-year-old (sown with seeds before winter), because it also needs a formative pruning, which will not allow the shoots to stretch and become bare, stimulates tillering and growth of young shoots. When the perennial salvia has faded, remove wilted flowers from the bush, and before winter dormancy or at the beginning of the next growing season, arrange a haircut for salvia: cut off old lignified shoots so that only a few centimeters remain with buds and young greens.

        In the photo: Blue salvia

        Pests and diseases

        Diseases of salvia are so rare that it makes no sense to talk about it. As for pests, sometimes the plant is affected by whiteflies, thrips, aphids or mites, as well as slugs and snails that eat the delicate salvia foliage.

        Snails and slugs must be removed mechanically: pick them up by hand; put bait in the form of pieces of slate or rags, under which slugs will crawl; you can arrange containers with beer or fruit juice around the site, covering them with an impromptu umbrella that protects the contents from rain and debris. Gastropods thrive on a pleasant smell, and you can reap a decent crop of these pests.

        In the photo: How salvia blossoms

        Insects will have to be fought with insecticides that correspond to each of the pests.

        Salvia after flowering

        Salvia flowers begin in June and sometimes end with autumn frosts - each species varies. Some of the salvias are able to bloom twice a year.

        • Oregano: cultivation, types and varieties

        For example, wild salvia, if cut off completely after flowering, will bloom again in late summer, especially if it is fed.

        But if the salvia has finally faded, prune the perennial salvia in the fall and mulch the area, especially the growing points with garden compost, so that the plant survives the winter. Young salvias need to be additionally covered with spruce branches or dry foliage.

        Species and cultivars

        According to agrotechnical characteristics and biological features, scientists divide salvia species into three groups. The first includes representatives of the American subtropics, for obvious reasons grown in our climate as annuals. These species prefer moist soil and cannot tolerate even light frosts. The first group includes:

        Salvia splendens

        Or brilliant salvia - 20 to 80 cm high densely leafy compact bushes, leaves opposite, entire, ovate, petiolate, dark green above and light green on the lower part of the leaf plates. Large, irregularly shaped flowers with a double perianth are collected in whorls of 2-6 pieces in racemose inflorescences 14-25 cm long. Both the calyx and corolla are most often bright red, but white, purple, and pink are also available. Blooms from June to autumn frosts.

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        Variety sparkling white salvia differs from the fiery red in a less dense inflorescence and in that the calyx looks cream against the background of a white corolla.

        Pink salvia has a shorter bud than red salvia, and the corolla and calyx are the same color pink, but the corolla has a velvety texture.

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        In the photo: Salvia splendens (Salvia splendens)

        Violet sparkling salvia is a very catchy variety, because the deep purple color of the flowers is enhanced by their velvety, created by dense pubescence.

        The most popular varieties of sparkling salvia: Fiery Star, Red Arrows, Salvator, Sahara.

        Bright red salvia (Salvia coccinea)

        Height 50-70 cm, stems straight, densely pubescent and branching, leaves petiolate, ovate, finely serrate at the edges, pubescent below, glabrous above. Loose inflorescences 15-30 cm long consist of whorled flowers with a scarlet-red corolla and a long tube. This salvia blooms from July until frost. Varieties: “Leidy in Red up to 40 cm high with bright red flowers, Sherry Blossom is an early variety of the same height, but with pink flowers.

        In the photo: Salvia coccinea

        Mealy salvia (Salvia farinacea)

        A long-flowering, non-capricious plant 60-90 cm tall, looking like a pyramidal shrub. Leaves petiolate, oblong-ovate, pubescent only along the veins, entire. Inflorescences on tall peduncles reach a length of 15-20 cm and consist of 5-28 flowers up to 2 cm long. The corolla is usually dark blue, but sometimes white. This species blooms from mid-August to late autumn. Varieties: Anschuld (silver-white flowers), Strata (compact bush with blue flowers), Victoria (luxuriantly flowering variety with dark blue flowers).

        The second group is represented by species of Mediterranean origin. They are more cold tolerant and drought tolerant. They grow best on loose soils and respond gratefully to mineral supplements.

        In the photo: Mealy Salvia (Salvia farinacea)

        Green Salvia (Salvia viridis)

        Or Variegated Salvia - only the Horminum variety (var. Horminum) with brightly colored bracts is decorative in this species. This is an annual plant 40-60 cm high with numerous straight branching stems covered with glandular down. The leaves are petiolate, oblong-elliptical, also pubescent. Simple inflorescences 18-30 cm long consist of false whorls with 4-6 flowers with a pink corolla, but the color of the bracts is eye-catching - juicy purple or bright pink. Varieties: White Swan (white salvia with pinkish or purple bracts), Oxford Blue with blue-violet bracts, Pink Sunday with pink bracts.

        In the photo: Green salvia (Salvia viridis)

        Whorled salvia (Salvia verticillata)

        Height 35-40 cm with straight or ascending densely pubescent stems, long-petiolate pubescent leaves of an unusual shape and flowers in dense whorls of 5 30 pieces with lilac-blue corolla. Purple Rain has flowers with a dark purple corolla and purple calyxes.

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        On the photo: Whorled Salvia (Salvia verticillata)

        Dandelion Salvia (Salvia taraxacifolia)

        This is a herbaceous species with a basal rosette of leaves. The stems are straight, not particularly branching, all parts of the plant emit a pleasant aroma. The leaves are pinnately dissected, irregularly serrate at the edges, glabrous above and pubescent on the underside of the leaf blade. Simple inflorescences up to 28 cm long consist of whorls with several flowers with a pale pink corolla, a greenish-green throat with purple dots.

        In the photo: Dandelion salvia (Salvia taraxacifolia)

        The second group also includes Salvia jurisicii (Salvia jurisicii) , which is not of particular interest to gardeners.

        The third group includes cold-resistant species. For the most part, these are salvias that grow in the temperate climatic zone of the Old World, but Ethiopian salvia is also assigned to this group. The species of the third group are characterized by abundant flowering from the second year of life. They are unpretentious, grow well in the shade and require shelter only in snowless winters.

        Oak salvia (Salvia nemorosa)

        Or Forest salvia (Salvia sylvestris) - bushes up to 60 cm high with branched pubescent stems. The lower petiolate leaves are larger than the upper sessile ones. Inflorescences with several pairs of lateral branches consist of false whorls with 2-6 small flowers each. Corolla blue-violet. Large purple bracts attract the eye. Blooms from late June to early autumn. Varieties: purple-blue Mainacht, dark lavender Plumosa, pink-purple Amethyst.

        In the photo: Oak salvia (Salvia nemorosa)

        Sticky salvia (Salvia glutinosa)

        Perfectly growing in our latitudes. This is a large plant up to 90 cm tall with numerous straight glandular-pubescent stems, large long-petioled ovate-triangular serrated leaves of a yellowish-green hue. Flowers in whorls form loose inflorescences, the corolla of flowers is light yellow. Blooms from late summer to late autumn.

        Pictured: Salvia glutinosa (Salvia glutinosa)

        Salvia x superba

        Height up to 60 cm, blooms for a long time with blue-violet spike-shaped inflorescences.

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