Salvia, which is otherwise known as sage is a plant that is related to the mint family, scientifically known as Lamiaceae. This herb does well in the sub-tropics and includes perennial, biennial and annual shrubs as well as herbs.
Requirements for growth
- Salvia thrives in temperatures of between 45 and seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
- The plant needs partial sunlight several hours per day and incase the salvia is being grown indoors; it should be placed near a window in order to get the right amount of sunlight that it needs.
- Salvia should be planted in soil that is well drained so that the roots do not get too soaked. Soggy soil could cause the roots to rot.
Growing through Cuttings rooted in water
- Cut a six to ten inch branch of a grown plant that has several leaves. Cut it just under the node because this is the part that the roots will sprout from
- Place this cutting within a vase which has about an inch of water. The whole piece should be submerged in water which should be replaced every day.
- Put the vase in a place that gets filtered rays of sunlight.
- The moment the root reaches a length of close to an inch, the cutting is then transplanted to a pot filled with well drained soil.
- The plant should then be covered with a clear plastic bag or glass jar until a time when the plant becomes more established.
Care
- Fertilizer helps strengthen the plant especially if it is transplanted and need added nutrients to recover and adapt to the new soil.
- Care should be taken when handling the plants because they have vey brittle stems that are very prone to breakages. In case the leaves grow too big, they may require to be carefully tied to a vertical stick for added support.
- Keep checking if the leaves of the plant are turning red and if so, then this is evidence that the plant is not in a favorable environment. Incase the plant’s leaves turn a shade of yellow then it means that needs more sunlight.
A method of making sure that the plant remains watered throughout is to get a small bottle and fill it with water. Plant the mouth of the bottle in the soil within the pot and ensure it stays lodged in the soil. The water will slowly be sipping into the soil. With this step-by-step procedure, growing salvia can be done easily.
