Also called sages, salvias with the botanical name Salvia officinalis are a diverse group of gorgeous plants that offer colorful nectar-rich flowers, fragrances, and flavors. Salvias belong to the mint plant family called Lamiaceae and garden sage is a variety of salvia. Salvias make an unbeatable addition to any garden due to their diversity of blooms and long flowering periods. Salvias also have a long history of usage in cooking and medicine.
Since salvias come in varying varieties and are easy to maintain, they can add pop to your home or garden. Looking to grow salvias on your own? This post includes propagation methods and care tips to grow salvias. Let’s check out the details.
When to Propagate Salvias
Since salvias have several varieties, the ideal time to propagate them may vary slightly. It also depends on the way you want to cultivate this plant. For example, if you propagate large leaf salvias from cuttings, spring, winter, and autumn are ideal seasons. If we have to mention months specifically, these are April, August, or early September. During the summer, the cuttings can leak moisture. Therefore, it can be difficult for the stem to produce roots.
In general, spring and early summer are the most suitable time to propagate most salvias varieties. If you wish to reproduce herbaceous salvias mainly, summer and spring are appropriate times. Those looking to grow small-leaved salvias, avoid winters strictly. They grow preferably in spring and summer.
Now that you know when to propagate salvias, let’s learn how to do that.
How to Propagate Salvias
When it comes to propagating salvias, there are several options. For instance, you can use their cuttings and side shoots. Additionally, you can opt for layering and division options. Let’s learn about these methods in detail below.
a) How to Propagate Salvias from Cuttings
It is one of the most common ways to propagate salvias. It is a straightforward method and is almost fail-safe. Check out the complete steps to propagate salvia plants from stem cuttings below.
Step 1: Cut a stem of about 10 to 12 cm from the tip of a salvia plant. It must have one bud and at least two leaf nodes as they have growing cells.
Step 2: Remove all the leaves and flowers from the lower part of the stem.
Step 3: Place the stem in water. It will take a few weeks to produce roots in water. Once the roots have grown, plant the stem in a container filled with well-drained fertile soil.
Step 4: Also, you can propagate stem cutting by putting them into the soil. To ensure healthy rooting, apply the rooting hormone chemical to the stem cutting before planting it.
Use moist potting soil having a mix of vermiculite. The ratio should be 80/20. You can place each cutting in various small pots or one wide pot.
Step 5: Keep your pot in shadow. Prevent them from direct sun for a few days. After a few days, you can place them in a sunny area with partial shade.
Step 6: If you notice your salvias have grown and roots are popping out, take them out gently, and plant them in large pots or the garden.
How to Take Salvia Cuttings
Undoubtedly, propagating salvias from the stem is a simple method. However, it will work only when you know how to take cuttings from salvias. Taking cuttings from salvia is not a rocket-science, but you must take care of certain things.
- You can’t propagate salvia from cuttings in any month of the year. August and September are ideal months to do so.
- Take a non-flowering stem of about 2 to 4 inches long.
- Keep all stems in a plastic bag to lock their moisture.
- Below a leaf node, cut the base of your cutting stem using a sharp knife or scissors. Remove all the lower leaves. You can keep the two or three leaves on the top.
- While it is optional, you can dip the bottom of the stem in a rooting compound – a chemical that promotes root growth.
Now your cutting is ready. You may use the above method to propagate it.
b) Propagate Salvias from Side Shoots
Propagation from side shoots is another process of producing new plants. If you’re looking to propagate salvias from side shoots, you need to consider the following steps:
Step 1: Take side shoots from the main stem of the salvia. You can also take the young growth from the base of the plant.
Step 2: Break the shoot off carefully – a small stem piece should be with the shoot.
Step 3: Put them in a small glass pot filled with water. Now, wait for the roots.
Step 4: Once these shoots produce roots, plant them in pots.
c) Propagate Salvias from Division
Propagation by division is a simple method of multiplication. This way is relatively slow but simple and inexpensive to perform. The right time to follow this propagation method is spring or autumn. Here’s how you can propagate salvias from division:
Step 1: Dig out a grown-up salvia plant or clump from a pot or open ground.
Step 2: Cut it in half or quarters (depending on the root ball size) using a sterile knife. Make sure each division has enough shoots.
Step 3: Clean away dead stems. You can use the rooting powder if you want.
Step 4: Plant each division separately in suitably sized pots filled with good potting soil.
Step 5: Water them as needed, and you will have 2 to 4 new salvia plants.
d) Propagate Salvias from Layering
Propagating salvias from layering is another easy way to multiply these gorgeous fragment herbs. In this method, a stem is made to shoot roots without detaching it from the mother plant. You can do so by following the steps below:
Step 1: Choose a mature stem that is easy to bend and clean its lower leaves.
Step 2: Create a small wound on the stem with fingernails and bury this part in the soil. Make sure the soil is well-drained.
Step 3: Bury the stem 2 inches deep near the parent plant and cover it with soil.
Step 4: Wait for the stem to produce roots. The process is slow and may take a few weeks.
Step 5: Once the stem forms enough roots, cut it from the parent plant and plant it in a new pot or place.
Taking Care of Salvias after Propagating
Once done with the propagation of salvias, the next step is to look after them. There are several quick-care tips that you must follow to ensure the healthy growth of this beautiful plant. Some of them are as follows:
a) Light Requirements
Once you propagate salvias successfully, you should ensure they get enough sunlight for the best growth. Since salvia plants require full sunlight to thrive, make sure they are under the sun for 6 to 8 hours per day. This much sunlight is required to encourage blooming or trigger flowering in these heat-tolerant plants. Though salvias grow well in full or partial shade, try to keep them out of the windy atmosphere as their stems are fragile.
b) Soil Requirements
Salvias don’t require rich soil but prefer loamy, fertile, and well-draining soil. These plants also do well in sandy and rocky soil but struggle to grow in heavy clay. No matter where you’re planting your salvias, don’t forget to improve the soil quality before going further. For pots, you can go for a mix of ordinary garden soil and perlite. This soil mixture will ensure aeration and drainage. If you’re planting them in the garden or open ground, add small wood chips and rough-edged rocks to keep the soil moisture and temperature consistent.
c) Water Requirements
Apart from light and soil, water is another vital factor that can help your salvias thrive. Fortunately, these plants don’t require lots of water, making them low-maintenance. But remember that water requirements may vary depending on whether you’re growing them in containers or ground. If you’re planting your salvias in pots, they may need frequent watering (but never overdo it). Once your plant gets good growth, start to keep it on the drier side. Now, water it only when the soil seems dry. Too much watering can rot the roots. Also, don’t forget to make a hole below the container for drainage.( watering duration once in 7 to 8 days one-inch watering)
d) Temperature Requirements
The temperature can affect how well a plant grows and flowers. Salvias usually need warm temperatures at all times to grow or bloom efficiently. Most importantly, these plants are not frost tolerant and can get damaged in freezing temperatures. So, if you live in a region where temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, consider moving your salvias indoors.
e) Humidity Requirements
Salvias thrive well in moderate humidity. For healthy growth of these beautiful plants, try to maintain the humidity level at or above 60%. If the humidity drops below the preferred range, your salvias can start to get floppy. Therefore, make sure to maintain the average humidity for the best results.
f) Fertilizer Requirements
As a low-maintenance plant that can grow well in poor soil, salvias are generally light feeders and need only occasional fertilizing. All you need to do is add a layer of balanced compost or fertilizer in spring. A thin layer delivers enough nutrients to maintain healthy plant growth and increased flower production. Keep in mind that salvias don’t do well when fertilized in excess. Also, going for organic or natural fertilizers, over high-nitrogen fertilizers is a big no for salivas. Rake the fertilizer into the soil for the best results. Once done properly, forget about fertilizing your salvias until next spring.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post includes all the details you need to know to grow healthy salvia plants. Since salvias are easy to propagate and care for, you can add this plant to your collection. Salvias are highly low-maintenance, making them a perfect choice for any space. Since salvias are available in multiple varieties and colors, you can pick any depending on your taste. So, what are you waiting for? Plant gorgeous salvias today to bring fragrance and colors to your garden and life.
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