How to Grow Salvia
Selecting a Site
The best place to grow salvia is in the ground. A suitable ground site will allow salvia to gain two meters of growth in just over five months. Make sure that the site has adequate coverage of sunlight and is well drained.
As for the temperature, pick a site with a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Salvia can adapt in temperatures much below the ideal temperature. However, their growth tends to be slower than usual if they are not in the ideal temperature.
Salvia Garden Site
Salvia can grow directly from seeds. You can directly put salvia seeds in your flower garden. You can also put them indoors and later transplant them outside. If you want early blooms, you can start planting them indoors eight weeks before the winter season starts.
You should place the seeds ten to twenty inches apart from each other. This will provide enough space for each salvia plant to bloom properly.
Materials Needed
You will need the following things:
Salvia seeds
Containers / pots – if you will plant Salvia indoors
Watering cans
Watering
For the first few weeks, salvia plants require plenty of water. Check the soil surface daily, and water whenever it feels dry but do not overwater. Once the plant has established itself, you may water twice a week.
Nutrients Needed
You should add fertilizer to the soil when you plant the seeds and continue to put fertilizer once a week. Any good general-purpose organic (such as fish emulsion) or chemical fertilizer will do a good job. Aside from fertilizers, mulches can also be useful for your salvia plants.
Salvia plants are often pests-free, but if your plants have pest infestations, it is advised that you used fungicide to treat infections. Caterpillars, whiteflies, mites, and slugs are among the pests that may sometimes bother salvia.
Do not forget to remove the weeds around your flower site in order to prevent endangering the growth of your salvia plants.
Blooming Seasons
Salvia flowers can last several months. Salvia particularly blooms in fall and summer time. There are also variations of salvia that bloom during winter season.