How to grow scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) well? Latest planting method shared

Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) is a common flowering plant, generally seen in flower beds, along roadsides, in courtyards and other places. Potted scarlet sage can also be seen in homes, though less often. In fact, scarlet sage is a flowering plant quite well suited for home decoration, because its cultivation method is relatively simple. Below, let us take a look together at how to grow scarlet sage well!

Growth habits of scarlet sage

Scarlet sage loves sunlight and also tolerates partial shade. Scarlet sage requires loose, fertile and well-drained sandy loam, and is very sensitive to soil treated with methyl bromide and to alkaline soil. It is suitable for growing in soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Its cold tolerance is poor, and the optimum growth temperature is 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Growth stops below 15 degrees Celsius, and below 10 degrees Celsius the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

Planting uses of scarlet sage

1. Decorating the environment: Scarlet sage has full flower spikes, scarlet flowers and a large number of blooms, appearing quite festive. It is mostly used for decorating the environment on important holidays, and can be used alone in flower beds, flower borders or flower terraces, or as edging for flower clusters and flower groups. Potted scarlet sage is an indispensable material for assembling groups of potted flowers, and can form a striking color contrast with other potted flowers.

2. Accenting the home: Dwarf varieties of scarlet sage can be grown in pots, used to beautify windowsills and balconies at home and to accent areas beside the house and in front of steps, with gorgeous colors and a lively atmosphere. In addition, scarlet sage has many varieties and rich flower colors. Other varieties with pink-white, red-white bicolor, blue-white, purple-white and other colors can be added, making the indoor environment more elegant and distinctive.

Propagation methods of scarlet sage

1. Cutting propagation: Propagating scarlet sage by cuttings can be done from May to August in summer and autumn. Take well-developed young shoots as cuttings, remove the terminal bud and then insert them, and they root easily. In the hot, dry summer season, pay attention to shading and cooling, spray water frequently and keep moist; they can be transplanted in about 15 days. This is a relatively fast and simple method of propagating scarlet sage.

2. Seed propagation: In southern regions, late March to early April is usually the best time for sowing scarlet sage in the open field. Choose sandy soil sheltered from wind and facing the sun with good drainage as the seedbed, turn the bed surface soil over, break it up and level it, let it bake in the sun for several days, then disinfect the seedbed soil with potassium permanganate solution. Scatter the scarlet sage seeds on the seedbed, then sprinkle an appropriate amount of carbofuran on the seedbed. Keep the seedbed moist at ordinary times; under conditions of 16 to 21 degrees C, seedlings can emerge in 6 to 7 days, and when there are 3 to 4 true leaves they can be transplanted into pots.

Cultivation methods of scarlet sage

1. Sunlight: Scarlet sage is a light-loving flowering plant, and the cultivation site must have sufficient light, which is very beneficial to the growth and development of scarlet sage. If light is insufficient, the plant tends to grow leggy, with slender stems and leaves and pale green leaf color; if the light is poor for a long time, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. If flowering plants are placed in a location with poor light, the flowers are often not vivid and tend to fall off. It is sensitive to photoperiod, and short-day conditions promote the opening of scarlet sage flowers.

2. Temperature: Scarlet sage is relatively sensitive to temperature when grown. Seeds germinate at 21 to 23 degrees, are very difficult to germinate below 15 degrees C, and germinate unevenly below 20 degrees C. During the seedling stage in winter, 7 to 13 degrees C is suitable, and during the growth period from March to June, 13 to 18 degrees C is best. When the temperature exceeds 30 degrees C, plant growth and development are hindered, and flowers and leaves become smaller. Therefore, during the high-temperature period in summer, cooling or appropriate shading is needed to control the normal growth of scarlet sage. Under long-term low temperature of 5 degrees C, it is prone to cold damage.

3. Pruning: After scarlet sage is planted out, pinch it immediately, and pinch at least 2 times during the growth period, so as to make the plant short and sturdy, with more flowering branches and dense flower spikes.

4. Pests: When growing scarlet sage, if there is high temperature, high humidity or insufficient light, it is prone to rot disease, so attention must be paid to adjusting the temperature and keeping the air circulating. In addition, scarlet sage is prone to pests such as red spider mites and aphids, which can be controlled by spraying omethoate emulsion at 1500 times dilution.

5. Fertilizing: Scarlet sage is relatively simple in terms of fertilizer. Generally speaking, as long as basic fertilizing is done on the soil where it is planted, it is enough.