How long is the flowering period of blue sage?
Blue sage, also known as pink-calyx sage, blue spike, blue silk thread, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Salvia in the family Lamiaceae, with a height of 30-60 cm. The plant grows in clumps and is covered with soft hairs. As a potted plant it is suitable for flower beds, flower borders and landscape displays in gardens, and can also be used to accent areas beside rocks and gaps at the forest edge. Now let us take a look at how long the flowering period of blue sage is!
How long is the flowering period of blue sage?
The flowering period of blue sage is generally from spring to summer, about May to October. It usually blooms 70-100 days after sowing. It has long spike-like inflorescences, densely packed with many flowers, and a tubular bell-shaped calyx. The flower color is pink-blue or pink-purple, and the flowers are about 12 cm long. It is mostly used for flower beds, flower borders, mass planting, cut flowers, potted flowers, etc. After flowering, removing the inflorescence allows the plant to still send out shoots and continue blooming.
Growth habits of blue sage
Blue sage is native to the southern region of North America. It prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. It is highly cold-tolerant but afraid of heat and dryness. It is best grown in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam with a pH (acidity and alkalinity) of 5.5-5.8. The soil temperature for germination during cultivation is 20-23°C, and the optimum growth temperature is 18-23°C. When grown in pots, it must be kept dry to prevent disease.
How to grow blue sage?
1. Sowing and propagation: Blue sage seeds number about 920 per gram. Generally, 200- or 288-cell plug trays are chosen for sowing, and the medium is best imported seedling peat moss or sterilized domestic seedling peat moss. After sowing, a thin layer of vermiculite should be spread over the surface, then covered with plastic film. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20-23°C, and the germination period is generally 5-8 days.
2. Seedling-stage management: During the germination stage, blue sage continues to root, stems appear and the cotyledons have already unfolded. At this time, appropriate humidity must be maintained and excessive moisture prevented. For fertilizer, a water-soluble NPK fertilizer is generally used, with a ratio of 20:10:20. After growing for a while longer, the roots will insert into the cells of the plug tray and several true leaves will appear. At this point, the fertilizer concentration should be increased and humidity and temperature should be well controlled to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy at this stage.
3. Temperature conditions: When the blue sage plant has 2-3 true leaves, it can begin to be transplanted into pots. Generally, 12-13 cm pots are chosen for transplanting. The substrate needs loose, well-aerated garden soil plus organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer. After the potted plants are moved into the courtyard, the temperature will drop to 18°C, and after a month it may drop to 15°C. Note that if the temperature is below 15°C, the leaves will turn yellow or fall off, and above 30°C the plant may stop growing.
4. Reasonable fertilization: During the growth period, blue sage needs ammonium sulfate diluted 1500 times to change leaf color, and the effect is quite good. Remember not to apply urea at low temperatures. Continuous fertilization can keep the root system strong and the branches and leaves lush. It likes to grow in places with ample sunlight. Generally, a compound fertilizer containing calcium and magnesium is applied once every half month. In hot summers, appropriate shading is needed, and during the seedling stage, light should be increased.
5. Pest and disease control: Common pests of blue sage include whiteflies, aphids, etc., and common diseases include downy mildew, leaf spot, etc., which need active control. Usually, spray 700-times carbendazim or chlorothalonil once every 7-10 days for sterilization, and spray 2000-times deltamethrin or 1000-times dichlorvos once every 10-15 days to prevent insects.