How to grow scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) well? A complete guide to growing methods
Scarlet sage is a common flowering plant that is usually seen in flower beds, along roadsides, and in courtyards. It can also be grown in pots at home, though this is less common. In fact, scarlet sage is quite suitable for home decoration, because its growing method is relatively simple. Let's take a look below at how to grow scarlet sage well!
The growing habits of scarlet sage
Scarlet sage likes sunlight and also tolerates partial shade. It requires loose, fertile, 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. It has poor cold tolerance, and its optimum growing temperature is 20 to 25°C. Below 15°C it stops growing, and below 10°C the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
The growing uses of scarlet sage
1. Decorating the environment: Scarlet sage has full flower spikes, bright red flowers, and a large number of blooms, making it look quite festive. It is mostly used for decorating the environment on important holidays. It can be used alone in flower beds, flower borders, or flower terraces, and can also be used as edging for flower clusters and flower groups. Potted scarlet sage is an indispensable material for assembling groups of potted flowers, and it 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 the area beside the house and in front of the steps, with their delicate bright colors and lively atmosphere. In addition, scarlet sage has many varieties and rich flower colors. The addition of pink-white, red-white bicolor varieties and other varieties in colors such as blue-white and purple-white makes the indoor environment more elegant and distinctive.
Propagation methods for 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 branches as cuttings, remove the terminal buds, and then insert them; rooting is easy. In the hot, dry summer season, pay attention to shading and cooling, spray water frequently, and keep them moist. They can be transplanted in about 15 days. This is a relatively fast and simple propagation method for 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 in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot with good drainage as the seedbed. Dig over the bed surface, break up the soil, and level it, then let it bake in the sun for several days, and 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. At 16 to 21°C, seedlings can emerge in 6 to 7 days, and when there are 3 to 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted into pots.
Growing methods for scarlet sage
1. Sunlight: Scarlet sage is a light-loving flowering plant, and the growing site must have sufficient light, which is very beneficial to its growth and development. If there is insufficient light, the plant tends to grow leggy, with slender stems and leaves and pale green leaves. 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°C, and it is very difficult for them to germinate below 15°C. Below 20°C, germination is uneven. During the seedling stage in winter, 7 to 13°C is suitable, and during the growing period from March to June, 13 to 18°C is best. When the temperature exceeds 30°C, plant growth and development are hindered, and the 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 temperatures of 5°C, it is prone to cold damage.
3. Pruning: After scarlet sage is planted out, pinch it back immediately. During the growing period, pinch it back at least 2 times, so that the plant becomes 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 regulating 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 a 1500-fold dilution of omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
5. Fertilizing: Scarlet sage is relatively simple when it comes to fertilizer. Generally speaking, as long as basic fertilizer is applied to the soil when planting, it is enough.