How To Care For Your Own Salvia Divinorum

Salvia divinorum is often a semi-tropical perennial. That means that it might grow year after year, but only if it isn't exposed to freezing temperatures. It can be a green plant with huge leaves and a distinctive thick, hollow, square green stem. It may grow a number of meters (yards) higher if illnesses are favorable. When it grows higher sufficient, the branches will bend, or break, and may well root if they come in contact with moist earth. Despite the fact that Salvia divinorum can flower under natural lightingailments, it virtually never sets seed that will sprout. So the plant is pretty much usually propagated by the cuttings. The leaves are oval, weakly notched (serrated) and can be quite great (up to 9 inches in length). They're typically emerald green, but under some disorders, may well be yellow-green or even yellow. They are covered having a fine coating of very short hairs (trichomes), giving the leaves a satin like velvety appearance in particular lights. The plants grow finest in partial shade, in well-watered, but well-drained, soil. The roots should not be kept constantly soaked, or root-rot will set in and kill the plant.

Salvia divinorum could be grown indoors in any climate. It makes a beautiful house plant.

You'll be able to grow Salvia divinorum outdoors all year round should you reside in a humid semi-tropical climate, with well-watered, but well-drained soil, using a high humus content. In case you reside in the colder or drier climate, it is possible to still grow Salvia divinorum outdoors, weather permitting. But you may well need to do it with some care, making sure it really is protected from frost, watered normally, and misted when humidity is low. Salvia divinorum will not live through freezing or drought. It can be grown outdoors in pots which might be brought indoors when it really is cold (below 40 degrees Fahrenheit). That way it can be grown outdoors in summer and indoors in winter.

Salvia divinorum will tell you when it's obtaining too dry: its leaves will droop. Be positive to water it at the first sign of mild drooping-do not let the plant become limp. The soil need to drain perfectly but ought to be kept moist. If planting Salvia in pots, make certain the pot is big ample to enable the plant to grow effectively. Though your out there space will limit feasible pot size, use the biggest pot that's practical. It ought to have drainage holes. Placing gravel (or broken up pieces of crockery) within the bottom in the pot will assist promote drainage and thus discourage root-rot. Most commercial potting soil will perform effectively. Adding Vermiculite® or Perlite® for the potting soil is helpful but not important.

Salvia divinorum will need fertilizer. Any very good general-purpose fertilizer will work. Fish emulsion is a beneficial organic fertilizer option, but simply because it has a incredibly unpleasant odor, it really is suitable only for outdoor use. Satisfactory results can be achieved with chemical fertilizer products. Some of them are:

Scott's All-Purpose Plant Food (18-13-13) lightly sprinkled on the soil about once every six weeks. Miracle-Grow (15-30-15) or MirAcid (30-10-10) added to the water once a week (1/4 tsp. per gallon). Peter's Professional Soluble Plant Food (15-30-15) 1/4 tsp. to gallon of water once per week.

If growing indoors, take the plants outside when it truly is warm adequate, and let rain fall on them. This will prevent mineral salts from building up inside the soil and killing your plant

Salvia divinorum can do perfectly in the variety of diverse lighting disorders. It does finest using a few hours of partial sunlight a day. It might do effectively when grown indoors near a window. It may handle far more sun if kept effectively watered and misted regularly. It could also handle moderately deep shade. When changing the lighting conditions or the humidity conditions your plants are exposed to, do so steadily. Given sufficient time, Salvia is incredibly adaptable, but it might take weeks to get employed to a new environment.

A lot of pests can assault Salvia. Whitefly can be a big issue for greenhouse grown plants. Aphids, slugs, caterpillars, thrips, spider mites, and scale insects can also injury your plants. Root-rot and stem-rot may be difficulties. Fungal spots can appear on leaves. It isn't recognized which plant viruses attack Salvia divinorum, but most likely some do, as quite a few attack other sages.

Aphids and scale insects might be removed having a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.

Slug harm is usually reduced by growing Salvia divinorum in pots on a raised deck or palette. Some might still get by and attack your plants. Keep an eye out for these slimy pests. One slug can eat an awful lot of Salvia! Beer can be utilized to attract and drown slugs. Set a saucer of beer inside a slight depression inside ground; the surface on the saucer must be flush with the soil, so slugs can get in, get drunk, and drown.

Spider mites might be controlled by dissolving Castile soap in drinking water and spraying the leaves, including the bottom. Repeat at two-week intervals for three applications. Caution: there have been some reports of soap damaging leaves, so don't use too much.

Your garden hose is your greatest friend in fighting most outdoor pests. Spray the leaves hard adequate to blow the pests away, but not difficult adequate to harm the leaves. don't forget to spray the underside of the leaves too. A fine mist nozzle works very best for this.

Salvia divinorum is usually propagated by cuttings, not by seed. Cuttings might be rooted either in drinking water or directly in soil.