Due to their extended flowering season, salvias are a common plant in gardens. There is great variation in the genus Salvia’s bloom, colour, scent, and plant habits. This genus features low-maintenance, laid-back plants that are ideal for any garden, including herbs, shrubs, and subshrub.
After planting the salvias, it is your responsibility to ensure their success. This post will outline frequent issues with salvia plants and provide solutions so that both your salvia and other plants thrive.
Common Issues
Yellow Leaves
If the leaves receive too much or too little water, they could turn yellow. Which method of identifying the perpetrator is the best? When a plant receives too much water, the lower leaves turn yellow and the new growth becomes floppy or even falls off.
Give you’re ground-based plants a vacation from watering if you think you may have overdone so. If the salvia still seems very wet, you might need to supplement the soil with some organic matter, like compost, to allow the roots to get some oxygen.
Wilted Leaves
The withering of the leaves is one typical result of heat stress on plants. Overwatering plants might also cause them to wilt. It is tempting to give your plants more water if heat seems to be the main culprit.
Even on the hottest days, daily irrigation, ideally in the morning, generally provides enough water. Certain plants may not even require regular watering; modify your watering schedule to your climate and observations.
Wilted leaves can also result from dry plants; however, salvia does not typically react as strongly as some other plants do. During the summer months, the soil may wilt if it is too dry. This indicates that you ought to water your plants more frequently.
Floppy Plants or Stems
The main factors that lead to salvia plants dying are overwetting or inadequate sunshine. The plant may become waterlogged as a result of the persistent rain. Soggy plants suggest that the roots are not getting enough oxygen because of compaction.
Dropping leaves and stems can also be a result of the water’s weight. If this occurs, give your plants a break from watering to get them back on track. If more support is required, stake or cage your plants.
Stems Turning Brown
If you overwater plants, the stems and leaves start to turn brown. Plants that are overwatered due to excessive precipitation or irregular irrigation schedules may experience browning and rotting stems.
With dryness, leaves and stems may become brittle and light brown. The plants will start to wilt before any discoloration appears which an indication of a severe drought is typically. After clearing away any crispy leaves, return to your regular watering routine.
White Powdery Leaves
Herbaceous perennials frequently suffer from powdery mildew, particularly during the wetter months or in extremely humid environments. Powdery mildew develops on plant leaves when they remain excessively damp over extended periods of time without having an opportunity to dry off.
Leaves may also turn white and powdery due to a closely related fungal disease known as downy mildew. Caused by identical circumstances, downy mildew gets its name from its tendency to grow on the undersides of leaves. The procedures for getting rid of powdery mildew and downy mildew are similar.
It’s critical to treat downy or powdery mildew as soon as possible. Not only may this fungal disease harm your plants, but it can also spread to neighbouring plants. If at all possible, let your plant’s leaves dry out, and when you water, make sure to moisten the roots.
Brown Leaf Tips
Tops of leaves Changing colour to brown typically indicate erratic watering or transplant shock. When plants are struggling to adapt to their new surroundings after not being sufficiently hardened off, it is referred to as transplant shock.
If adequately irrigated to aid in the establishment, the majority of plants will eventually recover from this transplant shock. Provided you keep up a regular watering routine, it ought to adjust quickly. Browning of leaf tips can also occur due to sunburn. A plant’s leaves may burn if it isn’t used to full sun or has become accustomed to a sheltered spot. This is what gives the leaves their crispy, brown appearance.
Plants Become Leggy
There are several causes for lanky salvia leaves and stems. An irregular watering schedule might cause plants to grow lanky. Salvia is a drought-tolerant plant, but that doesn’t imply you should deliberately stop watering it for extended periods.
Full sun is ideal for salvia growth. Planting in a partially shaded spot will cause the stems and leaves to droop as they strive for more light. Your gaunt plants should be moved to a sunnier spot. The new growth won’t look as lanky or stretched out; it can take them a few weeks to become used to the new spot.
Not Flowering
Salvia often begins to bloom in late spring and continues to do so throughout the autumn. When a plant doesn’t produce flowers, it usually means it isn’t receiving enough sunlight. Make sure your plants get six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. This is how much sun they need to constantly blossom.
When plants reach maturity, they blossom. This means that your plant might not be ready to flower if it is still rather young. Most varieties flower in their first year; if you recently moved a young plant you purchased, it can take longer to flower.
Grey or White Mould
It’s common knowledge that mould develops best in moist settings, and plants are no different. Fuzzy grey mould can grow in humid environments, especially in plants that are overwatered and receive inadequate air circulation. It is typically visible on the plant’s lower stems, though older leaves may not always show it.
It is imperative to remove the affected areas of the plant to prevent the mould from spreading further. Don’t water the plant for many days after the injured tissue has been removed. If at all possible, let the leaves and dirt dry. An often-occurring fungus, Botrytis, is the culprit behind grey mould. To address this, you might need to apply a fungal spray.
Pests
Salvia leaves and stems may contain a few insects periodically; however, they are not easily harmed by them.
Caterpillars
Rumour has it that in late summer, a few caterpillars pull the leaves off of salvia plants. If you let them, they will begin devouring new growth right down to the stems.
Hand removal is an easy way to safely remove most caterpillars without harming your plants. If you would rather use a spray to increase protection, there are over-the-counter medications and sprays available.
Garden Aphids
These are annoying little insects that can occasionally be difficult to recognize. Their common perception is that they are small, spherical, green insects, yet some can be considerably larger and white depending on their life stage.
They attack the undersides of the leaves as they eat the foliage. After removing the plant’s badly infected sections, it is crucial to treat the affected areas appropriately.
If you find these annoying insects early on, you can use your garden hose to spray them. But in more advanced phases, you might have to use a pesticide to completely eradicate them.
Also Read: Types of Stink Bugs
Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles are rarely seen, especially between June and mid-summer, although they haven’t been seen eating salvia. They’ll consume the leaves, turning the plant ugly. Eliminating the bugs is crucial; if they continue, a spray may be required.
Solving Common Issues with Salvias
Salvias have a high fruit and flower output because they draw a lot of helpful pollinators. If there is sufficient drainage, they can be planted directly in the ground or pots or other containers.
But salvias also have problems with poor flowering, lanky plants, limited flowering periods, brown stems, floppy plants, pests, and root rot. If you give the salvia plants in your yard enough care, you can keep them happy and healthy.
Conclusion
Salvia plants are fairly resistant when it comes to pests, irrigation problems, and even climate adaptation. Because they require minimal maintenance and are easy to grow, they are a favourite plant all around the world.
On the other hand, if you have difficulties while cultivating salvia, it’s critical to recognize the issue, resolve it, and take action to stop future issues.