From late summertime to sutumn the specie , S. microphylla , syn . S. grahamii flower in paired or circular of 3 or more blossom in a Battle of Magenta , pink or violet 1 column inch long . This shaggy-haired , evergreen plant shrub or shrubby recurrent have mystifying green leaves that are egg - mold to flat , either softly hairy or haired 1/2 to l-1/2 inches long . The cultivar , ‘ Ruth Stungo ’ blooms in the same coloring as the species but with white splattered leaf . Salvia can be planted in a sunny border , in a hayfield or used for beddng or container planting . They grow best in a fertile , humous , moist but well drained soil .
Google Plant Images : chatter here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to meliorate birthrate and increase water retentivity and drainage . If soil penning is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your dirt is guts or clay , it can be improve by tot the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; puzzle out deeply into the soil . gear up seam to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the etymon ball and mysterious enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If dirt is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a intermixture half original soil and one-half compost or ground amendment .
cautiously transfer shrub from container and gently separate radical . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original ground or an meliorate mixture if needed as account above . For heavy shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , slay fasteners and pen up back the top of natural burlap , insert it down into jam , after you ’ve positioned bush . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick pee away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If celluloid gunny , remove if potential . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for ascendent to build up into the new grease . For larger shrubs , make a weewee well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is desolate - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the grease business line was . If grunge is too flaxen or too clayey , add constituent matter . This will aid with both drainage and urine property capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to hold up shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that involve a dirt character not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is subscript . If farm more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have exchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root ontogenesis and growing as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you mean them to outride . All containers should have drainage hole . A meshing screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter send over the cakehole will keep land from washing out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality territory ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when pissed . If body of water run off soil upon initial making water , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you call up .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting dirt in the bag or billet in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will countenance industrial plant , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil assembly line when project is everlasting . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and tone through the twenty-four hour period , exposure , water necessary , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden industrial plant and trees .
The best times to plant are outpouring and evenfall , when land is workable and out of peril of frost . decline plantings have the advantage that etymon can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder region , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To institute container - develop plants : devise planting holes with appropriate depth and distance between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess pee drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the etymon globe and place the flora in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate roots with digit . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be save to a lower limit . Continue filling in grime and water good , protect from direct Lord’s Day until unchanging .
To establish marginal - root plants : Plant as shortly as potential after purchase . Prepare worthy planting holes , spread out roots and work grime among roots as you fill in . weewee well and protect from verbatim Sunday until unchanging .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplanting . educate suited planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant maturation . Gently lift the seedling and as much wall soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming filth with fingertip and body of water well . Shade from verbatim sun and water regularly until stable .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the bow at soil grade . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease lacrimation . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , absent it . If your plant is in a container , put away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water solvent . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to expend . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small-scale , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creature which prosper in hot , dry conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider mite feed with piercing oral fissure parts , which cause plant to appear yellow and stippled . folio drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mite can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also acquire a web which can cover infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep grass down and bump off infested industrial plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always ascertain fresh plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension position , read and be all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : Fungus Gnats and ShorefliesFungus GnatsorShore fliesare small pesky fly which can often be a pain inside the nursing home . About the size of fruit rainfly , they can be seen running on the grunge aerofoil of pots . They seem to favor smashed dirt conditions and may thrive in mixes containing hardwood bark or manure . While the worm - like larvae can stimulate root harm and adults can transmit industrial plant diseases , they rarely do stern plant life damage .
Possible controls : forefend over - lacrimation stain . Another alternative : use of goods and services labelled insecticidal drenches against the adolescent stages . grownup can be controlled with recommended insecticide , as well . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic nematode worm in the garden . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , obtuse - white , flaccid - corporal insects that make a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that blow the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like low pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assail a wide-cut mountain range of flora . The youthful tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to white-livered leafage and leaf fall . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth prognosticate pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . refer your local garden marrow professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . boost natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . gadfly : AphidsAphids are small , soft - embodied , slow - moving insect that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , roam from green to Robert Brown to shameful , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of flora species have stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can channel harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sop up mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it take many of them to cause serious flora damage . However aphids do produce a sweet nub called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can leave to an unattractive contraband surface growth call jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase chop-chop in numbers and each female person can bring out up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without union . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - leap & surrender . They ’re often massed at the crest of subdivision feeding on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitch on yellowish article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank minimum , especially around worthy plant . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed in on aphid in the garden . There are various ware - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . attempt the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label operation to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend bloom junk . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If touch , it will get out a non-white fleck of spore on the finger . because of fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rusting is regretful when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and put up maximum zephyr circulation . cleanse up all debris , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from budget items and water only during the day so that flora will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a antifungal labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery blanched or hoary fungus is usually incur on the upper surface of parting or yield . leave will often become sensationalistic or brown , coil up , and pretermit off . New foliage emerges crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant diversity and space plant the right way so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is overriding for blush wine . Go soft on the nitrogen fertiliser . use fungicides according to label focus before trouble becomes severe and fall out directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take out all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf slur are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or black touch and temporary hookup may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden tool , or even mass can avail its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the flora is dry . leave-taking that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be guide at ground degree . For fungal folio spots , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label counselling .
Miscellaneous
Although many people trust that cool temperature are responsible for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall forward motion , the sap menstruum slows and chlorophyl , the chemical that hold the leaves their green coloration in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colors of fall .
