@navarro
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Registered: 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Long-Blooming Salvias If tender salvias that bloom for a long time are packed into 4 in. pots and placed on the benches of the greenhouse at the nursery in the spring it's hard to imagine that their handful of tiny bloom spikes moving above neat foliage could be a significant addition to the how to identify a plant. However, these plants improve throughout the year and can be a solution in difficult conditions they can handle clay soils, and even periods of drought, are tolerant of high temperatures and humidity and deer aren't fond of the plants. If you're looking for plants that require little maintenance and long blooms this plant fits the requirements. In addition, pollinators adore these flowers, especially Hummingbirds. Salvia's tubular flowers are designed to be shaped like a hummingbird's as they rub the foreheads of their mates with pollen while they drink. Hummingbirds also enjoy the sugar-rich nectar that does not come from all plants. So let's take a look at the salvias in late-season gardens, no matter if they bloom from the time of summer until frost, or, as in the red pineapple salvia shown above, wait for shorter daylight hours to reveal their stunning flowers. Salvia with a long blooming habit The good news is that Salvias aren't too fussy about their conditions for growth and can thrive in clay-rich as well as in humid and hot weather and even cope with drought conditions. A variety of -- but not all kinds of sages belong to Southwestern United States and Central America which is characterized by harsh growing conditions. Sun is ideal for those who want the most flowers from salvia. Although some species will tolerate some shade but too much shade with soil that's too arid can cause their stems to flop. Although salvias can tolerate clay soil fine, soil that has excessive moisture makes it more difficult for even the most hardy salvias to survive winter. Instead, place them in well-drainedand lean soil and mulch them in autumn to protect it. Although salvias can tolerate some droughts, they flower best when they have a consistent amount of water and may require some regular watering during long periods of dry weather. Deadheading salvia It is not required to killhead salvias, but doing it will cause additional blooms to develop quicker. It is possible to pinch or cut stems back towards the leaf nodes in the majority of kinds, and cut them all the way to the base of the plant in case of Mexican plant sage ( Salvia leucantha) for tidy appearance. Make cuttings in fall If they're sturdy enough for you, you can divide the salvias each 3 to 5 years to keep the plants active. If salvias aren't well-adapted to your climate cut them in the fall by following these easy steps: Take a snip of a flowering stem at the base of the leaf node, so that the cut is around 3 inches. long. Take off the bottom bunch of leaves, then place the stem into rooting hormone and then plant it in a moist mix of potting soil. Make sure the cuttings are kept moist and under direct light for a few weeks until they grow within about two weeks. Then , keep the young plants in a cool, dry spot in a bright, south-facing window or under the lights until spring. Soon, you'll have more salvias to enjoy next year, or to share with friends and family.
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