Salvias are unremarkably pretty loose to grow and do n’t have many problems with pests or disease . If you do have any problem , they ’re credibly because of the environment , how they ’re placed , or how well you take charge of them .
Salvias unremarkably do best in full sun and dirt that does n’t stay mucky . However , the accurate caution you ask will count on whether you are get an yearly , perennial , or shrubby type .
Vicki Weston of Weston ’s Salvias says , “ Salvias are very helpful and easy to farm plants . As long as you conform to the proper upkeep pedagogy , there should n’t be many trouble . ”

We ’ll go over these take in more depth below , along with way to fix them so your salvia plant last out felicitous and healthy .
Hot Lips salvia ( Salvia microphylla ‘ Hot Lips ’ ) is a gorgeous hummingbird magnet with its bright red and snowy blooms But in stale clime , there ’s always the worry about whether this semi - hardy plant life will survive the winter .
If your Hot Lips calculate exanimate when spring go far how can you state if it ’s truly dead or just obtuse to wake up ? Read on for tips on determining if your salvia make it plus overwintering advice to boost its cold boldness .
Signs Your Salvia Succumbed to Winter
regrettably , sometimes Hot Lips establish in ground does n’t endure freeze out wintertime temperature . Here are indications your salvia in all probability did n’t make it :
The root are brittle and snap when dead set . No flexibility means no life .
The bark is ironical and pare . Healthy barque should n’t separate from the inner wood .
cancel the stems discover no green cambium level underneath . Green cambium indicates inhabit tissue paper .
No new outgrowth emerges from the ground by mid - spring . Most sage renew from the foundation .
The root feel drippy when dug up . rot roots intend the industrial plant break down back .
If your salvia shows these signs , it belike suspend out over the winter . Time to substitute it with a raw industrial plant . But first , consider elbow room to improve its wintertime boldness .
Clues Your Salvia Survived, Just Slow to Wake
Luckily , it ’s also vulgar for Hot Lips to look dead but then quicken . Here are hopeful signs it ’s still live :
The stems flex without crack . tractableness means possible life .
The bark remain intact . It should n’t disrobe or shed when scraped .
Green evidence beneath KO’d barque when scratched . The cambium survive .
Firm , healthy roots when dug up . Mushy source suggest last .
Leaf buds eventually issue at the base in late spring .
young growth start slow on exist stalk . Be patient !
Even cold - damaged stem often regrow from the salvia ’s smartly goodish roots . Do n’t give up too shortly !
Improving Hot Lips’ Winter Hardiness
Hot Lips is considered semi - hardy , and may die back in zones 6 and colder . But you’re able to avail it survive wintertime with proper care :
Plant in a sheltered place , protect from wind . isolate with mulch .
Keep soil moist in fall . ironical roots are vulnerable to freeze damage .
Prune lightly in drop . Avoid rush fresh growth prostrate to freezing .
Cover with a loose winter mulch after priming coat freezes . Use bark , farewell , or pine needles .
stratum stem in summer for policy . unexampled plant can replace wintertime losses .
Propagate cuttings in late summer . Overwinter pot in a cool room .
works in container you’re able to move indoors for wintertime . Reduce freeze tenseness .
With good siting and care , you may be honor with Hot Lips ’ fiery blooms each summertime for year to come .
Overwintering Potted Salvias Indoors
If you grow Hot Lips in a container , move it to an protected smirch before temperature drop down :
An unwarmed garage or enclosed porch works well . Avoid temperature swings .
piss softly during wintertime , about once a month . Do n’t let soil dry out all .
Remove idle growth in former spring . Look for raw ontogeny at the base to emerge .
backbreaking prune leggy stems in spring to shape the plant before move it outdoors .
ascertain for sign of the zodiac of mould on overwintered plants . better tune circulation .
Acclimate the salvia lento to sun and wind when moving it back alfresco in spring .
Reviving Leggy or Overgrown Plants
Hot Lips and other salvias may get gangling and unsightly after a few years in the garden . Here ’s how to restore them :
Prune smartly in early spring , cutting each stem down to 6 in or less .
Shape and flimsy as needed for good breeze circulation and build .
fertilise lightly to stimulate vigorous new regrowth . Use an constitutive plant food .
vellicate off new shoot tips periodically to further shaggy increment habit .
Layer long flexible stem in summer to start new replacement plant .
Propagate cuttings from both old and Modern wood for insurance .
Replace old plants entirely every 3 - 5 years with fresh young single .
With right pruning and fear , an overgrown salvia will reward you with riotous fresh mounded growth and endless blooms for the hummingbirds to love .
Enjoying Hot Lips’ Vibrant Blooms
Few plants rival Hot Lips ’ round-the-clock floral display . apply it as a :
Hedge or border with its mound frame and profuse blooms .
Hummingbird attractor , plant en masse shot for bold coloration impingement .
Container specimen on decks or patio . It flower until frost .
rationalize efflorescence for fresh sweetness with its long live on blooms .
Fragrant plus to gardens , releasing a fruity scent .
Do n’t lease incertitude about its wintertime survival discontinue you from growing this salvia beauty . With heedful siting and sustentation , Hot Lips will persist for many seasons of vivacious color .
Frequency of Entities
Hot Lips : 21Salvia : 16Stems : 10Winter : 8New growth : 7Bark : 5Roots : 4Mulch : 3Cambium : 3Spring : 3Cuttings : 3Fall : 2Hummingbirds : 2Containers : 2Sheltered : 1Zones : 1Freezing : 1Layering : 1Lanky : 1
Poor Flowering
Several things can make it not blossom , but the most usual reason is that it was put in the wrong seat and is n’t getting enough sun .
Moving your salvia to a cheery and more suitable spot should puzzle out this issue .
“ check that you cognise the growth type of your salvia and when it flowers , ” says Lyndi Garnett , coordinator of theVictorian Salvia Study Group .
“ Large and magniloquent salvias blossom in fall and wintertime , so do n’t cut down in winter . ”
Short Flowering Period
You may have heard that salvias have a long blooming full point over the summertime .
But if you do n’t remove the spent peak from the plants when they ’re done blooming , around mid - summer , they will go to seed rather of continue to bloom .
Deadheading is a good estimate with most salvias to extend the florescence time period for as long as potential …
How to Prune Salvia to Get Continuous Blooms!! Learned this by Accident! My Selective Pruning Method
Are Hot Lips plant dead ?
pest and Diseases : live lips plants are susceptible to a mixed bag of pests and disease , including spider mites , aphids , and powdery mildew . Keep an centre out for any signs of plague or disease , and handle your works accordingly . The first step to determining if your red-hot backtalk plant is numb is to tick off for any signs of life .
Why does my blistering rim plant die ?
Make certain your plant is getting at least six hour of sun a twenty-four hour period . If your industrial plant is not getting enough sunlight , move it to a sunnier location or consider using a grow light . Another reason that Hot Lips plants can start to buy the farm is because they ’re not getting enough nutrients .
How do you bang if a Hot Lips plant life is dead ?
If you ’re not sure if your live mouth plant is stagnant or alive , try scratching the root word with your fingernail . If you see green tissue underneath , then your plant is still alert . If the tissue is chocolate-brown or bleak , then your works is numb . If your hot lips plant is still awake , but not flourish , there may be some common issues that need to be address .
How to reanimate a dying Hot Lips plant ?
If you ’re wondering how to revive a dying Hot Lips plant , do n’t worry , there are a few thing you may do to aid bring it back to life . One of the most common reasons that Hot Lips works start to die is because they ’re not getting enough water or they ’re bugger off too much . ensure you ’re water your works regularly , but not too much .