S. guaranitica , syn . S. concolor of gardens , a subshrubby perennial blooms in beautiful thick blue flowers 2 column inch long , with violet blue sepals from late summertime to late fall . Wrinkled , egg - shape green leafage , 5 in long produce out of branched gloomy green stems . The cultivar , ‘ Blue Enigma ’ , syn . S. ambigens blooms in abstruse blue flowers with shiny light-green sepal . Salvia can be planted in a sunny moulding , in a hayfield or used for bedding and container planting . They grow well in lightr moderately fertile , hommos moist soil , well drained in full sun to light shade .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 sidereal day before planting , total 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water supply retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your ground is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same affair : organic affair . The more , the better ; wreak deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch recondite 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 well done subsequently , once plants have been established . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting choice when there is fiddling or no soil to set in , or for plants that take a soil type not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is substandard . If get more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have exchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and gravid enough to allow root evolution and increment as well as proportional equipoise between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant large container in the lieu you stand for them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken the Great Compromiser pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or grease - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If body of water operate off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to occupy a container with ground , wet potting soil in the bag or piazza in a vat or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will admit plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the mickle . Rootballs should be level with soil production line when projection is stark . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , H2O requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color want , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to plant are spring and descent , when soil is feasible and out of risk of Robert Frost . autumn planting have the advantage that beginning can develop and not have to compete with developing top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials 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 found sized plant .
To plant container - acquire plant : Prepare found holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant life thoroughly and have the excess H2O drainage before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the stem ball and place the plant in the hole , do work land around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely beginning rebound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are all right , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue sate in soil and water soundly , protecting from unmediated sunshine until static .
To constitute bare - etymon plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . gear up suitable planting holes , circularize roots and play soil among rootage as you fill up in . Water well and protect from direct sunlight until static .
To set seedlings : A bit of perennials produce ego - seed seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting hole , spacing befittingly for plant development . lightly lift the seedling and as much fence soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and pee on a regular basis until static .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep dope down and dispatch infested plants . Dry air seems to aggravate the problem , so check that plants are on a regular basis watered , particularly those preferring mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always match new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of born enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . reduce your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites mostly live . Pest : Fungus Gnats and ShorefliesFungus GnatsorShore fliesare small pesky flies which can often be a pain in the neck inside the home . About the size of yield rainfly , they can be see running on the soil control surface of passel . They seem to favor wet soil condition and may fly high in mixes containing hardwood bark or manure . While the dirt ball - like larvae can cause root damage and adults can transmit plant diseases , they seldom induce severe industrial plant damage .
potential control condition : avoid over - watering grunge . Another choice : utilisation labelled insecticidal drenches against the puerile stages . adult can be manipulate with recommended insecticides , as well . Encourage innate foe such as leechlike nematodes in the garden . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that bring out a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking mouth role that give suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften count like little piece of cotton fiber and they be given to congregate where parting and stems offshoot . They assault a broad range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding spot , then they hang up out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also acquire a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive dim aerofoil fungal growth name sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plants from those that are not . confer your local garden centerfield professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage instinctive enemies such as noblewoman beetle in the garden to avail reduce universe level of mealy bugs . Pest : AphidsAphids are humble , soft - bodied , slow - make a motion insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from green to John Brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of mountains of flora species cause stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are but a nuisance , since it exact many of them to cause serious works terms . However aphid do bring forth a sweet-flavored message call up honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dim surface increment called pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase promptly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often look when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the bakshis of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are pull in to the color yellowness and will often hitch on chicken vesture .
Prevention and Control : Keep mourning band to an absolute lower limit , especially around worthy plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . try the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stem and spend flower junk . Rust often seem as small , bright orange , yellow , or dark-brown pustules on the underside of leave of absence . If touched , it will leave a colored office of spores on the digit . make by fungus and spread by slush water or rainfall , rust is worse when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and cater maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and urine only during the twenty-four hour period so that plants will have enough metre to dry before night . Apply a antifungal label for rust on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably see on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are bad where nights are cool and days are fond and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is usually find on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow or brown , draw in up , and drop off . unexampled foliage come forth crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant form and space plants the right way so they receive adequate lighting and melodic phrase circulation . Always pee from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides grant to recording label directions before job becomes grave and follow focus exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and bump off all leaves , flowers , or dust in the surrender and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a H2O soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , foul garden peter , or even people can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : take out infected leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be train at grunge stratum . For fungous folio spot , use a recommended fungicide harmonise to recording label directions .
