All About Home and Garden

Salvia or Scarlet Sage is one of the most recognizable flowers in the world, due to the fact that it has a sizable number of species, believed to number around 900 consisting of shrubs, perennials and annuals. The plant reportedly originated from Africa and the Mediterranean while some specific species were first located in the Americas, specifically Argentina and Mexico. They carry numerous characteristics that are common to rhizomes and tuberous plants but different species come with different colors, shapes and size, meaning while some species come with small leaves, others come with big ones that may look hairy or even leathery.

While some species of salvia are unscented, others come with a strong pleasant scent, which makes it easy to attract organisms such as birds and bees for pollination. One of the reasons salvia can be found in many gardens all over the world is the fact that the huge number of species available makes it easy for an interested gardener to find a couple of them that will thrive in a particular climate or soil type. The best type of soil for this flower is well drained soils with direct access to sunlight or light shade in extremely hot climates. If the soil in your location retains water then it may be a good idea to mix the soil with peat moss to enhance its drainage abilities. Alternatively, you can decide to plant the flowers in large containers stuffed with well drained soils that retain some level of moisture.

The main method of propagation for the salvia plant is through its seeds and this is normally done in the beginning of the year from January to March, and it is important that you assess the size of your yard in order to plant an optimum number of seeds to ensure proper aeration when they germinate. Sowing your salvia seeds can be an exciting time for any gardener due to the fact that it gives you the chance to start dreaming about the future of your plants. However, you should not forget to add some organic compost to the soil and level it after sowing to enhance the probability that your seeds will germinate successfully. Salvia seeds are quite big unlike other flowers meaning you can easily carry them one by one without any sort of difficulties.

Watering is another important activity that should be conducted after sowing your seeds. It is important that you do not soak the soil with excess water and if possible use a mist sprayer while making sure that you leave some distance between where you are standing and the place the seeds have been sown.

The next thing to do to cover your planted seeds with a clear bag until the seeds begins to germinate after a couple of days. When the young plants start springing up then you will have to remove the covered bags to give the plants ample access to the sun. If you have to transplant seedlings for any reason then you will have to be cautious about how you handle the stems as they could easily get broken and destroyed permanently.

When salvia is sown in fertile soils and all the necessary conditions are observed then their flowers will begin to bloom from June until the first frost occurs. Salvia plants can grow as tall as 9 inches and as a result can be used for creating borders as well as grown in patios and tubs for aesthetic purposes in the home.

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