Decorative sage

Mealycup sage does not tolerate frost: in the bed, treat it like an annual and sow anew in spring or buy young plants. If you want to keep it for several years, bring the tub to a bright, cool place (approx. 15 to 18 °C) before the first frost, water only moderately and put it back outdoors only after the Ice Saints in mid-May.

Sowing (main method): Sow Salvia farinacea indoors or in a greenhouse from early to mid-March. The seeds need light to germinate: press them on lightly and do not cover them with soil. At about 18 to 22 °C the seed germinates after roughly 10 to 20 days. Keep the seed compost evenly moist; because it is a light germinator, it is better to mist the surface than to water from above, or to water from below. A transparent cover keeps the humidity high until germination. Once the seedlings are strong enough (after about four weeks), prick them out into small pots. From the end of April, gradually acclimatise the young plants to the outdoors (hardening off). Plant out only after the last frost, so after mid-May; note the Ice Saints (mid-May · week 20).

Cuttings (for keeping a variety / overwintering): In spring or summer, cut off non-flowering shoot tips 8 to 12 cm long. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cutting into moist, free-draining substrate (e.g. seed compost or a sand-and-soil mix). Place it bright but not in full sun, and warm (around 20 °C). Roots usually form within 2 to 4 weeks. Cuttings you want to bring through the winter you keep indoors until after the last frosts in a bright place at least 15 °C warm; outdoors, Salvia farinacea is not hardy here in Central Europe.

Note: Division is not worthwhile here: in Central Europe the plant is kept as a non-hardy summer flower and does not form a rootstock that divides well.