Re: salvia flowers
- Subject: Re: salvia flowers
- From: n* &* l* <c*@earthlink.net>
- Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 19:42:07 -0700
I have seen this, in my urban southern california garden, when there is a
lot of smog. Is that a possibility for you?
Laura-in LA.
on 8/29/04 6:08 PM, Richard Dufresne at salvia1@earthlink.net wrote:
> At 03:50 PM 8/29/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>> I have several salvias: indigo spires, waverly and others whose names I
>> don't know. All have a long flower spike made up of many buds (I guess
>> that's a salvia characteristic?). Only a few of the buds open and the rest
>> tend to dry and eventually fall off. Sometimes this is due to larvae damage
>> and I spray with BT to take care of that, though not regularly. Could there
>> be another reason, such as weather conditions, amount of sun, etc., that
>> all the buds don't open or is this to be expected?
>>
>> Barbara - in Berkeley
>
> Barbara:
>
> What you describe for Salvia flowers is unusual, especially for `Indigo
> Spires'. If it is a larval attack, look at the base of the flower for
> holes. Weevil larvae often eat their way into ripening Salvia seeds,
> especially old world species. Use of contol insects may be under
> investigation for elimination of S. aethiopis, and possibly S. sclarea.
> Both are considered noxious weeds, especially aethiopis. Look for holes in
> seeds that are light in weight.
>
> I suspect that low temperatures and dampness can cause abortion of immature
> flowers. I am seeing this right now on S. patens `Guanajuato', but it is
> potbound and a new plant. This loss might also indicate a problem with the
> root system, or a sustained sudden change in the weather.
>
> Smetimes this happens with the first flowers, then disappears with later
> spikes IU see this behavior most often in the wintertime in my greenhouse,
> especially going into cold, dark, and damp spells.
>
>
> Richard F. Dufresne
> 1216 Okeeweemee-Star Road
> Star, North Carolina 27356 USA
> 910-428-4704
> World of Salvias: http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/index.htm
> Salvia email list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Salvia
> No attachments over 1 meg, please
>
