Re: Salvia pruning ( was Indigo Spires)

"Richard F. Dufresne" wrote:
> 
> At 04:18 PM 9/29/1999 +1200, you wrote:
> >While on the subject of Salvias perhaps someone could give me an answer
> >to my probably very simple-minded query. I really don't grow this genus,
> >but was given a couple of plants of S bethellii and these seem to be
> >surviving as just a single straggly stem. I would like to cut them back
> >this spring before they get growing too busily and wonder how low I can
> >go without killing them. If I could get them to sprout low down I guess
> >it would make  much more substantial and attractive plants.
> >TIA
> >Moira
> 
> Moira:
> 
> When you prune a tropical Salvia, leave some foliar surface (about 1/3 of
> the original) for the first stage of pruning; this will keep the plant
> growing and force axillary growth.  If this results in a plant that is too
> big, cut again after the axillary growth has become established.
> 
> You will definitely set back salvias by `ankling' them (cutting them down to
> their ankles, leaving stubs with several nodes).  They can take up to 6
> weeks to come back (if at all), based on food stored in their roots.  I've
> killed a lot of plants this way, especially during the loading of my stock
> into cold frames and my greenhouse for the winter.
> 
> Salvia involucrata cv.`Bethelii', like S. guaranitica and S. madrensis,
> develops extensive underground roots and should come back.  Check the root
> ball before pruning to make sure you have a robust root system.
> 
> (Robust has just become an overused word these days, as far as I can tell.
> I think it started with Y2K software solutions and military campaigns)
> 
> Richard 
Thanks for all this useful information, which I have added to my file. I
note "Bethelii's" correct name also.

Actually, I took a look at a couple of the plants this morning and found
to my delight that while the main stem on each looked rather tattered
and the worse for wear, the obvously-robust and well-established root
system was throwing up two or three nice sturdy new shoots a few cms
away, so they are eidently intending to stay with me at least another
year.

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, 
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
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