Salvia Hot Lips

Hi everyone

I bought a Hot Lips plant earlier this year and I've put it in the greenhouse to try and overwinter it. Does anybody know if it should be cut back and, if so, when do I need to do it and by how much.

Many thanks.

Katie

 

Katie I would cut it back to an inch or so above the compost so the plant can go dormant. I have done this to Salvia Blue Angel) It is frost tender but should be ok in a cold greenhouse although that depends on just how cold the winter is.
Pete is the Salvia expert and may offer more advice.

 

Peter S, is the salvia expert.

I only know of Kalanchoe "Hot lips", but we wont go there.:D

 

I meant Peter, Pete not Pete as Peter is the expert, not you Pete, is that clear?:D

 

Thanks Strongylodon. When would you advise is the best time to cut it back?

 

Now, so it can rest. I keep mine in pots and dryish, not completely dry, watered once or twice a month till march or until new growth starts.

 

Hi Katie I don't think you need to cut it back much. By chance I cut my back my 'Hot Lips' this afternoon - but only by a small amount, just to make it look tidy. Some Salvias like the S patens 'Blue Angel', that Strongylodon mentioned, are tuberous. You can cut these right back, as next year they will sprout again from the base in the same way that a Dahlia does.

But 'Hot Lips' is a S microphylla, and these are small woody bushes. They don't die right back to the base in winter, but it can grow again from the base if it is damaged by frost. Its always worth cutting them back a bit to manage the shape.

I bought a 'Hot Lips' earlier this year - as it was going for 99p! Mine is still small and I don't know much about it yet. But I have another five year old S. microphylla, which is now about three foot hight and four feet wide. Its a brilliant plant because it flowers for nearly six months of the year. Mine is supposed to be reasonably hardy - down to about -8C, but I have always given it some protection just in case. 'Hot Lips' was a chance seedling found in a garden in America, so its parentage is somewhat unknown and it will be a bit different from other microphyllas. I suspect it is slightly less hardy -4C or -6C, so it is worth protecting. Also I think it won't grow as big - but like any bush it will keep growing.

Nearly all Salvias have a high tolerance to dry conditions as Strongy said, and like really well drained soil. So if it is in 100% compost at the moment, I would suggest that when you repot it (no hurry) put it into a mixture of compost and 30% to 50% sharp sand.

 

Thanks for putting me and hopefully Katie straight Peter, I only have experience of Blue Ribbon and Blue Angel apart from the bedders. I knew you had a collection so could give correct advice.

 

Thanks Strongy - there are so many different Salvias (900 species) that it is difficult to keep up with them all. As illustrated by the fact that your mention of 'Blue Ribbon' got me Googling. And I came up with two totally different Salvias with the same name. http://www.salviaspecialist.com/itm00024.htm and http://www.simplybeautifulgardens.com/plant_info.aspx?phid=054900001000711 , which really is most confusing.

I presume your one is the Salvia splendens. I took some Salvia splendens cuttings nine weeks ago, in my light box, and they are now decent little plants and flowering their heads off - at totally the wrong time of the year!

 

Thanks very much everyone for your advice, it is very much appreciated.:thmb: