A tale of two Salvias...

Noobs here, 2nd year learners

The wife fancied Salvias while at the garden centre so we got two plants. Both are in the same planter (its big) but one seems to be healthier than the other, I think?

Both have grown very well, only been in 4 weeks and doubled in size plus loads of buds with some flowers coming on each now.

Pictures below, one has nice green leaves and the other has paler green with a whitish hue to them, plus curled edges??



Any ideas here, any help appreciated.

 

@David Kearley Do you happen to know what name on the label was as there are many different salvias available.
The one with the curled leaves looks as if it could have mildew.
If you could get larger photographs of leaves and any open flowers would help.

 

They are "Nemerosa Salute, Light Pink"

I can get a better pic in the morning, thanks

 

Hmm, just found this on the 'net..

"Its fragrant narrow leaves remain grayish green in colour throughout the season"

The leaves are indeed greyish in colour so maybe its normal? The other plant has much darker green leaves so possibly a different flavour?

I never knew plant were so complex, mum always made it look so easy

 

Are they Salvias?
Look more like Delphiniums.

 

Having had a quick look I can't find much info on these, wondering if they're a recent introduction. Interesting leaves, almost geranium-like, have never seen a nemorosa cultivar with similar ones! Not a fan of the species myself, only one that is reliably decent for me is 'Caradonna'.

Nick

 

They are not salvia but delphiniums

 

So I'm guessing Nigel was correct and that's indeed powdery mildew, then...

Nick

 

Thanks all, this is very odd as the only tag I have that does not match another plant is a salvia

I guess the pots could have been tagged wrongly maybe. So, its a delphinium then at least I know now.

I'll try and get a better picture of flower/leaves today if it stops raining :(

More info:-
The soil is seemingly moisture retentive, its in a big planter...



When i built it I ordered what was supposed to be good soil but was very high in compost, it was steaming when delivered. There is a 4" layer of gravel under it and about 16" of soil. Due to the house orientation only half the planter gets sun all day, the house side only gets it early/late.

This is a new hobby to me, a retirement project, one of many and our garden has no natural soil area at all, there is a strip but it is 100% rootbound by a line of trees along the other side of our fence so we covered it with weed net and gravel and put pots on top, the soil there was like concrete.

 

A couple of better pics, hopefully

 

Diluted milk has some effect when sprayed on powdery mildew.
Or failing that try to get a fungicide that says it works on powdery mildew, although I don't think there is much to choose from these days.
In my opinion it is often to do with the plant being a bit on the dry side, but having said that be careful not to over water.
If they have only been planted 4 weeks the roots are probably still mostly in the original root ball and one might have suffered a bit more than the other.
Once a rootball dries out it can be difficult to rewet.

 

Just enlarged the pictures I think that the leaves look wrong for a salvia .

 

Sorry I couldn't post when id added my thoughts to your post . My charge was low so its sent it now as I've logged in . Ignore it if I'm too late.

 

No problem, we have established they are delphiniums but i don't think i change the thread title

 

@david Kearly, No doubt about it in the last couple of pictures - they are definitely Delphiniums & have powdery mildew!