Salvias have become more and more popular, and not just with Newlands Nursery (although we are always on the lookout for new varieties!), but with gardeners all over the UK. This isn't surprising; they are perennial plants that are easy to look after and will flower for the whole of the summer. If you combine this with the fact that they grow well in containers as well as borders, you end up with a plant that will thrive in almost any garden. Today's Five Minute Friday is focusing on growing salvia plants in containers from plug plants. This is the most cost-effective way to get your hands on salvia varieties.
What you need to plant a Salvia container
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Your salvia plug plants: There are hundreds of different salvia varieties available – we grow over 50 ourselves! I recommend going for a variety that fits in with your colour scheme.
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Compost: Salvias are tolerant plants. When it comes to compost, look for one that will drain well. If you have concerns about the drainage, you can always add some grit, bark, or vermiculite to the compost, which will aid drainage.
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Pot or container: The container I use in the video is 20cm in diameter. This is ideal for 3 salvia plug plants. Make sure when picking your container that there is drainage at the base, as salvia plants do not like to sit too wet.
Let's get planting salvia!
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Fill your pot with compost: Fill the pot with some compost, almost all the way to the top. Leave just shy of the top by around 1cm – this will help with watering.
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Make 3 holes in the compost: Now make three holes in the compost. We are aiming to make 3 holes in the shape of a triangle, with the centre of the pot being the centre of the triangle. Each hole should be a centimetre or two from the edge of the pot.
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Plant your plug plants: Now to plant the plug plants! Do this by placing the root ball of the plug into the holes in the compost. Don't be tempted to push the plant in too much, rather just place it in. Once you have placed the plant in, tuck in the surrounding compost to make sure that the compost is in contact with the root ball. Repeat the process for the other plug plants.
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Water well: Give the new container a good water. We want the water to sink all the way through. Do this by watering lightly, wait until the water sinks in, and repeat the process until you start to see water coming out of the drainage holes.
Aftercare for salvia containers
These salvia plants are hardy, so you can place them straight outside. Salvias love a sunny spot, so place the container in as much sun as you can. Water the container regularly, especially in warm weather. As your first flowers appear and then slowly die off, make sure you do some deadheading; this will encourage more flowers and a better display.
As with all of our blogs/videos, if you have any questions, please do get in contact.
