How to Take Care of Salvia Divinorum
Salvia divinorum, known simply as salvia, is a perennial herb that is actually part of the mint family. Native to Mexico, salvia divinorum plants can grow up to 4 feet tall and boast large green leaves and occasional violet flowers. A hardy, attractive plant, salvia divinorum can be added to a home landscape or container garden. Gardeners who live outside of the herb's ideal growing climate can successfully grow their salvia divinorum indoors as a houseplant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Spray bottle
- Garden fertilizer
- Plant supports
- Gardening string
- Home soil pH test kit (optional)
Instructions
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Keep your salvia divinorum plant at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Farenheit to promote healthy growth. While salvia divinorum is cold-hardy to approximately 40 degrees, your plants may present slow or malformed growth if grown below 60 degrees. Salvia divinorum grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, where the average annual minimum temperature is at least 30 degrees. Gardeners who live outside of these hardiness zones may be required to take care of their salvia plant indoors.
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Mist the leaves of your salvia divinorum plant with water from a spray bottle once a day to maintain a healthy level of humidity around your plant. Another way to expose your salvia divinorum plant to humidity is to move it into the bathroom while you shower.
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Choose a location for your salvia divinorum that offers no more than four hours of direct sunlight per day. Salvia divinorum grows best in partial sun locations.
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Check the soil moisture of your salvia divinorum plant every two to three days and water it as necessary to keep the soil moist, but not wet. Salvia must be grown in soil that allows excess water to drain freely.
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Wait for one month after planting your salvia divinorum plant to begin fertilizing. Fertilize it at least once a month with garden fertilizer. Use only half of the recommended amount of fertilizer on your plant for the first three months. After that, fertilize your salvia divinorum plant according to package directions.
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Provide supports for the stems of your salvia divinorum plant if they grow taller than 3 feet. Insert your supports into the soil and loosely tie your plant stems to the supports using gardening string or strips of old pantyhose. This will help prevent the stems from breaking as they grow. Plant supports are long wooden stakes that can be purchased from your local nursery or garden center. Common yardsticks can also be used as plant supports if you have a few extra on hand.
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Tips & Warnings
Salvia divinorum grows best in soil with a slightly acidic or neutral pH level. If planting your salvia divinorum plant outdoors, it may be beneficial to use a home soil pH test kit to determine the pH of your soil before planting.
If planted in soil with poor drainage, the roots of your salvia divinorum plant may rot rather than grow. For best results, amend poor soil with planting materials like perlite or vermiculite to improve the aeration before planting.
When smoked or eaten, salvia divinorum acts as a powerful hallucinogen.
