Well, over the last few days my baby salvia plant has gotten progressively worse for some reason. The leaves are starting to be encompassed entirely in black and they're wilting, even though I keep the plant misted and under a humidity tent during the night. Any ideas on how I might keep my plant alive? I'm afraid all the leaves are going to turn entirely black and die...
overwatering would cause browning. This is black. How cold are these plants getting? If its more of a brown (hard to tell on pic) here is an excerpt from Salvia divinorum growers guide: Browning leaf edges Most people who grow Salvia divinorum will, at one time or another, have a plant with leaf tips and edges that turn brown for no apparent reason. Usually this browning remains limited to the leaf tips and edges but occasionally it can encompass complete leaves and become critical. As far as we know, no one has been able to figure out a definitive cause for this phenomenon. Some growers have postulated that certain S. divinorum diseases are systemic, lying dormant until the plant is under sufficient stress to cause the emergence of the disease. This systemic disease, perhaps a virus, may have developed in S. divinorum due to the extensive cloning it has undergone. S. divinorum's static genotype may have allowed a leaf-browning virus to build itself into the plant - something that might not have developed if the plant's reproduction was occurring through the normal mix of genetically varied material. If this theory is correct, the browning phenomenon may only be preventable by keeping your plants in optimum growing conditions and uncompromised by stress. Indeed, we have noticed that the browning phenomenon almost exclusively attacks plants that are weak or under stress. Such stresses can be many. Certainly, a plant removed from a humidity-controlled environment without proper acclimation may develop brown leaves, but more commonly the entire plant wilts and leaves drop off. The browning phenomenon is usually not accompanied by wilt. We've seen the browning phenomenon most commonly on plants that have spent their entire life inside glass or plastic humidity chambers/tents. In such cases, we suspect the browning may be the result of poor air circulation. A plant grown in a stagnant environment that reaches 32°C (90°F) may develop browning leaves - perhaps because the plant's ability to transpire is reduced. Similar to our own body's tendency to overheat in a hot humid stagnant environment, the plant may overheat for inability to efficiently transpire. Lack of fertilizer, or too much fertilizer may also invite browning leaves. On many plants, browntipped leaves signal that the plant is receiving too much fertilizer. When combined with inadequate water, chemical salts can build up in the soil and this burns the tender edges of the leaves. The usual cure is to cut back on fertilizer and flush the soil thoroughly with water. Brown leaves can also be the result of root rot on an over-watered plant with poor drainage or heavy soil. If root rot is the problem, try re-potting the plant into light well-draining soil and withholding water for awhile. Finally, a root-bound plant might also exhibit signs of browning leaf edges, though more commonly bound roots are indicated by a significant reduction in the plant's growth rate and an overall ragged appearance. Because the cause of the leaf-browning phenomenon is not known, the cure remains an enigma. The old proverb that "the best cure is prevention" is certainly apropos. so light, air circ, ferts, temp, lol.
Heh, yeah... Well, it died while I went home for thanksgiving. There were also some bugs that were eating it from the inside out as well, not sure what they were though... So yeah, I think the pests killed the poor little thing off.
Ah, it's alright. I found a few auctions where I can get a kilo of Salvia for only about $130, which is extremely cheap Also, that's enough to last for nearly a lifetime...
try again they are strange and finicky things I had one going for 3 years then it fell apart, after one year in our new place with poorer lighting and more dryness in the air, I made cutings of the failing plant and some of those are now thriving with no pampering what soever, and these I water once a week. I did not remove the old roots, and some tiny plants are coming up from that area. I think it is worth another try, I know you will like fresh leaves, and after a year you will easily collect one big fallen leaf per day.
Yeah, I'm definitely going to try again one of these days, probably once the weather warms up a bit here so the little guy doesn't freeze in the mail! What's your opinion on humidity tents?
i am in toronto i don't need it can't think of a need I sprayed and pampered the last one at the beginning. it did ok for about 2.5 years - shed about 120 big leaves (some 9-10 inches) these are doing better without any such bother all cut from the same original plant so - I can't figure it out.
Maybe the cuttings you took are predisposed to living in their new environment? I can't say I know why either
