some Salvia growing questions

hi all,

I have a young plant that a friend gave me 10 days ago. as for now, it reacts quite well to the conditions I've put it in, but I don't know whether it will grow up well in a longer term, or how can I enhance its development.
The day I took it, it was a bit thirsty as it hadn't been watered soon. its two main leaves have even started to fade on the edge. I over-watered it that day by pouring a whole cup of water on it. later I started worrying about that, but it seems that luckily I didn't manage to kill its roots after all. the soil was very wet until today, when I found it has dried considerably. I plan to water it today, but with just a tablespoon or two of water.

What I worry about is the humidity. I keep it in my room where it is warm, and the light conditions are good, but the air is a bit dry. I've spread the leaves with a water vaporiser several times, is this method correct?

The other thing is that I still don't see that healthy deep green color and texture of the leaves. They seem too pale green to me, and very thin and kind of dry, not fat and juicy as I've seen them on pics. is this because they're too young, or I need to do something?
Sorry I can't provide pics of my Salvia's condition, but I think you can guess what I'm talking about.

The other thing is, that I have a liquid fertilizer. I know, I know, organic growing is best, but I don't have the appropriate materials and conditions for it yet. shall I fertilize my plant the next time I water it? the contents of the liquid are:
Nitrogen (N) - 5.5 %
Phosphorus (P2O5) - 3.0 %
Potassium (K2O) - 3.5 %
Boron (B) - 0.2 %
Microelements (Zinc, Copper, Iron, etc.)

This is the standard recipe applied to flowering plants, as I was told.

Thank you in advance for your answers,

Peace!

 

Man, I can't help you out, but do me a favor.
When you have your little plant all grown up, smoke a bowl for me.

Good luck on finding out with you need to.

Peace, brother.

 

Man, I appreciate you wishing me luck, even though you can't help me.

I'll smoke a bowl for you, I promise.

But it won't be very soon. The plant needs to take her time before it's ready for use, and besides, once one receives the little pal in their home one somehow gets to know that he needs some time to establish a relationship with her before being allowed to taste her safely.

Peace!

 

Hmm ... Well, truthfully, I don't know much about growing salvia. I know it's a good indoor plant, and doesn't require much light (rather, indirect sunlight). The humidity ought to be fine. Just make sure you are not overwatering your salvia plants; use a pot that has a drain at the bottom, if possible. Oh, don't overfertilize them either (remember, if that happens, just take the top 5 inches of topsoil off and leech it by running warm water over it in a strainer or something).

As for what it should look like ... I don't know what images you are referring to (as there were some images of a plant that wasn't salvia on this board somewhere), but salvia leaves aren't supposed to be fat and juicy. They're relatively thin, and typically a dark, pale-ish green (almost like a boring forest green colour). If you go to sagewisdom.org, you can probably find out more information about growing salvia plants. =) I hope that helps you.

And smoke another bowl for me, too, aye? Happy salvia-ing. =P

 

Thanks for the advice, man, I'm proceeding more or less the way that you recommended.
Except for the mistake I made in the beginning, I don't water my plant until I've found that the soil is dry. As for now, I've found that 2 or 3 tablespoons of water are enough.
I fertilised it only once, and I'm not planning to repeat it for the next month. If my plant doesn't like the fertiliser, I'll do as you told me.
The pics I've seen on the web are of the leaves of the real salvia shot from a very short distance and enlarged. I guess that's why they seemed to me fat and juicy, lol.

I'll have a bowl for all of you!

Peace!

 

Aye, good luck with your new plant! =)

 

I successfully rejuvenated a struggling salvia, but I think I made one mistake by not re-potting it immediately. So ~ I'd suggest that you re-pot it into a much larger pot ( I went from a 6" pot to a 14" tub) using a mix of orchid and mushroom compost mix, with a couple of handfulls of composted cow manure and blood & bone mixed through. This potting mix holds water well, but doesn't waterlog either, and that's great.
Salvia doesn't like direct sunlight at all, and really enjoys a humid environment. I keep mine outside in the shade, and spray the leaves with a very dilute soluble fertiliser called "miracle grow" every day (on hot days morning and night). An african violet fertiliser should be ideal for this. The leaves are now huge and deep deep green, and the stem is thick, bright green, and ridged square. It now has four or five off-shoot branches that are about ready for potting themselves, and the whole plant is good and strong ~ and that's just a few months after saving it.
I've found that the snails took some interest in it, so I (sadly) have to use snail bait. She is amongst her friends Psychotria viridis and caapi, potted similarly. Best to never orphan your plant!! Be her friend and keep her amongst friends!
Inside is not good for salvia, except when it's too cool outside.