White Sage Propagation
Answered by: Ginny
Question from: Peter
Posted on: January 11, 2013

How do you overwinter your plants? This year I would like to try growing from seeds but please tell me the best growing conditions like soil, moisture and temperature if you don’t mind.

White Sage (Salvia apiana)! What a wonderful sacred plant to grow and use! Seeds can be easily sown and started in the Spring, indoors. Sow them in a tray of soil-less media, cover lightly with vermiculite or more of the media. Place the tray in a sunny site. Water gently and keep just damp until germination occurs in about a week to ten days. Allow the seedlings to grow until about an inch (2.5 cm) tall and then carefully prick them out, transplanting them to small pots. Water gently after transplanting. Keep the pots in a sunny place. Monitor for water. White sage does not need a lot of water, but don’t let them dry out to their peril. White Sage is hardy in the zones of 7 to 10. The plants will not tolerate frost. It is nice to grow them in pots outside for the Summer, in a sunny site, and then bring them in the house in the Fall, if you live in an area that gets colder than 10 degrees Celsius ( 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Unless you have grow lights, keep them in a sunny window. Again, keep an eye on watering. As growth slows to a crawl, the plants will require less watering. When Spring arrives, you can take the pots outside, gradually getting them acquainted to the environment. The plants will benefit from an application of a water soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 every week or two. During the Summer, take clippings that the plant may offer you for your smudging. Occasional clipping also encourages bushier growth.

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