small update: I woke up this morning to find several tiny blackflies flying around the sage. They weren’t there before, they just popped up over night.
small update: I woke up this morning to find several tiny blackflies flying around the sage. They weren’t there before, they just popped up over night.
If the plant was outside, this wouldn't happen. Hey ho.
I have found some naughty aphids on the fine shoot ips and flower buds of my indoor, tender hibiscus. It is now in the bath and being showered twice a day to clean the blighters off. Any that hatch in between times get sprayed off the next time. I reckon just a few more heavy showers will do the trick and then it can go back on a light, bright windowsill.
My plant won't survive outside but your sage will if you give it the right compost and some shelter from the worst frosts while it is young.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have found some naughty aphids on the fine shoot ips and flower buds of my indoor, tender hibiscus. It is now in the bath and being showered twice a day to clean the blighters off. Any that hatch in between times get sprayed off the next time. I reckon just a few more heavy showers will do the trick and then it can go back on a light, bright windowsill.
My plant won't survive outside but your sage will if you give it the right compost and some shelter from the worst frosts while it is young.
Why bother asking the question if you refuse to listen to the answers? Maybe you think if you ask enough times, you'll get the answer you're waiting for? Take a cutting from a plant next April and you'll have a perfectly decent sized plant by the end of the season.
The flies sound like fungus gnats (sciarid flies) which breed in damp compost and are an indication that the compost is too damp. Top dress it with a layer of gravel (the sort you buy for aquaria will do and you can get it in smaller amounts than the horticultural sort) and stop watering. The gravel will prevent the flies’ ovipositors from reaching down into the compost to lay eggs. Don’t water any more until the compost is dry one knuckle’s depth below the surface. If you can’t put the sage outside give it as much daylight as you can and keep it cool (but above freezing at least until the compost is a lot drier).
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If you can't afford to change the compost and can't put it outside I suggest you rinse all the foliage as best you can to remove the flies and any eggs then dunk the pot in a bowl or bucket of water till no further air bubbles appear and then let it dain completely, thus ensuring the compost is uniformly moist but that the roots are neither drowning nor sitting in air. Afer that, keep it in a well lit position and do the dunking once every 7 to 14 days thru winter depending on how warm the room is. If you're going home over Xmas and NY, make sure it has agood soak beforehand and then leave it in a well lit place and cross your fingers.
Assuming it survives, think about buying a small bag of fine gravel - pet shop for fish tanks? - to mix with the compost to improve drainage for when it starts into active growth again next spring.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
If you can't afford to change the compost and can't put it outside I suggest you rinse all the foliage as best you can to remove the flies and any eggs then dunk the pot in a bowl or bucket of water till no further air bubbles appear and then let it dain completely, thus ensuring the compost is uniformly moist but that the roots are neither drowning nor sitting in air. Afer that, keep it in a well lit position and do the dunking once every 7 to 14 days thru winter depending on how warm the room is. If you're going home over Xmas and NY, make sure it has agood soak beforehand and then leave it in a well lit place and cross your fingers.
Assuming it survives, think about buying a small bag of fine gravel - pet shop for fish tanks? - to mix with the compost to improve drainage for when it starts into active growth again next spring.
The flies sound like fungus gnats (sciarid flies) which breed in damp compost and are an indication that the compost is too damp. Top dress it with a layer of gravel (the sort you buy for aquaria will do and you can get it in smaller amounts than the horticultural sort) and stop watering. The gravel will prevent the flies’ ovipositors from reaching down into the compost to lay eggs. Don’t water any more until the compost is dry one knuckle’s depth below the surface. If you can’t put the sage outside give it as much daylight as you can and keep it cool (but above freezing at least until the compost is a lot drier).
Thanks for the helpful comments guys, I'll look into the gravel thing when I can and I've swatted alll the nats I could find. I'll also try and soak the compost (though the plant bowl is quite large, so it might be a bit difficult). Anyway, I'll try my best to sort it out - Thanks, and enjoy your chistmas!
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My plant won't survive outside but your sage will if you give it the right compost and some shelter from the worst frosts while it is young.
I don't have any money to get a cold frame or different compost or an outdoor pot unfortunately (Uni student + christmas presents = no money). https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EQ7PCDI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LYVPZUY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - these are the composts i use for the pot.
Maybe you think if you ask enough times, you'll get the answer you're waiting for?
Take a cutting from a plant next April and you'll have a perfectly decent sized plant by the end of the season.
Don’t water any more until the compost is dry one knuckle’s depth below the surface. If you can’t put the sage outside give it as much daylight as you can and keep it cool (but above freezing at least until the compost is a lot drier).
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Assuming it survives, think about buying a small bag of fine gravel - pet shop for fish tanks? - to mix with the compost to improve drainage for when it starts into active growth again next spring.
Thanks for the helpful comments guys, I'll look into the gravel thing when I can and I've swatted alll the nats I could find. I'll also try and soak the compost (though the plant bowl is quite large, so it might be a bit difficult). Anyway, I'll try my best to sort it out - Thanks, and enjoy your chistmas!