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is it ok to cut back a Salvia Armistad?

graigrai Posts: 78
edited November 2022 in Plants
Hi Everyone

I bought a Salvia Armistad last spring as a small plant as I had never grown one before

I mistakenly put it in a shallow window box - I only have two balconies in my flat - not realising how big they grew

despite the soil being way too shallow it's been absolutely beautiful and still is
It's three feet high and still flowering

I have taken it out of the window box because I need it for bulbs

I have replanted it in a large more appropriatre pot

Do they die back by themselves? Shall I just leave it and hope the upheaval doesn't cause it to keel over altogether?

It just feels like expecting it to keep three feet of foliage and flowers alive AND cope with repotting might be too much for it and kill it - but so might pruning it
It was a tenner with delivery so I don't want to lose it

On top of the fact that I absolutely love it

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's a bit late in the year but if there are any non-flowering shoots, try taking some cuttings (indoors on a warm windowsill with a clear plastic bag over the pot until they've rooted is probably the best approach to try, assuming you don't have a heated propagator). Here they've survived winters both in the ground and in pots moved to sheltered spots against the house wall, but a balcony might be more exposed and survival over the winter isn't guaranteed. I usually leave the top growth on over winter to give the crown a bit of protection, although the the flowers and leaves die back when it turns cold.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • graigrai Posts: 78
    thanks JennyJ

    I didn't take cutting because I don't have room for any more so I was hoping to make do with this one but I'll try and take some just to be sure (space for pots is a problem for me)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Cuttings would be insurance - you can always give them away if you end up with more than you have room for. You can put several cuttings around the edge of one fairly small pot. If they root, they probably won't grow very much before spring. They might not work this late in the autumn (August/September is usually good) but I'd say it's worth a try.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I think I would trim it back by about 1/3. If you can, put it in a sheltered corner of your balcony. If we have a particularly bad winter Try wrapping the whole plant and pot in fleece, keeping the pot up off the ground on pot feet. It also might be worth creating an umbrella of plastic over the top of your salvia to keep the worst of the rain from the crown. 4 short canes with a piece of heavy-duty plastic tied to the corners, tepee style.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited November 2022
    To be honest if you're growing it on a balcony, therefore next to a building (which always will radiate warmth), I wouldn't worry about hardiness. I've found them very hardy, without need to protect them, the only proviso is that slugs can decimate them in spring; but in pots this is much less likely. I would cut them down to the ground if they're in the way.

    (I'm assuming your flat isn't in a particular cold area of the UK - or in continental Europe - because I'm sure you would have mentioned that in your question)  ;)
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I often cut back plants when moving them. It encourages the roots and they don't have to keep feeding the top growth. Like when you take cuttings you remove the largest leaves, but in the case of a cutting leave the growing tip.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • graigrai Posts: 78
    Joyce Goldenlily said:
    I think I would trim it back by about 1/3. If you can, put it in a sheltered corner of your balcony. If we have a particularly bad winter Try wrapping the whole plant and pot in fleece, keeping the pot up off the ground on pot feet. It also might be worth creating an umbrella of plastic over the top of your salvia to keep the worst of the rain from the crown. 4 short canes with a piece of heavy-duty plastic tied to the corners, tepee style.
    Thanks for this
    I can always bring it on if push comes to shove on bad days but I think it will be ok
    The whole balcony wall is brick so it's pretty sheltered

    I'm going to trim it 1/3 as you suggested as it's been through the wars going from window box to pot and asking it to maintain three feet of growth I just feel is a bit much

    thanks!
  • graigrai Posts: 78
    Loxley said:
    To be honest if you're growing it on a balcony, therefore next to a building (which always will radiate warmth), I wouldn't worry about hardiness. I've found them very hardy, without need to protect them, the only proviso is that slugs can decimate them in spring; but in pots this is much less likely. I would cut them down to the ground if they're in the way.

    (I'm assuming your flat isn't in a particular cold area of the UK - or in continental Europe - because I'm sure you would have mentioned that in your question)  ;)
    yes I'm in London so it's pretty mild and snow never lasts more than a few hours and I think less frost especially with these mild winters
    But I'll bring it in if need be

    thanks for the reply
  • graigrai Posts: 78
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I often cut back plants when moving them. It encourages the roots and they don't have to keep feeding the top growth. Like when you take cuttings you remove the largest leaves, but in the case of a cutting leave the growing tip.
    I instinctively thought that after the replanting felt so brutal but I thought I'm going to check on here in case it was a big no-no with a Salvia Amistad and it turned out to be the one thing you should't do!

    thanks so much for your reply
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