I have had this for about four years now. It is in a large pot and a sunny position as was suggested when I bought it. It looks fairly healthy and is about 2' tall. However, apart from the first year I have had very few flowers and those are all white. Any suggestions?
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I have had mine for about three years, but mine is in the ground. It has got quite big and I have been lucky to have had flowers. Do you think it has possibly outgrown the pot or have you watered it enough especially as we have had such a good summer.
My favourite plant (well one of them). mine has given a show of flowers from spring and is still flowering, although never a 'profusion, more a frothy display. I gather it up and tie loosely at the bottom which holds a better shape. Also have you tried cutting it back in stages, like the Chelsea Chop, but several throughout the spring and summer to help it keep producing more flowers.
If it's in a pot it will need regular feeding. Try giving it liquid tomaos feed once a week next year. i had one in fertile soil in aborder and it grew to 4' in one season and was covered in flowers. Not hardy enough for my garden though and did not survive winter so watch out for very cold weather being forecast and put some fleece on yours if needs be.
I have a Salvia Hot Lips and mine is in the ground, I've had it for 3 years. I bought it at the Eden Project in Cornwall. I cut it back every Spring then just leave it to do its job. It is still flowering now. If I were you, I would get it out of the pot and plant it in the ground then just sit back and enjoy.
So, should I chop mine down now or in the spring? Bought it off the market and I'm sure she said Autumn.
I have tried both Autumn and spring pruning and found that a good tidy up in the Autum to prevent damage from wind etc, and then a really good haircut in spring seems to work for mine.
I then give it a good haircut after the first flush of flowers have gone over and within 2-4 wks it is back flowering fully with red and white. It looks a little cruel like other things ie geraium, but it comes back strong, less floppy and as I say loads of full colour flowering, but mine also is in the ground but I do feed it well with comfrey feed, which is high in potash, but a foliage feed in the spring.
Thanks Margaret & Verd
Thank you everyone for your advice. I can't put it in the garden as we only have a patio but it is in a very big pot and there are no signs of roots growing through the bottom. I think a trim now and then in about late March followed by tomato fertiliser may help.