The hummingbird sage I thought was dying actually needed less water

I picked up a Salvia spathacea at a plant swap last spring and spent two months drowning it because the leaves kept drooping. A neighbor who grows native plants told me to stop watering it for a full week and it bounced back completely with bright red flowers. Has anyone else overwatered a plant that seemed to be begging for more?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.sarah25d ago

My neighbor did the same thing with her salvia and I couldn't believe it when she just ignored it for a week and it came back happier than ever lol. Plants are such drama queens.

the_linda24d ago

Oh yeah, I've done that myself more times than I care to admit. Salvia is one of those plants that actually does better when you neglect it a little, mine bounced back after I forgot to water it for two weeks during a heatwave. Just make sure you're not letting it sit in wet soil when you do water, that's usually what kills them not the dry spells. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger about an inch into the dirt if it's dry then water, if not leave it alone.

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