Salvia Study Group of Victoria

Contact Info Lyndi Garnett ( Coordinator) Phone: 61 03 98034534 Address: 844 Highbury Rd Glen Waverley 3150 Email : highcon@hotkey .net.au Editor : Beth Clisby Phone : Email :beth.c@bigpond.com Jillian Barkell Phone : 61 03 97566361 2012 Salvia Spectacular 25/26th February at the Ferny Creekl Horticultural Hall, Ferny Creek see flyer.
New Introductions Salvias are always being discovered in gardens, here in Victoria, Queensland and overseas. Most of the new salvias coming in from overseas, come in via seed. Other new releases are from plants found in peoples' gardens as a chance find, and others are specially grown for nursery releases.
Name Changes Name changes are constantly occurring as more botanists are revising the genus and discovering the correct name for many of the unnamed Salvias
New Indroductions S. arenaria S. amplifrons S. aurita var aurita S. bowleyana S. candelabrum S. canescens var daghestanica S. caymanensis S. clinipodiodes S. cyanescens S. dominica S. fluviatilis S. 'Follett's Folly' s. gilliesii
S. glabrescens S. ' Pink Mink' S. keerlii syn Lassie S. mohavensis S. nana S. nipponica var trisecta S. nutans S. personata S. serpyllifolia S. setulosa S. striata S. summa

Tips and Hints

These are morsels of information that might help you with your problems in the growing Salvias

Possum Problems

Did you know that possums don't like most Salvias. The oils in the leaves are quite different to the oils found in the leaves of native plants, so the possums have to either leap through the tree tops or scamper down the path in order to get from A - B, they won't go along the fence line.

If you have climbing roses or other shrubs being eaten by possums, then plant the tall Salvias among them to deter possums. You may now be left with some leaf growth and possibly some flowers next season.

Failing that, spray Charlie Carp on the effected plants each week until you are sure that the possums have left you shrubs alone. Possums don't like fish smells either.

Water Storage Crystals:

These have been used for some time by members of the Salvia Study Group. We use them when planting at Nobelius with great success.

Put in one teaspoon of crystals to 250ml of water. This can be doubled if there is a lot of planting to do. You will be surprised how much one teaspoon swells to.Keep the crystals very wet during storage.If they dry out, they will hydrate well with added water.

Dig the hole for your plant and it is here where we have two schools of thought.

1: Put gel into the hole, place the plant on top then cover with soil. You will need a small scoop for seedlings and about a larger scoop for shrubs.

2: Place the plant in the hole and put the gel around the roots not under them. The same amount as above.

In both cases the gel will last for about three years and by that time the root system for your plant should be well developed and need no assistance from the gel.

Cat Litter Trays For Soaking Plants:

During the hot days we had in Victoria I purchased from the Reject Shop (cheap) litter trays. I half filled them with water and put the smallest of my pot plants and pots with cuttings into the litter trays. I then placed the litter trays in the shade. As the water evaporated I refilled them. Some plants drank a lot more water than others.

I had seen this done on a much larger scale at Jillian’s property and it was my sister who suggested the litter trays. They worked beautifully and I did not lose one of my small plants or cuttings. I did lose some other plants though, both in the garden and in larger pots. I think we all did.

Seed Germination Tips:

Often some seeds can be difficult to germinate without a little help. But a tip use frequently by someone who raises quite a lot of seed. This person uses Epsom Salts. She puts a teaspoon of Epsom Salts in a spray bottle full of water to dissolve, spraying the

pots immediately after sowing and once or twice before germinating, but not after they have started to appear. The Magnesium in the salts must help the seed to overcome dormancy.

Smokey Water:

Smokey water is often used in the form of diluted Regen 2000 Smoke Master solution from TREEMAX. This is often used by Nurseries and Botanic Gardens to help overcome the dormancy in some very difficult seeds.

Oxalis: Getting rid of.

A great way to eradicate this horrible weed is to use : 1 part sulphate of ammonia to 2 parts sand.

Grubs & Slugs:

If grubs and slugs are ruining your garden, then place a few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden will be free from pests all season. Aparantly the chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent that drive garden pests crazy.