While the parent plant’s flowers are normally violet or pink, perennial Blue Marvel Salvias is named after its brilliant blue blossoms. Although this hybrid is a dwarf type, the blossoms are larger than usual for sages. It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it ideal for a wildlife garden. Discover at homegardenartful.com!
Propagation
Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ is grown vegetatively using tip cuttings. Because it is a patented plant, illegal propagation of this cultivar is banned. Licensed propagators can simply root them by following the rules below.
The cuttings should be adhered to the same day they arrive. If this is not possible, store them for no more than one day at 45° F. Dip the cuttings’ basal ends into a 1,000-ppm IBA solution before sticking for the fastest as well as most uniform roots. Insert the cuttings into liner trays containing a well-drained, pre-moistened growth medium or stabilized substrate. During the initial several days of propagation, keep mist frequencies reasonable. Provide enough mist to keep the cuttings turgid throughout the day after they have become acclimated to the propagation environment.
Over-misting will overload the propagation mix, resulting in sluggish roots and other cultural issues. When possible, salvia should be propagated in high humidity with minimum misting. Reduce the mist gradually throughout propagation.
Beginning seven to ten days after adhering to the cuttings, apply 75- to 100-ppm nitrogen. Fertilizer should be applied with each irrigation or at least twice per week to promote root growth and keep the plants healthy. Misting is usually only necessary for the first 12 to 15 days and should be discontinued as soon as the cuttings no longer flag or wilt in the middle of the day. Maintain soil temperatures between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the propagation cycle.
Bottom heating promotes faster root development. Many propagators pinch freshly rooted liners three weeks after adhering to promote branching and liners’ performance following transplantation. Liners take about five to six weeks from the time they are stuck to become completely rooted and ready for shipping or potting.
Production of Blue Marvel Salvias
Salvia ‘Blue Marvel’ can be produced in 1-quart to 2-gallon containers. They thrive in a moist, well-drained growth medium, such as several commercially available bark or peat mixes. Avoid planting the liners too thoroughly; the liners should be planted so that the original soil line of the liner coincides with the surface of the new container’s growing medium. Planting them too deeply will make them establish more slowly and may result in crown rots. Unless the liners have already been pinched, a mild pinch one or two weeks after planting might help stimulate greater branching and fullness.
They are categorized as light to moderate feeders. Water-soluble or controlled-release fertilizers can be used to give nutrients. When utilizing water-soluble fertilizers, growers can administer 100- to 125-ppm nitrogen with each irrigation or 200 ppm as needed. Prior to planting, controlled-release fertilizers are usually added into the growing medium at a rate of 0.9 to 1.1 pounds of elemental nitrogen per yard of growing media. Maintain a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 in the growth mix throughout the production cycle.
Salvia requires normal levels of watering. Frequently moist or wet growing conditions are often the cause of crown and root rots. Also, never allow them to wilt. When irrigation is required, thoroughly water them and then allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings.
‘Blue Marvel’ is inherently compact, therefore height management methods should be unnecessary. If the tone is required during production, one or two spray applications of 2,500-ppm daminozide (B-Nine or Dazide) or a combination of 2,000-ppm daminozide plus 3-ppm uniconazole (Concise or Sumagic) plus 1,000-ppm chlormequat (Cycocel or Citadel) will usually suffice.
Diseases and Insects on Blue Marvel Salvias
In general, salvia may be grown relatively free of insects and illnesses. Aphids, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies may develop on occasion, producing only little crop damage. Caterpillars, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, scale, and slugs are some of the other insects that have been spotted eating them. Crown rots can form when plants are planted excessively or the growing medium is persistently damp. Alternaria, downy mildew, Botrytis, powdery mildew, Pseudomonas, and rust are among other diseases to look out for. Routine crop monitoring can detect insects and pathogens; management measures may not be required unless scouting operations suggest that action is required.
Temperature and Timetable
Salvia ‘Blue Marvel’ can be simply planned and grown to yield flowering plants during the majority of the growing season. They can be cultivated as a typical perennial and planted the year before they are to be sold in late summer or early fall. Once the plants are required for early sales, this method is advantageous. Allow at least 6 weeks for bulking before overwintering them in the fall.
Because Blue Marvel Salvias do not require cold to flower, they can be planted during the same growing season. Growers may utilize fresh or vernalized liners for spring planting. Salvia is a long-day beneficial plant that is often grown under natural day lengths; however, when long days are offered, they will flower faster. When grown under high light intensities, the best quality plants with the most flowers are obtained.
When cultivated in 24-hour typical temperatures between 60 and 65° F, it takes about 10 to 12 weeks for them to flower. ‘Blue Marvel’ can be pruned back four to five weeks later for another full flush of flowers.
Conclusion
Blue Marvel Salvias is a dwarf Meadow Sage that grows to a height of one foot or less but doesn’t skimp on blossom size. The bright and beautiful indigo blossoms are among the largest to appear on any sage, yet the compact plant’s overall size makes it ideal for containers, borders, or coaxing into a ground cover. Pollinators find it very tempting, but deer and rabbits find it repulsive.
