Do you want a herb garden at home and are thinking of buying or planting a sage plant? Or you already own Sage and want to study the best care tips for an endless sage supply.
What is a Sage Plant?
The sage plant, or Salvia officinalis by its scientific name, is also called garden, common, or culinary sage. Sage is part of the Mint family, Lamiaceae. They are mostly known for their aroma.
According to the University of Wisconsin, the sage plant is a perennial herb with woody stems and simple leaves that are opposite in their arrangement.
Sage plants originate from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, though the specific region depends on the species. Sage is grown indoors for several reasons.
The most obvious is that growing these plants can provide you with seasonings. People also enjoy the fuzzy texture that the leaves give while being presented with a lovely smell.
No matter your reasoning, Salvia officinalis is a great addition to anyone looking for a useful indoor plant.
Sage Plant Care
| Species | Salvia officinalis |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Sage, Culinary sage, Common garden sage, Garden sage |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Growth | Compact, bushy |
| Height | 2.0ft / 0.6m |
| Width | 2.0ft / 0.6m |
| Soil | Well-draining soil mix |
| Watering | 7.0 – 14.0 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Temperature | 60.0 – 80.0°F / 15.6 – 26.7°C |
| Humidity | 40.0 – 60.0% |
| Fertilizer | Every 6 months |
| Propogation | Stem cuttings, division |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to humans |
Table of Contents
Soil
At the very minimum, Sage plants need rich soil that can drain properly. If these plants sit in water for too long, there will be lasting negative effects.
Those more particular about providing the right soil should look for sandy or loamy options.
The pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 to meet the expected acidity levels. Some people find garden beds to be an adequate place to house Sage plants.
Light
The light preferences for a Salvia officinalis will change depending on the season. Warmer times of the year will require more sunlight. You should strive for at least six hours of direct sunlight during the spring and summer months.
This will help the overall look and health of the Sage plant. Surprisingly, the leaves will be tastier if they get adequate light. Put your Lamiaceae into a spot with indirect, bright sunlight for the remainder of the year.
Watering
The nice thing about the Sage plant is that it’s relatively hardy in drought. The average Salvia officinalis must be watered every other week unless there are signs of the plant drying out.
Newer plants require a more frequent schedule, sometimes even twice a week. Overwatering can damage the root system, so be sure to watch out for wilting of the leaves.
Temperature
These plants tend to thrive in rooms with a consistent temperature range between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. Growing Sage plants indoors can help prevent damage caused by frost.
The Sage plant starts seeing signs of stress when a temperature drops below freezing. Surprisingly, younger plants tend to be less hardy when handling colder temperatures.
Humidity
Fortunately, the average household will do when it comes to humidity. This usually is at around 40 percent. An interesting fact about the Sage plant is that it will grow differently based on the overall moisture in the air.
If you live in an area with higher humidity levels, it will grow as an annual. These individuals will likely not be as hardy when exposed to elevated summer temperatures. Places with average to lower humid climates will be a hardy perennial.
Fertilizer
Using a fertilizer can impact the overall taste of your plant. Some say that the taste is minimized with the addition of such solutions. Fertilizer can be a great addition to a Sage plant that has only been planted.
The solution should just be diluted to about a tenth of the strength. NPK fertilization can aid in providing the proper nutrients. Our article on Fertilization 101 is a great resource for those wondering about the process and what plants need.
Sage Propagation
Salvia officinalis can be propagated through two different methods. The first is the more common stem-cutting technique. The plant will start taking root in about six weeks.
Layering is the other way that you can propagate a Sage plant. Some suggest seeing results in about a month or less is easier. Despite the choice of propagation, this process should be performed a week or two after the last frost happens.
Growth
The Sage plant has a wide range of growth that they can reach. This height depends on if all the basic needs have been met. For instance, a lack of proper nutrients will result in a shorter plant.
On average, you can expect your Salvia officinalis to reach anywhere between 12 and 30 inches tall. As for width, they only spread out about 24 to 36 inches in total.
Are you curious about what other small plant you’d like to have in your home? We suggest the Resurrection plant. It’s extremely hardy, just like the Sage plant.
Potting
Even if this plant isn’t notorious for getting all that large, you may still need to report it. Without repotting your Sage plant every year, the roots become too cramped, affecting the overall health of the perennial.
And after a few years, it shifts to take on a more woody feel. At this point, it’s best to replant your Sage plant. This process involves dividing and replanting to allow enough space in the new pot or container.
Sage Plant Watering
This herb is known for being drought-tolerant, making it easier to care for in terms of providing a good watering schedule. Even if you notice that your Sage plant is struggling, a little water will give it more pep. Too much water, however, can be detrimental. We have laid out the best plant to follow with your Lamiaceae member to learn the right balance.
Watering Sage at Home
Watering these types of plants depends on the living conditions of your home. You must amp up your watering routine if you have a drier house. In these circumstances, you should expect to supply the herb with liquid every week. The average household will water their Sage every other week unless the soil is overly dried.
Newer plants also need a more fine-tuned schedule. You’ll want to keep the soil evenly saturated once you add your Sage plant to a pot. It should be moist, but not drenched. Continue watering the new growth twice a week until a developed root system. Once this happens, every other week should be adequate.
How to Avoid Overwatering Sage
Checking the soil is the best way to avoid overwatering your Sage plant. Giving these individuals too much water will flood the roots, leading to rot. To accurately check for oversaturation, dip your finger into the soil itself. Add water if the top inch or two feels dry (2.5-5 cm).
Any less than that, and you should put off implementing more moisture. Remember that a wild Sage plant gets about an inch of water weekly, so indoor plants don’t need much moisture either.
Letting the soil completely dry out before watering can also help your plant from going into shock. The roots must absorb moisture slowly, meaning they can’t sit in water.
Sage Propagation
Creating copies from your Sage plant could mean more herbs to work with and use around the house. There are two methods that you can choose to do this, either through cutting or layering. Since both techniques are widely accepted, we’ve decided to provide the steps for each.
Propagating a Sage Plant from Cuttings
- Choose a healthy individual to clone and make a three-inch incision along the tip of a stem with sharp scissors.
- You can now opt to use a rooting hormone to boost the new cut, applying it to the open side of the stem.
- Place the exposed end of the stem into a pot with freshly laid soil, watering the soil thoroughly once planted.
- Continue watering your new individual twice a week until the roots start to develop, then transfer it to a larger pot.
Propagating Sage Through the Layering Method
- Find a rather long stem and that can be bent.
- Take the lower leaves and gently remove them from the stem.
- Make a small cut across the section of the stem that you want to bury, placing it about two inches underneath the top layer of soil. It should not be far off from the parent plant.
- Saturate the plant with water and closely monitor the rooting system.
- The newly cut stem should start to grow roots within a few weeks. Once this happens, carefully disconnect it from the parent plant and put it in a new pot.
I have Pests on my Sage Plant
Unfortunately, this perennial plant can be exposed to several pests. Those who keep their Lamaiaceae indoors don’t experience as many issues. Regardless, knowing which bugs can infect your aromatic herb and how to combat such pests is still wise.
The most common pests that you might see for an indoor-safe plant are mites, whiteflies, aphids, and spittlebugs. Each of these can be taken care of with an insecticidal soap.
You can even make this at home, though commercial products are the best option. Take special care to only use this spray when the plant is affected.
This will keep your plant’s leaves from burning. A combination of plentiful air circulation and soil that drains properly can limit and reduce the event of pests.
Sage Plant Problems
If you own a plant long enough, you will likely see signs of wear and tear. For this reason, we have listed a few issues that may surface and how you might solve them.
Brown Spots on Leaves
Cause: The formation of brown spots is typically an indicator that your plant does not like the amount of water it receives. This can be too much or insufficient, so experiment to discover the problem.
Remedy: It is safer to assume that your plant is getting too much water so that you don’t add more moisture where it isn’t needed. Let the plant dry out, and then test which watering schedules work best.
Droopy Stems
Cause: This peppy plant generally sports upright leaves. Dry soil can be the root of a drooping stem for the Sage plant.
Remedy: Although drought-resistant, these Lamiaceae members need moisture, especially in warmer months. To fix this problem, saturate the plant enough to satisfy the roots.
Great Sage Companion Plants
Some plants that grow well as companion plants for sage are:
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Nasturtiums
- Parsley
- Tomato
- Beans
- Carrots
- Brassicas
- Strawberries
FAQ
What are the uses of Sage?
This herb can cure issues like appetite loss, stomach and digestive problems, heartburn, bloating, memory loss, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.
Should I let Sage flower?
The honest truth is that letting your Sage plant flower might be a poor decision. The production of these flowers take away from the freshness of the leaves because of the energy spent.
How many types of Sage plants are there?
There are six separate types of sage plants in total. They are differentiated based on their color, size, and slight differences in taste.
The Last Words
Sage is a staple in most kitchens, and what better than to grow it as part of your vegetable or herb garden indoors? You can also grow sage indoors close to a window.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.