Dying Sage

[Plot70]

It usually comes back from old wood but does need to be started again every five or so years as it does have a limit to the number of buds in the rootstock.

[Andraste]

It's a bit of a gamble Mark Rand to be honest. Although I've seen conflicting advice, RHS advocates hard pruning on established plants. As Marb67 's plant is looking pretty much like it's had it, I figure it's worth trying as I'm not confident it's going to rejuvenate itself.

It might also be worth considering whether a couple of the stems might be fit enough to try propagating by layering.

[Marb67]

And again, another newly bought purple sage going downhill. Full sun. Check. "ideal potted on" Check. Well drained soil. Check and still I get mottled and yellowing leaves, mildew, scabby grey, dead leaves at the bottom.

Why do I bother?

[Andraste]

I've no new ideas but would suggest taking some cuttings now while there's still something to propagate from. x

[smallblueplanet]

Are you watering it too much, killing it with kindness? Mildew suggests its too wet.

[Andraste]

I'm not sure if you might already have read it but I'd recommend visiting the 'Peat free newbie' thread. I've just posted there myself about a moisture meter I've been using that's shown pots I would have watered are actually already wet & it seems lots of us are having different troubles with peat free not behaving as we think it should.

[Marb67]

Are you watering it too much, killing it with kindness? Mildew suggests its too wet.

No, if anything it's dry. Mildew is caused by being too dry in my experience.

[Marb67]

I'm not sure if you might already have read it but I'd recommend visiting the 'Peat free newbie' thread. I've just posted there myself about a moisture meter I've been using that's shown pots I would have watered are actually already wet & it seems lots of us are having different troubles with peat free not behaving as we think it should.

It's in Irish peat moss mixed with mole hill soil. Honestly, it's me as Purple Sage has never grown for me and in every circumstance, despite following guidelines, has died.

Last resort is feed with chicken manure pellets.

[Jungle Jane]

Peat moss mixed with soil isn’t well draining,sounds like the opposite,I would repot with some sand mixed into it or use MPC,so the roots don’t stay wet for ages.

[Marb67]

What's mpc Jane? To be fair the pot soil has always been very dry which I can't understand why it is going downhill.

[Jungle Jane]

What's mpc Jane? To be fair the pit soil has always been very dry which I can't understand why it is going downhill.

Its just multi purpose compost

[Marb67]

Its just multi purpose compost

The Irish peat moss is multi purpose (as it says on the bag) , it just has peat moss in it. I tell you, it's me. I am just not allowed to grow certain plants. It is written!

[Marb67]

Same with my lavender. Potted in fresh sandy compost in spring but still sickly. Ditto for newly bought French lavender a couple of weeks ago. Still in the same pot but after crosing the threshold it's going downhill.

[Marb67]

Aaaaand again the green sage has died. Absolutely no reason but just withered and died. Planted in soil in a hot, sunny site with plenty of drainage but no it has to die. Gutted as it was my late mum's. 😞

[Marb67]

The purple sage has also split down the middle for absolutely no reason.