Salvias are usually relatively easy plants to grow, are mainly untroubled by pests and diseases on the whole – and any problems you encounter are most likely to be related to environmental conditions, improper positioning or care.
Salvias typically need a spot in full sun with free-draining soil, but specific care will often depend on whether you are growing an annual, perennial or shrubby variety.
“Salvias are very forgiving and easy to grow plants and, as long as you follow the correct care advice, there should be very few problems,” says Vicki Weston, from Weston’s Salvias.
Below we explain these problems in more detail and outline how you can solve them to keep your salvia plants happy and healthy.
As a gardener, few things are as disheartening as seeing a beloved plant start to struggle. If you’ve noticed your Hot Lips salvia looking less than lively lately, you may be wondering – is my Hot Lips plant dead?
Hot Lips salvias (Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’) are gorgeous flowering perennials prized for their vibrant red and white blooms I’ve grown these beauties in my own garden for years and they always attract admiration,
But Hot Lips aren’t 100% cold hardy. And even in ideal conditions, they can sometimes contract pests, diseases, or environmental stresses that make them underperform or even die back.
So how can you tell if your salvia is just having an off year or if it’s truly dead? And if it is still alive what steps can you take to get your plant back to its former vibrant self?
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Identifying signs of a healthy vs. dying Hot Lips plant
- Common reasons Hot Lips salvias decline or die
- Tips to improve the winter hardiness and vigor
- Steps to revive an ailing salvia
Armed with this information, you can hopefully nurse your plant back to health. Let’s dive in!
Signs Your Hot Lips Salvia is Healthy
When cared for properly, Hot Lips salvia is a real showstopper in the garden. Here are some signs your plant is thriving:
- Abundant red and white blooms from spring to fall
- Green leaves with no yellowing or wilting
- Bushy, upright growth habit
- New growth emerging vigorously from the base
The plant and flowers should also be free of any pests, diseases, or other damage.
If your salvia displays all these characteristics, you can rest easy knowing it’s perfectly content!
Clues that Your Hot Lips is Struggling or Dying
On the other hand, Hot Lips will show signs of distress if growing conditions become less than ideal. Here are some red flags:
Few or No Flowers
Lack of flowers is one of the most obvious indicators of trouble. Salvias bloom best in full sun – insufficient light can limit flowering.
Make sure your plant gets at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. If needed, transplant it to a sunnier spot.
Wilting and Leaf Drop
Wilting or drooping leaves often signal underwatering. Salvias want consistently moist (but not soggy) soil. Ramp up watering and mulch to retain moisture.
If lower leaves yellow or drop, it could indicate overwatering root rot. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Dieback of Stems and Leaves
Freezing damage over winter can make the stems brittle, dry and snap when bent – a sign of dieback.
Pests like spider mites can also suck the life out of tender new growth. Inspect for tiny insects or webs if new leaves keep shriveling.
Lack of New Growth in Spring
Hot Lips often dies back to the ground over winter. By mid to late spring, you should see fresh shoots emerging from the roots. No new growth likely means the plant has died.
Dig it up to check – dead roots will be brown or mushy. Live roots still have white flesh when scraped.
Why Does My Hot Lips Salvia Die?
If your salvia starts declining or dies suddenly, a few key factors are likely to blame:
Extreme Cold
Hot Lips is only semi-hardy, surviving winters in zones 7-10. Prolonged freezing temps in zone 6 or below may kill the aboveground growth. Mulch for insulation if cold hardiness is a concern.
Excess Moisture
These plants thrive in well-draining soil and can’t tolerate wet feet. Soggy soil leads to root rot and invites lethal fungal diseases. Improve drainage if your soil stays muddy.
Underwatering
Letting salvias dry out too often stresses the roots. Drought causes leaf wilt, decline, or death. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil become dry.
Sun Burn
Too much hot sun and heat without respite fries the foliage of these Mediterranean natives. Provide afternoon shade in very hot climates.
Physical Damage
Accidental snapping of the main stems or crushing injury to the plant can be fatal. Protect salvias from impacts.
Pests
Spider mites, thrips, aphids, and whitefly can all infest and weaken salvia. Practice prevention, and treat any infestations ASAP.
With extra care in these problem areas, you can help your Hot Lips plant live a long and vigorous life.
Improving the Vigor and Winter Hardiness
If your salvia barely squeaks through winter or lacks vigor in summer, you can take steps to help it thrive year-round:
-
Plant in spring, allowing time to establish before winter.
-
Select a site with sun but afternoon shade and shelter from wind.
-
Improve drainage by amending soil with compost or sand.
-
Water deeply when the top inch of soil is dry. Avoid wet feet.
-
Add 2-3″ of mulch around the base in fall to insulate roots from cold.
-
Cover with a frost cloth if freezing is expected (below 10°F).
-
Prune lightly in early spring to shape. Avoid fall pruning.
-
Fertilize monthly during growth with a balanced organic feed.
A Hot Lips salvia grown under ideal conditions will be far better equipped to handle winter and flourish through summer!
How to Revive a Hot Lips Salvia
Finding your Hot Lips salvia in poor shape is discouraging. But often the plant can rebound with a little TLC! Here are some tips:
Assess the damage – Determine if it’s still alive. Live roots and flexible stems are hopeful signs. Remove dead and damaged growth.
Diagnose the cause – Rule out issues like cold injury, pests, overwatering, or insufficient sun. Correct any ongoing problems.
Improve the growing conditions – Amend soil, adjust watering, relocate to proper sunlight, or take any other steps needed to optimize its environment.
Prune back hard – If the plant is overgrown or damaged, cut all stems back to just above soil level to stimulate fresh new growth.
Fertilize – Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer to provide nutrients for recovery.
Remove flower buds – For the first season, pinch off any buds so the plant focuses energy on regrowth, not blooming.
Monitor for pests – Weak plants are vulnerable to insects. Treat immediately if any are found.
Be patient – It takes time to rebound! Continue care and wait for new shoots from the roots.
With attentive care and fixes to any issues, even a salvia that looks almost dead can often make a complete turnaround. Don’t give up too soon!
Enjoy Hot Lips’ Gorgeous Flowers
When cultivated properly, few plants can rival the beauty of a Hot Lips salvia in full bloom. The fiery red and white flowers attract admiring looks from people and pollinators alike.
Follow the growing tips above to keep your plant happy and vigorous. At the first signs of trouble, take prompt action to get your salvia back on track.
With a little attentive care, this colorful perennial will flourish for many seasons of sensational summer blooms in your landscape!
Short Flowering Period
You may have heard that salvias have a long blooming period over the summer.
However, if you fail to deadhead the flowers when they have faded by around mid-summer, then the plants will go to seed rather than continue to produce blooms.
Deadheading is a good idea with most salvias to prolong the flowering period for as long as possible…
Poor Flowering
Poor flowering can be caused by a number of issues, but the most common cause is that it has been placed in the wrong spot and is not getting enough sun.
Moving your salvia to a sunnier and more suitable spot should solve this issue.
“Make sure you know the growth type of your salvia and when it flowers,” says Lyndi Garnett, coordinator of the Victorian Salvia Study Group.
“Large and tall salvias flower in autumn and winter, so don’t cut down in winter.”
How to prune shrubby salvias
FAQ
How to revive a hot lips plant?
Prune Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ from late-winter to early spring, ideally before new growth emerges. Remove any dead or damaged stems at their base, taking care to make clean cuts just above a bud or leaf node. Prune back the outer stems by about one-third of their length to encourage branching and denser growth.
Do hot lips come back?
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
Why are the leaves on my hot lips plant turning brown?
Leaf tips turning brown is usually a sign of inconsistent watering, or transplant shock. Transplant shock occurs when the plant was not hardened off correctly and is having trouble adapting to its new conditions.
Are Hot Lips plants dead?
Pests and Diseases: Hot lips plants are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, including spider mites, aphids, and powdery mildew. Keep an eye out for any signs of infestation or disease, and treat your plant accordingly. The first step to determining if your hot lips plant is dead is to check for any signs of life.
Why is my Hot Lips plant dying?
The most common causes of a dying hot lips plant are: Native to the dry, arid regions of Mexico, the Salvia mycrophylla is drought tolerant, and as such does not need a ton of water. In fact, one of the most common causes of death is overwatering. So be sure you learn to check your soil regularly. Stick your finger about 1 inch into the soil.
How do you know if a Hot Lips plant is dead?
If you’re not sure if your hot lips plant is dead or alive, try scratching the stems with your fingernail. If you see green tissue underneath, then your plant is still alive. If the tissue is brown or black, then your plant is dead. If your hot lips plant is still alive, but not thriving, there may be some common issues that need to be addressed.
How do you know if a Hot Lips plant is healthy?
A healthy Hot Lips plant should have vibrant red and white flowers, and aromatic foliage. It should also have strong stems and leaves that are not wilted or yellowing. If your Hot Lips plant is not showing these signs, then it might be suffering from various issues such as overwatering, underwatering, pests, diseases, or poor soil quality.
How to revive a dying Hot Lips plant?
If you’re wondering how to revive a dying Hot Lips plant, don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to help bring it back to life. One of the most common reasons that Hot Lips plants start to die is because they’re not getting enough water or they’re getting too much. Make sure you’re watering your plant regularly, but not too much.
How to grow a Hot Lips plant indoors?
The hot lips plant needs a nutrient rich soil, so be sure to invest in a healthy indoor plant soil if you are going to grow this plant indoors. The soil for a hot lips plant also needs to drain well and regularly. It should not sit in soggy soil.