Salvia Divinorum Growing Guide

First Things First

In this Salvia Divinorum growing guide, the first thing that needs to be done is to procure one in order to grow a sustainable source. One needs to understand that this type of plant rarely produces viable seeds. Therefore the most expensive aspect when it comes to growing this plant is actually getting one because they are sold either as a cutting or as a whole plant. The Salvia Divinorum originated from Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico but nowadays it can be sold at local plant nurseries and even on the internet.

Handling The Cutting

Provided that one got a cutting from the plant which came in as a package, the packaging has to be removed very carefully to avoid any damage. Once it is completely removed, the cutting might be either of two conditions: with or without roots. If one has the former, the cutting is to be left in water approximately for two hours. However should one receive the latter, it is crucial to identify first what is the top and what is the bottom part of the cutting. It is highly recommended that each cutting must have their own rooting chamber or vase.

Observe for any side shoots or leaves as they usually sprout upwards. The plant should be left in water for a week or until there is evidence already of root growth. However, it could also be possible that the cutting might be taken from the mid section of the plant without any growing tips that can help with the top and bottom orientation.

Planting In Soil

After the cutting has rooted in water, it is now ready to be planted in a soil pot. Choose a pot that has the length to allow complete soil coverage on all the cutting’s roots. It is also a good idea to have a soil pot that has a width ranging between 20 – 30 centimeters in order to minimize the frequency of transferring the plant to a bigger pot reducing plant stress and damage. When it comes to the drainage holes, it is better to have several holes encircling the borders of the pot base to encourage better drainage in comparison to a single, center hole.
With regards to the type of material of the pot to be used, plastic pots are the preferred choice because it discourages side evaporation that can quickly dry the soil after watering. Soil in plastic pots has a slower rate of drying because it enforces water to vaporize off the soil and not on the sides. The only thing to be careful about is over watering since this can induce root rot compared to other types of pot.

Duplicate Ideal Soil Condition

Salvia Divinorum thrives in tropical environments by which the soil’s composition has a lot of organic material. When natural decomposition occurs, the organic substances produce a mildly acidic pH and supply fresh air to the soil making growth conditions highly favorable to the plant. In order to duplicate such conditions, the soil mixture in pots must imitate tropical soil. Here is an example that can be used:

• a part of aged grass
• a part of compost
• coarse sand
• one half part steer manure
• rich soil

Humidity is the Key to Proper Maintenance

Once the plant is in the pot with the right soil mixture, the next step would be to promote healthy growth by exposing the plant in a humid environment. Next, ensure that the Salvia Divinorum is exposed only to indirect sunlight.

Put in mind that inital plant growth would be very slow and this can take up to two weeks before any signs of growth present itself.

In the meantime, closely observe any signs of color change in the leaves and the edges especially when it starts to turn brown. This would simply mean that it needs a bit more of humidity and there if the environment is not a very humid one, misting the leaves can be a good idea or constructing a humidity tent. If this does not resolve the discoloration, the leaves must be cut off to enable new growth.

If the leaves instead turn yellow, it could mean that the plant needs a little bit more of indirect sunlight. This could be due to other leaves blocking other leaves thus depriving them of light.