Deadheading salvias

7decoeur

We've got a few varieties of salvias in pots that we may or may not* take cuttings from to overwinter (Amistad, Love and Wishes, Blue Angel and Neon). We are never sure when (if) to deadhead and wondered if there were any tips the GW forum could pass on to us!

The main question is do the plants continue to produce calyx on the flowering stems. When we've looked at deadheading it does seem that some calyx have fallen off or are empty further down the stem but new buds are still forming at the top. If this is the case should we just leave them and only trim off bits occasionally?

Amistad - performs well, long lasting flowers

Love and Wishes - no where near as good as Amistad, tattier and the flowers don't always seem to open out but colour is lovely so reluctant to kill off!

Blue Angel - Very slow off the mark - just started to flower now, not many flowers nor long lasting.

Neon - Fantastic little thing bought for £2 from B&Q, even survived the winter in the ground, which none of the above have done - mother plants in borders, cuttings grown in summer pots (near Southampton)

*disclaimer in case some of the above fall under "propagation prohibited"

Thanks!

fidgetbones

Plant breeders rights only apply if you intend selling the plants. You can propagate as much as you want for your own use or to give away  to friends.

I only deadhead when the entire stem has no flowers left on.

debs64

I dead headed a few weeks ago and have new flowers on all my plants. Love salvias and so easy to take cuttings from them! 

Lyn

There’s no need to dead head Amistad, Love and Wishes and Neon, they are sterile.  Cuttings only.   I’ve got similar to Amistad and have got Neon, they root from cuttings very easily. 
Blue Angel may benefit from dead heading but I find with those types of Salvia it doesn’t make any different, every little shoot gets a flower anyway. 

7decoeur

Thanks folks! Always feel a bit guilty deadheading something that seems to have more potential, like pelargoniums stems that go over on the top before the sides and underneath bits have had a chance.

debs64

I just dead headed them because they looked untidy. I try to take off the dead bits of pelargonium flowers to let the other bits get their chance. I know the real purpose of dead heading is to encourage more flowers but I also do it to make the plants look nicer. Nothing worse than dead flowers everywhere.