HELP save my salvia! [PICS]

[Wax]

So my long awaited salvia plant came in the mail today, broken off at the base

There are a few little leaves left on the rooted part and I have taken off all but the top set of leaves on the broken part and cut the stem about a half inch below the last node (I wanted to keep it as long as possible seeing as it wasn't very tall to begin with). Is cutting this close to the node ok or should I just chop it off above it, losing about an inch of stem?

 

[Ringworm]

need pictures.

If there is a node on the rooted end it'll resprout just don't overwater it.
The top part if there are two nodes you can try rooting it as well.

 

[Wax]

Ya there is a node at the very base of the rooted part with two tiny leaves on each side. There are three nodes on the top end and I have cut it off about a half inch below the last node and stuck it in water flush with the second node.

Pictures coming soon.

 

[Wax]

Here's the proof.

 

[۩]

Clean the dirt off the leaves, cut any leaf matter that is disconnected and dying/dead. Keep under a humidity dome with sufficient cycled light and ventilation. You can use a bit of ash for phosphorus boost to speed up root growth in the soil but since it's already planted may want to wait until next time as to not to stress it any further, hopefully it pulls through!

Just saw the second pic. If the end is rotted I would cut off a bit at 45 degree angle with a razor blade, apply rooting hormone, and place in loose wet soil.

 

[Vodsel]

Just saw the second pic. If the end is rotted I would cut off a bit at 45 degree angle with a razor blade, apply rooting hormone, and place in loose wet soil.

Agreed, it's simply rooting a cutting. I've done that several times with cuttings that looked pretty much like this, and always worked. As ۩ says, prepare a small pot with loose moist soil and some perlite, cut the tip of the stem with a clean razor blade, apply Clonex or similar with a brush, and bury it a couple inches. Water moderately, then fit it inside a plastic bag attached to the pot with a rubber band, or inside a transparent or translucent plastic box. I use one myself as a nursery and never had a problem. Also, as usual, avoid direct sunlight and leave it alone for a few days.

Considering you don't have a node in the end of the stem, you might want to gently peel with the razor a little bit of the outer layer of the stem, in the last inch or two, before applying rooting hormone. That exposes more tissue surface for rooting.

 

[gibran2]

I would agree with most of what has been said – just root the cutting and it should be OK.

But I wouldn’t bother with a humidity dome. I’ve never used one and I’ve never had problems with my plants being “too dry” or whatever a humidity dome is supposed to fix. Excessive humidity will encourage rot and disease and will actually slow growth. No need for it!

Also, I've never used rooting hormone. Salvia roots very easily in plain water.

Often with salvia --- Less is more!

 

[Wax]

Thanks everyone, I live in a pretty humid area (PNW) and have heard the same thing as gibran about humidity tents so I've opted out of that until I see any dramatic wilting or drying but I really feel like it is safe.

So the consensus is to stick it in soil to root rather than water?

 

[BananaForeskin]

I grew these for a couple of years-- never tried rooting them in soil, but water works like a charm.

 

[Ringworm]

Thats awesome. The plant will push out new growth from the rooted end.
Just DO NOT overwater it. It doesn't need anything until it's growing.

The loose end is easily rooted as well. Do not do a humidity tent.
Those two big leaves, cut 1/2 to 3/4 of them off, they'll be fine.
You don't need to remove the stem below the node, but it will rot off eventually, so best to cut off whatever isn't needed to anchor the plant.

I suggest not rooting in water, water grown roots are very fragile and the plant often goes into shock when planted. Best to root in a a very course soil, I always used crushed gravel, but any sandy type soil works well.
On our one sandy lot, i used to have Salvia leaves that fell off root in the sandy! sadly they never formed a plant and eventually died.

but I ramble.....
Rw