Watering/Fertilizing

[Paradoxic]

If your plant lives indoors you should water it every week or so with a fertilizer solution. Outdoors, you may have to water much more often, depending the climate on where you live. Be sure to water at least once every 7-10 days, but be careful not to over-water. Its actually good to let the soil dry out every once in a while (every month or so), but as soon as plant shows any slight sign of wilting give it a good watering. Ideally the soil should always be moist but not soaking. Never let the roots sit in water, it will encourage root rot. Always empty the water tray after watering. Its important that your pot is elevated above your tray to ensure the water fully drains out, this will significantly reduce the likelihood of root rot.

Fertilizing your plant can enhance growth, but its not necessary. If you do use fertilizer I strongly recommend using organics. I use a solution of 6 tsp (1 fl oz) of Maxicrop Liquidfied Seaweed per gallon of water. Fish emulsion fertilizers work well too, but be aware that they have a strong smell that may attract animals or pests. Alaska Fish Fertilizer (5-1-1) is preferable, just use it as directed on the bottle. Another good way to fertilize your plant is to put a layer of compost on the top of the soil and then give your plant a good watering.

I have had success foilar feeding plants with a ½ strength (6 tsp per gallon) solution of Maxicrop Liquidfied Seaweed. You can also use any other kind of organic nutrient solution just be sure to make it low-strength (no more than ½ strength). Spray your solution on all the leaves every few days.

[GH159c]

i just recieved 3 small rooted plants, i have been misting them but the leaf almost seems to get too wet and soaks up the water and turns a soft dark green, is this too much misting?   any other starter advice would be nice

[Paradoxic]

Sorry about the late reply. I stopped growing Salvia until I can find a better place to grow, so I haven't given the site much attention.

Its unlikely that the leaves are too wet, Salvia D's natural habitat is close to 100% humidity. What is happening sounds like you might be over-watering, make sure to only water it approx. once per week (soil should be damp but not soaking). Nutrient deficiency is another possibility.

Here are a few things you should try:
- Make sure to only water it occasionally, maybe once a week. The soil should be damp, but not soaking
- It probably came in a small pot, so you should re-pot it into something bigger
- Throw together a good soil mix, make sure it has good drainage
- Get some recommended fertilizer

Just look through the General Cultivation articles and follow everything.

[SkaPastora]

Well first of all, dark green is a good thing; sot is not such a good thing. Is the plant drooping? I don’t understand what you mean by soft.

[sunsnail]

This is definitely a guide for indoor growing. I need to water my outside plants every 3 days MINIMUM, or they die.

[Paradoxic]

You're right sunsnail, good point. I have revised that article to make it a bit more clear.

Its great to see you on the forums, welcome. One thing this site needs is more info on outdoor growing cause I dont have any experience with it.

[cechmangoal]

if you use a non-organic fertilizer, will it affect the plant negatively, or will it make consumption of the plant material harmful for you? that's what i've been using, so hopefully neither.

[Paradoxic]

Well its not really bad for the plant, and it wont be harmful to consume the plant material (well nothing has been proven). I mean most of the food we eat is grown with the use of chemical fertilizers. I just think its a good idea because theres a chance it could be bad for you in the long-term plus I think the plant would taste better with organics.

When it comes to a psychoactive that you plan to consume, like Salvia or Cannabis. I think if you're going to grow it yourself you might as well do it the best you can.

[cechmangoal]

Have you always used the Maxicrop Liquidfied Seaweed fertilizer? Does it smell? Would it be bad to switch if i've already used the miraclegro? Thanks

[Paradoxic]

No it doesnt smell at all, its a really nice, light fertilizer (N-P-K is 0.1-0-1.0). And yes, I've used it since I started growing Salvia.

I'd definitely recommend it and it shouldn't be a problem to switch. I think I ordered it from their web site (you have to order by phone):
http://www.maxicrop.com/pages/products_1_seaweed.html

[cechmangoal]

Thanks a lot. I'll have to put in an order the second i get a chance to.

[MstryShovel]

make sure if you are switching ferts, to let the old one take its course between switching, :: what i mean is dont watter ur plant with MG and then the next day say OH hey i got this orgainc lets use that instead! feel me?

Organic vs inorganic:
its been a long argument on this one, my grandparents own a farm in PA, or did before they got too old. anyways one farmers feild would always be organic ect ect and another would always be chemical and it was usualy all about preference, in a buisness standpoint it costs more to grow organicaly because you get slower growth, your feilds will depleat, and you will have more pest problems.
chemicaly they grow faster bigger and stronger, less pests BUT you are also eating the spray that they spray directly on the leaves and fruit which people argue == carcinogens and whatnot... I feel its mostly personal preference, in the sence of fertilizing though i will and do chemicaly fertilise the soil, but when it comes to a spray on fert i would only do organic, why? well cause ill be eating them leaves, and my plants, growing indoors dont have any rain baths to wash all that stuff off

I think, mostly as a guess, that as its taken through the roots a chemical fertilizer would leave the plant in a matter of weeks if you wanted to harvest a "clean leaf" I would immagine withing 3 weeks of harvest you could first flush the fert thats still in the soil and then water with normal filtered/distilled water and the chemicals would be flushed similar to how you might eventualy clear thc from youre system

[Paradoxic]

Good point, you really dont wanna switch suddenly. Yeah the organi/chemical is an argument. Personally I just say when you are planning on ingesting the material why take the risk? I mean I'm not trying to pull any kind of profit from my plant and they grow plenty fast to supply all the leaves I could ever want.

[Jupe]

Organic growers REPLENISH THE SOIL, chemical growers DEPLETE THE SOIL.... 

Plants can't really tell the difference between organic N and inorganic N, either way, soil micro-organsims have to break down N into form plant roots can take up....although many would disagree....the benefit of organics is the added material which boosts the soil....material eventually forms humous, without which is nothing)

Chemicals require additional pesticide use, as plants immunity drops, fields lose organic content, turn to sand...dustbowl. and erosion.....etc etc.

google up "organic versus inorganic fertilizers" for usefull reading, or " Soils Cation Exchange Capacity" which is the ability of soils to hold onto and then release nutrients...

Herb growers get higher value for organic, less headaches, more quality, less pesticides for healthy plants.

[strangeworld]

So where would Nitrosol be placed on the scale?
http://www.nitrosol.com/

Thats the one I bought, not really knowing anything about fertilizer types and just hoping that it would be ok