Autumn sage: Diseases and Remedies (2-minute Read)

NOTE: Autumn sage may be referred to as Salvia greggii in this article, in fact, those are the same plants, Salvia greggii is the botanical name for Autumn sage.

Autumn sage blooms from early summer to mid-fall and is a native of North America. In warmer climates, the plant may remain evergreen despite being in the northern half of its range. In the spring and fall, Autumn sage flowers are more vigorous, but in the summer they are less vigorous.

There are flowers on the foliage of 2-inch green oval leaves. The two-lipped flowers are usually red or hot pink, and some offer shades of purple, orange, or white. It grows quickly to a mature size of 2 to 3 feet and is normally planted in the spring.

Why does my Salvia greggii roots have rot?

Root rot on your Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Autumn

Why does my Autumn sage have gray mold spots?

Gray mold spots are a specific fungus that regularly harms flowers and spreads swiftly. If you notice any brown (or gray) spots, this fungus is probably to cause. You risk your plant dying if you ignore these warning indications.

Our Solution

The answer is obvious once you recognize the cause of the problem. Most frequently, it results from the Salvia greggii being overwatered. We strongly advise you to remove the damaged plant parts, cut off the diseased roots and leaves, and then repot your plant in a new container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Autumn sage have leaf spots?

Leaf We provide you with all the information you need to identify and save your plants if they display signs like leaves that suddenly change color or wilt/droop. This sort of sickness is one of the most aggravating for Autumn sage owners.

Why are my Autumn sage leaves turning yellow?

This is probably the most common problem in the gardening world, yellowing leaves. There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients.

Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:

Each deficiency produces a different yellowing on the Salvia greggii in question, here’s how to spot them:

  • Magnesium deficiency starts as yellow patches between leaf veins on older leaves. Veins stay green as yellow moves from the leaf center out. Leaf edges turn yellow last.
  • Yellowing between leaf veins is another sign of iron shortage, but young leaves on plant tops and branch tips are initially affected.
  • Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
  • Insufficient potassium causes the leaf edges to turn brilliant yellow while the interior of the leaf stays green. Older leaves show the symptoms initially, and the leaf edges quickly darken.
  • Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.

Our Solution

You only need to act in accordance with the symptoms listed above. You can address a potassium or nitrogen deficiency by buying a particular soil, and a gardening store consultant will be able to advise you on how to do that. Furthermore, you can also limit how frequently you water your plants.

Is my Autumn sage sunburned?

It is quite easy to find out if your Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) has been burned by the sun. Just like on us, your plant will change color in this case, it will start to turn yellow or white.

Sunburned

The leaves of your Autumn sage can also change color in case it gets too much water or not enough light, as we saw above.

To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.

Why are my Autumn sage leaves turning brown?

A plant’s browning leaves are typically a symptom that it has been sunburned and has been exposed to excessive amounts of direct sunlight. Don’t worry; your plant probably won’t perish as a result, but its growth will be negatively impacted.

Should I leave my Salvia greggii in direct sunlight?

No! If your Salvia greggii (or Autumn sage) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Autumn sage is in such a state!

Our Solution

The remedy, as said in the paragraph above, is simple: just move your plant’s Autumn sage out of direct sunlight. Your plant should swiftly re-grow with this strategy and appropriate watering.

Why are my Salvia greggii leaves drooping or wilting ?

When you become dehydrated, this usually happens. Large plants are more vulnerable since they need more water on a regular basis than smaller plants.

Drooping

Whether your Salvia greggii plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.

Our Solution

If the soil in your plant’s pot is completely dry, you will need to start by moistening it so that the roots will also benefit from the water. A common mistake is to drown the Autumn sage right after a dry period thinking that it needs a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Salvia greggii

Water Occasionally

Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Salvia greggii.

Touching the soil will let you know whether your plant needs water or not; if it still feels damp, it’s generally best to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It is also a good idea to keep your Salvia greggii at a stable temperature (especially if it is kept indoors!). At GreenShack, we generally recommend staying in the 65 and 85 degrees F range. Of course, do not place your Salvia greggii near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.

Keep your Autumn sage Dust-Free

This one is about houseplants. Your indoor plants’ leaves get dusty just like your furniture does. The problem is that this might prevent photosynthesis from beginning, which would result in the plants gradually losing their color.

For your Autumn sage, this would be a true descent into hell, and it would also appease the pests.

To remove the dust, gently rub the plant’s leaves with a microfiber cloth. Dust can be removed more easily with a damp cloth, but stay away from corrosive substances like rubbing alcohol!

Keep drainage in mind

If you have a tendency to overwater, you need to keep an eye on your drainage, we advise you to opt for a pot with drainage holes if it is not already the case and a saucer.

You can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the interim if your pots don’t already have holes in them. This will help to form a channel so that the water doesn’t pool there for too long (preventing the rot of the roots!).