It's fun to watch the pineapple sage grow. Because the plant is extremely robust, smells wonderful and is also easy to care for.
Pineapple Sage (Salvia rutilans) grows to a meter tall in summer and boasts pretty, scarlet flowers that emit an intoxicating fragrance. And all without a great deal of maintenance. If you do everything right when planting the pineapple sage, you won't have much to do in terms of care. We have put together a summary for you of what needs to be observed in general when caring for the plant, which originates from the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. But first of all we would like to introduce you to two more great sage varieties.
Types of sage briefly introduced
In addition to the pineapple sage described here, two other varieties should be mentioned, which can be cultivated in a similar way and may be used as a supplement or for group plantings.
❍ Salvia elegans:
This is honeydew melon sage. Although this variety lags behind the pineapple sage in terms of growth, it also spreads a particularly intense fruity scent.
❍ Salvia dorisiana:
This fruit sage surprises with its pink and purple flowers, which appear in January. This sage variety also has a strong and aromatic fragrance, which in this case is less reminiscent of pineapple and more of fruit candy.
Water the pineapple sage correctly
The pineapple sage loves it moist, but doesn't tolerate wet feet. This gives an idea that some tact will be required to provide the plant with irrigation water in a species-appropriate manner. Regular and well-dosed watering is important. The soil must never dry out. But there should also be no waterlogging. This would quickly cause the roots to rot.
Tip:
You can prevent standing water by loosening the soil outdoors with coarse sand and creating drainage from potsherds in the bucket.
Fertilize pineapple sage correctly
During the growth period, the pineapple sage should be fertilized regularly. It is recommended that one a monthuse organic liquid fertilizer. This is easy to dose and can simply be added to the irrigation water. During the winter months, however, pineapple sage is not fertilized.
Tip:
Potted plants need a lot of nutrients. If the pineapple sage is in a bucket, it can also be fertilized weekly in summer.
Cut Pineapple Sage
Pruning back the pineapple sage in spring stimulates growth and flowering. The pruning should be about a hand's breadth above the ground and not into the old wood.
If it becomes necessary, pruning measures can also be carried out throughout the year, because the plant tolerates pruning quite well. In this way, shoots that appear too long can be shortened or dry and old branches removed. With a little skill, the pineapple sage can also be cut into shape, whereby not only the formation of a pretty crown is the declared goal, but also shapes such as cascades or pyramids are possible.
Planting pineapple sage in tubs
The plants, which originate from Central America, are preferably cultivated in tubs in Germany. There are a few things to keep in mind:
Choice of planter:
You must place the pineapple sage in a sufficiently large planter. The plants grow quite quickly, so a planter with a capacity of around ten liters or more is much more suitable than small and cramped plant pots, which restrict the sage in its growth and have to be renewed regularly.
Selection of substrate:
The plants are not very demanding when it comes to the choice of substrate. It is important that you ensure a permeable soil, because waterlogging quickly leads to root rot. Incorporating drainage into the bottom of the container improves soil permeability. The ideal substrate is clay soil enriched with compost and made more permeable with coarse sand.
Select location:
You should choose a partially shaded location for the container plant. The plant has no objections to morning and evening sun. However, the pineapple sage needs protection from the blazing midday sun.
Maintenance:
Care must not be neglected. In the bucket, the pineapple sage depends on regular watering and sufficient fertilizer during the growth phase. When the temperatures approach freezing point, the container plant moves to a frost-free winter quarters in the stairwell, in an unheated room or in the conservatory.
Pineapple sage outdoors and in containers: the advantages and disadvantages
| Location | Advantages | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pineapple sage outdoors | + easy to care for + good growing conditions + decorative bedding plant | - not hardy - more susceptible to pests |
| Pineapple sage in a bucket | + practical + can be positioned variably + suitable for balcony/terrace | - higher maintenance effort - more prone to waterlogging |
How to avoid care mistakes
The robust pineapple sage is satisfied with different locations and soil conditions and also forgives some care mistakes. But in the wrong location, the plant grows less luxuriantly and also lacks the wonderfully intense scent. On the other hand, if you notice waterlogging too late, it often means the end of the plant. If the roots are attacked and begin to rot, there is no salvation for the plant if you don't react quickly.
What harms pineapple sage the most?
- blazing sunshine at noon
- Too dry soil
- wet feet from waterlogging
- Temperatures below five degrees outdoors or in winter quarters