What is the problem with my red salvias?

Are the leaves of your red salvia discolored and deformed (fine webbing may be present as well)?

Are the flowers and leaves of your red salvia yellow and curled?

Are the leaves of the red salvia yellow and does the plant look weak or stunted?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Are the flower clusters of your red salvia covered with gray mold?

Does the foliage of your red salvia hang limp and has it turned yellow?

Spider mites sometimes cause problems for red salvias. Hose off the plant when symptoms first appear. A strong stream knocks mites off plants and may give control. Introduce predatory mites. For severe infestations, spray your red salvia plant with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

Distorted and curled leaves in red salvias are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Yellow leaves and a stunted look in red salvias are caused by whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Large, ragged holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

Gray mold on flowers in red salvia is probably caused by fungal disease - Botrytis blight. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting flowers in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

Limp, yellow foliage is the most commonly associated with a lack of moisture. If your red salvias are not mulched and are in poor garden soil, run the sprinkler or soaker hose system every week or so if there is no rain at that time. Mulch plants to prevent moisture in the soil from evaporating so quickly.

Nutritional deficiency is often a cause for a sickly look in red salvias (sages). Even though they are light feeders, sometimes salvia plants are in soil that is not rich enough to sustain them all season. Sprinkle a bit of slow-acting granular fertilizer on the soil around them at the beginning of the season. It will deliver consistent nutrition over the season. Mulch them to protect and improve the soil and to discourage weeds that compete for soil nutrition.