My 6 plants from the Verdant Unknown One in California are going very well with branchs and lush foliage, even some new shoots from the base of the main stems at the soil line.
Recently I noticed what initially I thought were worms or some sort of pest ("Nematodes?" I thought to myself) on the soil. They didn't wiggle though. I now realize they are roots right at the air-soil interface, spreading all over. I never saw these before since all my previous planats had mulch on their soil whereas these do not have mulched soil.
I though salvia puts out deep roots, but apparently not.
Is this normal?
Another hint in all this is that since these plants get scarcely any direct sun and the humidity has been high here, the soil never completely dries. I have been slightly concerned that root rot might set in, but from the looks of the foliage, apparently no rot problems yet.
I am wondering if I should change anything, but I am trying to be patient and not fix what isn't broken.
Yea, they seem pretty normal. I've had them 2-3 feet up the plant. Probably why this plants roots so well from cuttings.
Yep, this seems to be common. When I was raising salvia, my plants had many roots emit and eventually dry up. Some'a'dem never made it past the "pimple-looking" stage on the stem. I thought she had come down with something, but no. But I had never noticed the "air roots" before the plants went all viney.
These are not coming down from the stem through the air; they started under the soil and are now at/on the soil surface as if they moved upward or at least straight outward.
Not to rock the boat, but it could be time to repot. (if they are in pots) Or certainly keep an eye on drying out and water chanelling issues.
There are 2 plants in each of 3 12"x12"x30" plastic containers. They started as plants with about 3 pairs of leaves each; about 12 inches tall. They have been in their planters for about 3-1/2 weeks, so I'd be surprised if they are already root bound.
But then again, maybe that is another symptom with my past plants' troubles - too little root room.
Saw your other post at Lady Salvia, bongo/spliff could be right, those sound like pretty big pots or planters, and may not dry out sufficiently. You might get one of those 5 dollar moisture meters. Salvia is impressive in how many roots it puts out, perhaps there is nothing wrong? But you never can tell with this plant.
I know they are not drying out, so I think that is the move to make, put the plants into terra cotta. While the look happy now, maybe they will get even happier and not get into trouble. Thanks.
Mission accomplished and thanks for the suggestions and replies.
Indeed, the roots were upset about the bottom of the planters.
When I got the plants out of the planters, the reek of anaerobic decomposition, sulfides, hit my nose. The leaf mold was rotting in the wetness without air. I suspect the roots found that a place to avoid.
So that crap was abandoned and the plants went into terra cotta pots with an airy mix of soil containing perlite and vermiculite.
The terra cotta pots are sitting atop bricks to assure that they drain and to give even the bottoms some air.
Congratulations....I think this should go into the rescue chapter of salvia...."surface roots means trouble below"....bong/spliff was totally right on the money.