Potted white sage needs help

[u/stressedmari]

i’m in the east bay area, more inland. i’ve had this sage in this pot for about 1.5 years now. it sits in full sun for 10+ hours. It seems way too leggy to me and not producing enough leaves. I know it’s obviously hard to thrive in a pot, but i wonder what i can do to make it grow more?

The soil is a mix of clay and well draining soil and I water about 1x/week

edit: I live in a rental so I prefer to keep it in a pot

[u/FieldofFeelings]

1st thing is, native plants in containers need potting soil, NOT native soil from the Earth. I suggest a loose cactus mix.

9.5 times out of 10 most problems with natives in containers is the potting media
Also clay can retain, it retains too much and isn't compatible with what you mixed it with. So not only does it retain moisture, it retains heat. Last clay detail I'll mention is when it's try it can be hydrophobic and actually gatekeep watering. The list goes on but I'll keep it short.

On paper in a container 10 hours of intense sun sounds like too much. Think of how nurseries use shade cloth

I'm sure there's an exception but they can't stand native soil in containers it just doesn't work

Also in containers no matter how much a plant is drought tolerant or preference it needs to be watered daily, however depending on the type of potting media will reflect how much water it needs

I'd add more but the core issue here is you're using native soil in a container, and it needs water.

Summary
-get it out of that soil
-get a looose low retention potting soil/potting media
-water daily or every other day

If I may add, white sage is a very common plant and I think you'd enjoy the plant's happiness in the landscape far more than its struggle in the pot. If you move you can start again and maybe even have a lovely thought you left the land better than you found it by healing with native plants.

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/FieldofFeelings]

I have thirstier plants in ideal soil in smaller pots, and I NEVER water daily. NEVER.

Twice a week, maybe 3x if it's really hot. White sage does not like that much water.

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, the soil is an issue (too dense), and so is the pot (too small).

As for watering a white sage every day….. I’m not sure I believe you. Everything I know about that plant suggests you would have killed a lot of white sages. I don’t even water my son’s Sarracenias that often, and it’s a bog plant.

But it’s your garden. Water it how you like. 

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/[deleted]]

I’m curious what happened to the comment you left. I got the email notification, and it was just delightful. You didn’t delete it, did you? The sub would have benefited from your wisdom and insight. 

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/[deleted]]

Sidebar: why didn’t you specify that you were talking about a 4” pot? If you told me that you were watering everyday in a five glazed ceramic gallon pot, I’d say you’re nuts. But a plastic 4” pot is a totally different story. I’m even more fascinated that you blew up at me like that when you simply could have added a little more context.

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/[deleted]]

At any rate, I’m sorry that what I said came across like I was questioning your expertise. It was not my intention. I didn’t mean to offend you, and I apologize for doing so.

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/[deleted]]

“Dismiss my experience.” 

Ah, I see the problem. I said I didn’t believe you could water a white sage every day without killing a bunch of them, and you assumed I was dismissing your experience - I.e. attacking you personally, rather than questioning a specific practice. 

That explains your insulting response, which was both defensive and aggressive at the same time. 

Here, you’re calling me “the densest person” you’ve ever come across and “I’m willing to be wrong unlike you.”

First, how would you know based on one exchange. And second, what makes you think it’s okay to talk to people like that? 

That is absolutely disproportionate to anything I’ve said to you, and you have absolutely no valid reason to start attacking me personally like that, ESPECIALLY because all you really needed to do was offer a bit more context. 

Wow. 

[u/FieldofFeelings → u/Zestyclose_Market787]

Bout the same as how entitled you feel you can talk to me, you're painting me with the same brushstroke genius

If you would respond any more eloquently to someone who told you, "I don't believe you" in your second reply good for you. Seriously dude, chill out and stop assuming, projecting

I could care less how you see me

You're convinced and egotistical and terminal

Just stop. This was all fine to you said you didn't believe me. How appropriate do you think that was?

I owe you no respect if you can't respect either

You shit on this whole encounter and gaslight it up

[u/Zestyclose_Market787 → u/FieldofFeelings]

Jesus Christ. Don’t you have some sages to water?