Well I finally got the courage to try starting salvias from seed again (don't have any Agastache seeds for this round). I have sown all the ones I got from Robin's Salvias and the Summer Jewel Lavendar ones I got from Harris seeds. Some are just beginning to germinate (which makes me hopeful). So I haven't taken any pics yet.the ones from Robin's are: S Guaranitica Santa Maria, S Guaranitica var purpurea, S Penny's Smile, S Alegria, and S Stolinifera.
Most exciting, after seeing that Rolando joined the forum, I got his available seed list. I had found his website before but was reluctant to order too many seeds after my first attempts failed. From Rolando, I am getting seeds for: S Guaranitica var Violacea (one I was going to order from Robin but he was sold out), S x Jamensis 'Javier', and a new one called S Envy which I think looks to be a stunningly beautiful color and has rhizomes and gets about 1 1/2 meters tall. I am excited about them all and also about the ones I have ordered as plants from @FBTS and Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek. Hopefully I will have pics of a good number of seedlings soon!! It is so much easier to let someone else start them growing and am so glad to have FBTS. But it is rewarding to start some from seed. Photos of Salvia 'Envy' and many other beautiful salvias can be found at salvias.com,ar which is @Rolando website. So many tips from people in these forums have increased my knowledge tremendously and I am grateful to all.

You'll have to keep us up to date and post pics here and the salvia database.

Hi Judy! Your post is right on time. I'm attempting to start salvia from seed for the first time. Would you mind sharing how you start yours indoors? Or if there's another post you already shared that info? I did a quick look-around, but didn't see anything. We're in similar zones, I guess I'm a little late getting started. The Salvia microphylla is the only one I would have wanted to start early, as it's an annual here, although I think I read it can overwinter indoors. Thanks!

I'm looking to start:
Salvia microphylla
Salvia pratensis
Salvia (hians?) 'Madeline'

Ann, I winter sowed some of mine and a few have germinated, one of which is Madeline.
I don't think it's too late to try a few inside.

Thanks, @luvsgrtdanes! That's great to know. WS is my preference, but didn't realize that would work. I think I'll take my chance and put the 2 zone hardy one's in some jugs today. They don't need a period of cold or stratification to germinate do they? And did you just press the seeds on top, or add a little soil on top of them?

Ann, No, they don't need cold stratification. Press the seed on the surface as they need light to germinate. You can sprinkle a very thin layer of fine vermiculite over them, if desired.

Thanks, @Danita! All three are planted. Fingers crossed!

@AnnofPA thanks for adding to the thread. You will have to keep us posted. @luvsgrtdanes and @Danita thanks for your input- since I am a beginner at this I definitely appreciate input of more experienced members. It is late to be starting from seed but since Salvias grow quickly (at least many do) I think I will have time to enjoy them this year. I sowed all but the 3 types I ordered from Rolando (since they are not here yet) on the eve of Mon 03/15. By Wed 03/17 I was already seeing beginning germination of Summer Jewel Lavender! 48 hours. By Thursday 03/18 Alegria, Penny's Smile, and a couple Stolonifera were starting. As of today I see a bit of a activity in the Guaraitica Santa Maria and the Guaranitca var purpurea but not enough to see without magnification. I am pleased!! I do hope I get at least several of each of the Guaraniticas as those are my favorites but I am hopeful since it has only been 6 days. I am doing mine indoors by my big picture window and supplementing with daylight fluorescent bulbs. The pics in order are: Penny's Smile, Alegria, Stolonifera, Summer Jewel Lavender(I had a lot of those, hope I didn't crowd them- tried not to). @Marilyn I will post pics and info in the database as I appreciate when others do!

Judy they look great I can't wait to see my summer jewels lavender this summer

Ann I planted mine just the way Danita said...with our warmer weather coming back I think you will see germination pretty quickly.

Thanks, Judy! Your pics look great!

Thanks, Ronnie, for the encouragement!

@luvsgrtdanes and @AnnofPA

Keep us posted and post pics!

@jg0613

Pics are looking good!

All of my seedlings are progressing. Since the last pics i now have 3 seedlings of S Guaranitica var purpura up and looking healthy. Hoping more will yet appear. Still awaiting the S Guaranitica Santa Maria seedlings but it has only been 10 days after the seeds were sown so I am hopeful I will get at least a few. I am really enjoying watching the changes and growth- it is amazing. :The pic is the first and largest of the 3 Guaranitica var purpura seedlings.

Yay Judy!

Well it has been an "up and down" 4-5 days since I last posted on the seedlings. The Alegria and Penny's Smile have been very leggy (and the Summer Jewel Lavender too but not as bad. I knew insufficient light could cause that. I also realized that I was keeping my seed starting mix WAY too moist. So some of the two tallest types started leaning. I was pretty stressed - didn't want to take up a lot of space here with details. So I tree mailed @Danita because I had seen a pic of her seedlings which included 2 of the types I have. I want to say here to Danita! She was very gracious and helpful. Had me send some close up pics. The good news is it doesn't appear to be damping off. Then some of the Stolonifera started leaning and a few looked suspicious. I actually did pluck out any that I thought might be iffy. I was able to add some seed starting mix around the tallest types. The mix kind of settled lower than I intended (probably because it was so moist). I was able to make adjustments to get better light to them, and air circulation. And let the mix dry. What is so odd is that the Guaranitica var Purpurea seedlings are not leggy which is why I didn't suspect lighting since they are all in the same tray and get the same light. Today I am cautiously optimistic. I am learning by doing. I can read and research all I want but doing this is the only way I am going to get better at it. So I am persevering!! I am hoping by sharing my progress, it may be helpful to someone else. That would make me happy as I have learned and been helped so much by others. I have pics today. First are the Summer Jewel Lavender (I had way more of those seeds so they occupy 12 of the 36 cells in my little tray). Next is what is left of Penny's Smile (6cells), and luckily I ordered a plant of this one from FBTS because I liked it so much I wanted to be sure to have one in case I failed with the seeds. Next is Alegria in the 2 front cells and my one Stolonifera left in the middle cell on the right side- I didn't have as many seeds of these 2. Last is my pride and joy- my Guaranitica var Purpurea! Three seedlings completely up and if you look closely there is another coming up in the middle cell on the left (the green is barely visible). Still no Guaranitica Santa Maria seedlings yet but it has been 2 weeks today since seeds were sown so I am not giving up yet. The Guaraniticas are my favorites (and among hummingbirds' top choices). I do have some Guaranitica types and hybrid plants ordered from FBTS and Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek. And I just "had to" put in another order from FBTS because I found a few more that I really want (I am going to edit my list in the thread on what varieties people are getting for 2016). Biggest lesson learned with these seeds- don't sow them all at once - save some back in case of problems. I did them all since I got a late start but from now on I will save some of each type because I know they will keep quite awhile

So my winter sown salvia sprouted amazingly fast. And my light/window seeds are just stagnant. It looked like one of the seeds was greening up to sprout and now nothing. I'm not sure if I have it too humid, or if the full spectrum light I'm using is putting out too much heat. It's not hardy in my zone, which is why I didn't winter sow it. Could I spring sow it even though we still have some nights below freezing? I'm not even sure I didn't rot the seeds....

Here's what's working:

I don't winter sow, but I hope others who do, will chime in.

@AnnofPA I W/S all my salvias even the ones not hardy to grow as annuals. You can still spring sow it, depending on what one it is you may not see flowers until late in the season. That seems to be when I see a lot of hummers so I like the fact I still have something good blooming for them. Worth giving it a try

Thanks Ronnie! I WS annuals, I don't know what I was thinking?! They'd probably be germinated by now if I hadn't fooled around trying to start them inside. Anyway, It's Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips', and I know it won't come true from seed, but I just wanted to see what I ended up with. Thank you so much for getting me back on track!! : )

Oh that's a pretty one!

@luvsgrtdanes

Thanks Ronnie for sharing your tips for Ann (and all of us)!

Marilyn