The salvia in the third pic is Yvonnes. I've grow that one every year saving the seeds from plants. It is a slow starter for me in Oregon. Doesn't get warm here until July usually. Looks great from mid July to Oct.
Judy- my garage is unheated but I'm also in zone 8. So keep that in mind. I try to not let my garage get below freezing because I have other plants in there, mostly brugs. I have a thermometer in the garage so if it is getting too cold, I open the door to my house and let some warm air in there for awhile (when my wife isn't watching
)
As far as propagating goes---Here's what has worked for me
1.-I use one those opague/clear storage bins (mine's 14 inches high 20 inches long and 16 inches wide) and turn it upside down with no lid. Just put it on the ground in a shaded area.
2.-I use those 12 inch plastic drinking cups and fill with potting soil, with drainage holes, with added perlite for really good drainage.
3.-Cut a good specimen from host plant. Strip leaves at the bottom exposing one or two nodes. Cut flower off if it is flowering. I like mine about 6 inches high and not much higher than that if possible. I just cut it to the height I like, or use the other part for another start.
4.- put bottom end in the cup. water heavily with watering can until soil is thoroughly saturated.
5.- I can get about six starts under my bin. I also put a pan of water under the bin to help keep things moist under there.
6.- HERE'S THE KEY I THINK---spritz the leaves with a light mist as often as you can especially when it's hot. I try to do mine twice a day, sometimes I forget and just do it once a day. I do this for 2-3 weeks until I see new growth. I gradually expose them to more sunlight and repot to bigger pot when they look like there really going to take off.
This process has worked on Salvia "hot lips', amistad, and I'm currently trying black and blue and a few agastaches.
It's getting pretty late in the year to get things started and survive the winter in my opinion but I may be wrong. If you are going to try this I'd start yesterday
. I've done this in spring, middle of summer, and the currant tries were started about one week ago.
