How to Bloom Sage Plants

Overview

Sage plants come in two basic varieties: the culinary type, often used in dressing and soups, and the ornamental type, prized for their variety of colorful blooms. It is on the ornamental type of sage which most gardeners wish to encourage flowering. Among ornamental sage plants are a variety of different species, ranging from annuals to perennials. Their colorful flowers are attractants for both hummingbirds and butterflies and are generally easy to care for.

Step 1

Plant sage plants in well-draining soil. Plants whose roots are consistently saturated tend to falter and produce fewer blooms.

Step 2

Avoid adding commercial fertilizers to the soil. Soil conditions that are less than ideal for many plants actually encourage blooming on sage plants.

Step 3

Add compost to the plant's soil. While commercial fertilizers inhibit blooming, compost provides the proper nutrients needed for sage plants to bloom.

Step 4

Prune the sage plants to encourage bloom production. Cut back smaller limbs in mid-summer to allow the plants to use their energy to produce more blooms. If you live in a mild climate where year round blooming is possible, prune the sage plants once more in mid-winter.