Repotting guide

When & how to repot Salvia 'Hot Lips' (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips')

Also called Baby sage, Hot Lips sage.

More about salvia 'hot lips'

About Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' · also called Baby sage, Hot Lips sage · flowering

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a shrubby baby sage covered for months in bicolour red-and-white flowers that shift colour with temperature. Aromatic, drought-tolerant, and adored by bees and hummingbirds, it forms a small woody bush in mild climates. No Salvia appears on the ASPCA toxic list.

Mature size: 60-120 cm tall and wide

How to tell salvia 'hot lips' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For salvia 'hot lips', watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot salvia 'hot lips'

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Salvia 'Hot Lips''s growth habit — bushy, woody-based shrub (sub-shrub) with many slender branching stems and small aromatic leaves; in mild areas it forms a rounded evergreen-ish bush, dying back harder where winters are cold. — sets the pace. Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a shrubby baby sage covered for months in bicolour red-and-white flowers that shift colour with temperature. Aromatic, drought-tolerant, and adored by bees and hummingbirds, it forms a small woody bush in mild climates. No Salvia appears on the ASPCA toxic list.

What size pot to step salvia 'hot lips' up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Salvia 'Hot Lips' stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot salvia 'hot lips'

Spring or summer, while salvia 'hot lips' is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting salvia 'hot lips'

Repot dry. Do not water salvia 'hot lips' for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty light, well-drained soil ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set salvia 'hot lips' at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep salvia 'hot lips' completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for salvia 'hot lips'

Salvia 'Hot Lips' wants light, well-drained soil. Prefers free-draining, average to poor soil at pH 6.0-7.5; thrives in gritty, lean ground. Excellent winter drainage is essential for hardiness and longevity. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting salvia 'hot lips' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot salvia 'hot lips'?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for salvia 'hot lips'. Repot salvia 'hot lips' every 2–3 years into a snug pot of light, well-drained soil, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does salvia 'hot lips' need?

When is the best time of year to repot salvia 'hot lips'?

Should you water salvia 'hot lips' after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot salvia 'hot lips' into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise salvia 'hot lips' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting salvia 'hot lips'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.