Sage grows quite well in neutral pH, or up to 7.4 and down to 6.6. If its just peat, it may be holding too much water. Suggest that it be repotted in a good quality soil. Usually if you see yellowing leaves that drop off (usually near the soil) its from too much water. Also, examine the root ball and if its packed solid, it may need a biger pot. One important issue about plants in pots, if its indoors and there are fungus gants nearby, they can infest all plants. These tiny flies are usually the culprits of a healthy plant going bad. The flies will lay eggs in the soil, that hatch into maggots that feed on the roots. As a test, suggest that you get some yellow sticky pads and set one on the edge of the pot. If you see tiny bugs in 24 hours, theres a good chance that the pot has the fungus gnats and maggots. If there are other potted plants nearby (indoors to!) they can all be infected. Some can survive this attack, but it seriously weakens a plants ability to grow properly

Here is a link that might be useful: Yellow Sticky traps

I've got sage growing in a container right now, and it is going very well. I do have peat moss in my mix. When I first got it from the farmer's market, it was literally soaked with water. Now that it doesn't get quite as much, it's doing even better than when I first got it. So yeah, it may be a watering issue.

No bugs of any sort, so I'm pretty sure that's not what's going on. Watering it less should be easy, I'll try that.

I suspect the pot may be too small but it's unlikely he'll want to repot it, it's in a religiously significantly shaped pot. Maybe later - the plant(s) (there may be more than one in there, I think there are probably 2 or 3) aren't that big yet.

The "potting mix" gives every appearance of being pure peat moss. I'll just make sure NOT to water it for awhile and see what happens.

Any fertilization advice while we're at it?

Thanks!

Sojourner

Usually a mild organic based fertilizer can help some. One with about 2-4 of nitrogen. But keep in mind that peat moss isn't ver good as a 100% growing medium. Some potting soils add perlite and vermiculite to the mixes to give it some airation. After doing a search, the link below was shown and looks like it would work well for herbs. If you can remove some of the peat its in now, and replace that with a good potting soil, it may also help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr. Earth organic fertilizer

I can't see any signs of vermiculite or perlite, but they may have added some sort of soil-like substance. The stuff feels very spongy, it's very dark, and it holds moisture better than some sponges I've owned. I'm pretty sure it's mostly peat moss, if not all.

I know it's lousy growing medium, but it's what's in the pot - which, btw, has no drainage holes at all. I know it sounds silly, but I actually held the pot upside down to make sure there was no water hiding in the bottom. This pot sits in FULL WESTERING SUN for most of the day and every other container plant there dries out by the end of the day, even mulched.

It was 95 yesterday and that thing (btw, the pot it's in is black) is still holding moisture like a sponge.

Thanks for the help.

Sojourner

Not good for no drainage.. Unfortunately, you will never know when its soaking wet or needs watering. If the roots are sitting in watery soil, they will give you the yellow leaves that die quickly. The pot might be pretty to look at, but is not functional beyond a florist foam block and some plastic flowers. ANother option would be to pull out the soil and root mass, and add a few small pebbles to help reduce wet soil. Measurng the amount of water per week would also help, but you have to consider the heat and sun, and how much they can affect the soil moisture. No easy way to deal with a pretty pot with no drain holes. Good luck!