I'd like to ask some follow up questions. I was just about to post my inquiry when I saw this post.

My Black and Blue is in the ground. I'm planning to dig it up and pot it for the winter. I may not have a yard to plant it in next summer. What should be my strategy? How big should the pot be, relative to the plant/roots? What soil mix should I use? Should I keep the pot in the garage, as advised above? Water or not? Should I take it outside on a sunny winter day when the temperatures are above freezing? When can I haul it out in the spring? And, could it stay in the pot indefinitely? Thanks!

How big should the pot be, relative to the plant/roots?

It will probably require a 10 inch pot or larger. The size depends on how easily you can get a modest quantity of fine terminal roots into the pot. If there are rooted stolons (runners), these can be put into smaller pots.

What soil mix should I use?

Pro-Mix or some other perlite/peat moss mix. Use some slow release fertilizer like Osmocote.

Should I keep the pot in the garage, as advised above?

That will work. The pot can take light freezing in the garage or unheated sun room.

Water or not?

Just enough to keep it from drying out and dessicating the plant.

Should I take it outside on a sunny winter day when the temperatures are above freezing?

Yes, but the nights should be on the warm side as well.

When can I haul it out in the spring?

When it breaks dormancy, and when most of the frosts have past.

And, could it stay in the pot indefinitely?

I can keep mine in large pots if I step them up by 2 inches a year. Once you get the plant in the maximum sized pot, it can last for about 2 to 4 years before dividing. Guaraniticas will wind a rope of up to a dozen stolons around the upper part of the rim. If you pull the plant out of the pot, these runners will start expanding almost immediately.

Most interesting, Rich. I have B&B in a huge pot, but it will need to be divided this winter.
What do you mean by: "if you pull the plant out of the pot, these runners will start expanding almost immediately." Expanding where? Are you talking about transplanting them? or what?

The runners (stolons) want to expand out and are just strong enough to wind themselves around the top of the pot but not bust out. At some point, they will go up and send out new stems at the edge of the pot. Until they do so, they usually don't put out anchoring roots.

When you lift the contents out of the pot, the runners release some of the tension. If you leave the loose plant out of the pot for a while, the free stolons will start radiating out and away from the soil, making it hard to stuff the plant back into the same pot.

Is it then wise to remove some of the stolons before replanting?

Don't new plants come from each of the stolons?

This has been so helpful! Thanks, Rich, and fellow posters.

My B&B has gone gang-busters:

Here is a link that might be useful:

That is one beautiful Salvia, Westelle!

I recently got one and planted it in a large pot, too, but the wind came through (50+ mph) on Friday and did a little pruning for me. It was growing like crazy before that, and for the most part, it fared well.

Brenda

That really is a beautiful speciment Westelle! Mine never did that well in a container. It looked good but not that good! It must be that awsome Fresno climate!

Penny