This thread details the specifics of Salvia Divinorum (SD) cultivation. If it is missing information, please add a reply to this thread with the info. You will not be credited for your contributions, but people who read the thread will recognize where this information is coming from. This post will be updated as necessary.
Salvia DivinorumSalvia Divinorum (SD) enjoys a tropical, coastal climate. Therefore, it is ideal to place it within a
humidity dome (note that if you don't have a humidifier an an enclosure, you should not attempt this; the misting method is just a rumor, and is not advisable because it produces a breeding ground for herbivorous pests; additionally, over-watering from misting can help root rot to develop).
WateringSalvia Divinorum doesn't require a lot of water. Guides usually talk about how you can get away with not watering your plants for a few weeks at a time (this is not desirable, but it means you don't have to worry about your plant dehydrating if its temperature conditions are optimal). Some also talk about how you should not use a pot that drains into a saucer, because it will not give the plant air for its roots, and it promotes root rot.
Know your water! Some tap water contains nasty chemicals, minerals, or lacks filtration altogether. Think about purchasing a barrel to collect rain water throughout the year.
Autonomous watering systemsThe rope method: see
http://www.iamshaman.com/salvia/growing.htm, starting at "First thing you will need is a very large clay pot. At least one foot in diameter for one plant and the larger pots for 2 or more plants."
TemperatureBetween 60 and 85 °F (15.55 - 29.44 °C). Under 40 °F (4.44 °C) will kill the plant very quickly.
HumidityIdeally at least 50%. In the Sierra Mazatec region the humidity ranges from 10% to 100% (rainy season; late June to early October), but these extremes are not ideal for SD growth.
Soil PHAccording to
Erowid, Salvia Divinorum prefers 6.1-6.6 PH (slightly acidic).
Seeds/CuttingsSeeds rarely germinate (rumored viability rate is 1/10; which doesn't seem too bad) and many new strains die. Because of this, SD is typically propagated through stem cuttings.
Read
http://members.cox.net/sageseeds/ for an excellent guide on how to achieve flowering and seed production. Note that the amount of darkness you need to give your fully grown SD plants is roughly 11-14 hours a day. SD can flower every 6 months. After a flower cycle, 8 hours of darkness is optimal for the first 3 months. The final three months of the sixth month cycle, prior to flowering, should be 11-14 hours of darkness. Each cycle should produce hundreds of viable seeds (a single
raceme can produce over a thousand seeds), and the sage seeds guide gives an estimated 10% viability rate (you could end up with a few viable seeds, or over 100).
Getting roots from a cuttingThere are a few methods of doing this:
Pruning/TrimmingThere should be little reason to remove leaves, other than if they are completely dead (black/brown) or if you are harvesting them.
Pruning is usually done on plants that are producing flowers or fruit. It is unlikely that you will have a flowering salvia divinorum.
Fertilizers and growth solutionsWhen transplanting cuttings after roots have been well established or when bringing an established plant from one green house to another, water it with a bit of B-Vitamins. Superthrive is a formula that contains a hormone(s) and B-Vitamins that boosts growth. It is also very good at regenerating plants. Superthrive can also be used year round, especially if you notice plants that are not growing (idle plants; works as "Wake-up Juice").
References:http://www.salviacenter.com/library/sc_growing.phphttp://www.iamshaman.com/salvia/growing.htm