I too have Hot Lips salvia in a pot on my patio and last winter I simply left it in the pot with no protection. Then in April when I could see new growth sprouting from the base I chopped the salvia down to about one foot tall and had beautiful blooms - and humming birds all summer. The trick is not to let the winter rains drown the salvia. Move the pot under the eaves of the house so it is not soaked with rain. Do not prune the plant now or it could wake it up from the winter dormancy that helps to protect if from the coming cold. One more thing - if we have a severe winter freeze there is nothing you can do to protect this tender perennial plant. The good news is that new plants are easy to find at local nurseries and after a few years you will want to replace your old salvia anyway. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti