Seeming almost alien , the upright , often completely desolate , gray stem of ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens ) does n’t offer friendly relationship with its ferociously armed emergence . Ocotillo has a strange spell all its own .
Seeming almost exotic , the erect , often completely bare , grey stems ofocotillo(Fouquieria splendens ) does n’t declare oneself friendly relationship with its ferociously armed growth . Ocotillo has a unknown good luck charm all its own . In spring , when each prow is pass by superb spike of burnished red , tubular flowers , the ocotillo commands attention . aboriginal to the Southwestern deserts , ocotillo grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture industrial plant hardiness zone 8 through 11 . It does n’t need much fear if you plant it in the right spot .
Bare-Root Ocotillos
Ocotillo grows easy , and the only way to get a plant large enough for a garden is to buy one that has been legally harvest from the natural state . Plant a spare - root vine cactus the same season it was dug , and with the same orientation it had in the wilderness . The south side of the plant life is usually marked . Dig a hole in a cheery , well - draining site . Make the hole larger than the root and carry grease around the source to book them unfluctuating . employ rock around the Fouquieria splendens ’s base to keep it upright . Spray the cane with weewee before and after planting . pee the ocotillo a week after planting . For the first few months , spray the canes daily . In summer , water weekly and in nerveless atmospheric condition , every three to four weeks . It may take several year to reroot the ocotillo , and sometimes it does n’t re - show .
Rooted Cuttings and Seedlings
industrial plant root ocotillo canes in a sunny spot at the same level they were at in the container . Few rooted cut branch from near the base , although they might branch farther up the cane . They wo n’t develop the swollen basal caudex of a ejaculate - develop industrial plant . Give seedlings enough room to eventually grow into their mature size .
Established Plants
An Jacob’s staff does n’t need watering . During cool or showery weather , the plant will grow a stage set of green leaves along its root word . The leave of absence fall off once soil moisture drop-off , and an Jacob’s staff can develop several new stage set a year . Do n’t fertilize an ocotillo in the ground . Fertilizing can result in too - firm development , reduced peak , and leggy ontogenesis that does n’t separate . Do n’t rationalize the ocotillo . Allow it a big enough outer space when you plant it so it wo n’t outgrow its location . An ocotillo can grow to 30 groundwork marvellous but only around 10 feet panoptic .
Container Plants
It ’s potential to grow an ocotillo seedling in a container . constitute it in well - draining cactus potting mix , choose a container with drainage hole . The pot should be a little larger than the root word mass . Put it in full Sunday on a deck of cards or patio for the spring and summer and bring it in to a sunny point indoors for winter . It will go abeyant in wintertime , so water once every few weeks . In spring and summertime , water the plant when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry . Repot during spring when roots come out the drainage maw . fecundate only gently as you repot . Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of 15 - 9 - 12 control - release fertiliser to a 1 - congius container and 2 tablespoons to a 5 - gal container . Do n’t fertilize again until the next prison term you repot . An ocotillo wo n’t have job with pests or diseases as long as you do n’t overwater it . Wet dirt can encourage root rot .
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