Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo)

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:22 pm

I put mine in about 5" below soil line to root.

Bato, I would be careful with your soil. It looks peaty, I recommend adding perlite or DG to increase the drainage.

Bato367 · Post by **Bato367** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:43 pm

Thanks. Should be fun. From what I read on the web, I planted apx. 4-5" deep.

For the soil it may be a little on the Peaty side but I don't believe it is as bad as it looks. I took standard potting soil and added apx. 25% perlite, and 25% sand. It does drain fairly well. What about adding crushed granite at some point? I would prefer not to disturb cuttings as much as possible. Also, perhaps with cuttings, a soil like this may work better to generate roots than a soil that is too gritty? I've never messed with cuttings. I will keep an eye on it and everyone posted. Thanks for the heads up.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:33 am

Messing with cuttings will not hurt em. Its more important to get the soil right so that you dont have to bare root em when you plant em. I dont use a true gritty mix either just make sure once the soil is completely dry and you water, that the water goes straight through. Peaty soil will resist water at first, then hold water too long rotting your roots.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:35 am

And sand can actually keep the potting medium too moist as it packs.
Gritty stuff is better, I've experienced that myself.

Agree with your comments, Chad.

Barb

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Jun 16, 2015 5:51 pm

Planted my ocotillo cuttings in my test bed. Hope they are as hardy as they are reported to be.

<a href="http://s1209.photobucket.com/user/chade ... 4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc3 ... 184454.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150616_184454.jpg"/></a>

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:15 pm

Very cool.

I hope they make it thorough the winters.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:35 pm

very cool! Perhaps a 'tube' is needed over it from Nov 20 through Feb?

Protection with a wire cage & poly wrap.......very easy.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 9:06 pm

Tim, that would work well for him.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 6:13 pm

Nice idea Tim, specially if the tube is adjustable. Since they are planted under the soffet and do not get wet they should be hardened off going into winter. Our cold temps usually start in Jan - Feb. However, the size these things grow it will not get covered for long.