The ocotillo is a low-water-use plant that has a great tolerance for drought. After being planted, it will need to be watered. Avoid overwatering the soil since it will damage the plant’s roots if there is too much groundwater present. Instead, water by misting the plant’s cane and maintain a wet environment in the soil.
How frequently should an ocotillo be watered?
Ocotillo lends color and wildlife to desert settings. Consider planting this unusual, multi-stemmed desert native, which will flourish in your area, if you reside in a hot, dry climate. With its long green stems and vivid red blossoms, the lovely ocotillo makes a lovely backdrop element and is also ideal for luring birds to your garden.
Invite Birds with Ocotillo
The ocotillo, which is indigenous to the hillsides of southern and central Arizona, starts flowering in April and lasts until July or August. The flowers, which are crimson or reddish orange, are tightly clustered at the ends of the stalks and put on a stunning display. The swelling base gives way to canes that can reach heights of 12 feet or more. They can lean nearly to the ground, slightly arch, or stand straight up. Expect to see hummingbirds, orioles, finches, and other nectar-loving species swarming to your ocotillo.
Remarkable Leaves
Small, dark green leaves of the ocotillo are arranged up the cane and are attached to the stem by a long leafstalk known as a petiole. Only when the soil is extremely damp will leaves appear on the plant; when the earth dries out, they will go rapidly. Drying leaves turn a rich shade of gold and can create a beautiful display on their own. Depending on how much rain falls in your location, you can find that the plant sheds its old leaves and sprouts new ones up to five times in a season.
Buying Ocotillo
Ocotillos are frequently offered without any root at all, or bare. Expect them to re-grow their root systems and take up to two years to become established. Ocotillo plants cultivated from seeds and marketed in containers with living roots are very common. These will establish themselves and expand quickly.
Planting Ocotillo
Planting time for ocotillo is pretty much always between April and May, though. Ocotillos that have just been planted require watering every two weeks during the first summer and every three to four weeks during the first fall. Continue watering bare-root plants according to this schedule until they begin to grow normally. For fresh plants, a monthly watering in the winter is sufficient. Water your established ocotillo about once a month in the summer and only during prolonged dry spells in the winter for plants in the hottest deserts.
Pruning Ocotillo
Only cut down dead or broken stems from your ocotillo plant to the base when the plant is not actively developing. Cutting high on living stems results in erratic, thin branches as opposed to the strong, single canes you need.
How is an ocotillo in a pot taken care of?
Only until the roots are formed, water the soil lightly as needed to keep it moist. After that, take great care not to overwater ocotillo in containers. Ocotillo, like all succulents, is vulnerable to decay in wet soil. Water plants only when the top 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) of soil are dry as a general rule. Never let the pot float in liquid.
When the plant is dormant over the winter, water indoor ocotillo plants infrequently. Once a month generally suffices, and underwatering is always preferable to overwatering.
Put the container where the ocotillo will be fully exposed to the sun. Ocotillo plants tend to grow lanky and produce fewer blooms in the absence of strong sunlight.
Use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer three times a year to lightly feed ocotillo in containers. Refrain from fertilizing during the winter.
Ocotillo plants should always be repotted into a larger container once they become rootbound, which is typically signaled by roots poking through the drainage hole. The optimal season for this project is spring.
Why are my ocotillo’s leaves falling off?
The strange-looking ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), which is endemic to the Desert Southwest, has developed an incredible adaption that allows it to flourish in a hot, arid climate.
1. Ocotillo is a drought-deciduous plant that develops and sheds its leaves with the rain. It will start to produce leaves in 24 hours, and its shallow roots are ideal for catching rain from those infrequent desert showers. Since a plant loses the majority of its water through its leaves, once it becomes dry again, it will drop those leaves. This can happen up to five times a year in cycles.
2. By examining its stems, you may determine how many growth spurts it has had. Just as trees form rings when they hibernate in the winter, you can tell when an ocotillo does the same thing between rainstorms by looking at its stems. Each region of growth along the stem will be divided by a line.
3. It may not leaf or grow during a drought, but it will always flower – If conditions are so dry that it may perish, the plant will forego growth and devote its valuable stored water to flowering and seed production. In this manner, a fresh batch of ocotillo seeds will have an opportunity to sprout and grow new plants.
4. Hummingbirds are one of the numerous pollinators of ocotillo, and many of them time their migration to the flowering of the plant.
Ocotillo: Is the sun necessary?
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens, Zones 711) is a stunning desert treasure. When you are moving across the desert, it is impossible to miss this succulent plant, which is frequently mistaken for a cactus. Ocotillos often grow on hilltops, but they can also be seen along highways. On a recent cave tour, I learned that a hill covered in ocotillos can point to a limestone-based cave below. Ocotillos are referred to as “indicator plants” by cavers as a result.
A rare native
There are numerous more names for ocotillos, such as candlewood, coachwhip, and fiery sword. Despite being local, particularly in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert regions, they can be hard to find. Because ocotillos are protected, it is against the law to take them from the desert. Ocotillos recovered from building sites are occasionally offered for sale by neighborhood nurseries, and you might also locate them online.
Impressive size and color
Wild ocotillos can reach a height of 20 feet, while cultivated ocotillos will probably stay smaller at 10 feet. They need direct sunlight and prefer well-drained soil to grow. If enough moisture from the monsoons and/or additional irrigation is provided, they may have little green leaves during the spring and summer. An ocotillo may not begin to leaf out or exhibit any signs of growth for a year or longer. The blossoms that this plant produces from late spring to early summer are its most attractive characteristic. These flowers, which resemble brilliant red or orange tubes, bloom in groups at the stem ends. They beautifully contrast with the gleaming green leaves that run up and down the canes.
Transplanting is a delicate art
Ocotillos are ideal for xeriscape gardening because, once established, they are extremely drought tolerant and give height and color to landscapes. They can survive for extended periods of time with little or no precipitation thanks to their drought resistance. They can be grown in containers, but they won’t reach their full potential. Although ocotillos can be transplanted at any time of the year, the best time is from March to May. Make sure you transplant the ocotillo to the same growing depth and orientation, and to face it in the same direction as it did before. Additionally, only dig a hole that is as deep as the root system. The plant will always be more heat-resistant on the south side, which helps keep it from burning when it is transplanted. I developed this tested method after experiencing numerous failures. Another method I’ve learnt is to fill the hole with water after you’ve dug it and watch it drain. It is ideal for your ocotillo if the draining time is under an hour.
Steady irrigation till establishment
After transplant, irrigation of your ocotillo should be done with prudence. Like all succulents, your ocotillo will perish if you overwater it. In the summer, you water once each week, and in the winter, you water every other week. Don’t water if Mother Nature provides you with some free irrigation. When the ocotillo is established, or when it starts to leaf out, you can reduce how often you water it. Recall that this could take a year or longer. Once your ocotillo is established, you shouldn’t need to water it at all during the winter. After establishment, water it once every three to four weeks over the summer.
I wholeheartedly urge you to step outside the norm and locate an ocotillo in a sunny, unobstructed area of your yard. Although it is drought deciduous and can appear a bit bare for much of the year, you will be pleased you waited for the show when it leaves the ground and flowers. It is a genuinely remarkable succulent that will bring enjoyment for many years.
Interior designer Laurel Startzel also creates container gardens. She resides in Tucson, Arizona, and was formerly a co-owner of the container gardening company Denver Dirty Girls.
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Why isn’t the bloom on my ocotillo?
Take heart if you’re frustrated that your plant won’t bloom. Ocotillos that have just been planted need some time to rebuild their root systems. This might prevent blossoming. Lack of water in late winter to early spring is another reason that could prevent flowers from blooming. Additional fertilizer or rich soil can possibly prevent the ocotillo from blooming at all.
For these plants to survive, circumstances must be fairly tough. They won’t blossom in a chilly, rainy environment either. The best way to get an ocotillo to bloom is to mimic its natural environment. Like any plant, they will flourish and function at their peak in an environment that closely replicates the soil, lighting, and moisture conditions they would encounter in the wild.
My ocotillo — is it dead?
Ocotillo plants have a look similar to long, prickly sticks for much of the year. The sticks develop tiny, dark green leaves after some rain (or irrigation), enveloping the plant and altering its appearance. When the soil dries out, the leaves grow for two to three weeks before falling off.
Ocotillos, which are drought-deciduous, may seem lifeless for the majority of the year. This is especially true if it hasn’t rained much recently (such as during the “non-soon season in 2020). A healthy ocotillo will start sprouting leaves as soon as there is enough moisture.
Depending on the climate, rainfall, and irrigation, this cycle may occur up to four or five times a year.
Because of this, your ocotillo might not have survived if there has been a lot of rain and it hasn’t produced any leaves – especially if you see that others in the neighborhood have.
However, keep in mind that if your ocotillo was just planted, it might not have enough energy to grow leaves just yet. Its main objective is to establish a root system. Making flowers is the next item on the list. Ocotillo leaves may not appear for the whole of the first year following planting.
The ocotillo may then wait for the leaves to finish developing until it is certain it has enough water and energy to support leaf growth fully.
Determining if your ocotillo is actually dead or just dormant might be challenging. Four methods are listed below to see if your ocotillo is still alive:
- Verify the flexibility of the branches (or canes). Your ocotillo is still alive if you can bend them without having to shatter them.
- Even without leaves, ocotillos can still produce energy through photosynthesis because to the green pigment on their stems. By soaking a stem, you can see if there is this green pigment there. If the plant is still alive, the branches should have green bands of chlorophyll.
- Look for leaf buds above each spine. Although they will be little, they should be visible (they might even be green). Though they could possibly occur in the summer and fall, leaf buds are most likely to appear in the spring.
- If there isn’t any rain and you really want to know how an ocotillo is doing, you can water it manually and check back in a few days to see if anything has changed. Keep in mind to water gradually and deeply, just like you would a tree. You can irrigate the area surrounding the plant for two or more days by using a garden hose to create a gentle trickle of water. You can tell if your ocotillo is still alive by whether or not leaves begin to appear. However, keep in mind that even ocotillos in well-irrigated environments will shed their leaves on occasion throughout the year.
Hummingbirds and carpenter bees, among other pollinators, depend on the nectar from ocotillo blooms. Ocotillo blooms are especially beloved by hummingbirds because they have the ideal tubular shape for the birds to access the nectar.
It’s interesting to note that in Arizona, ocotillos typically bloom when hummingbirds move northward. They consequently become an even more crucial source of nutrition, particularly in years when other spring flowers (like wildflowers) are in little supply.
How is an ocotillo fertilized?
Ocotillo plants do not require additional fertilizer. Some people use a moderate fertilizer like Dr. Q’s Desert Plant & Cactus Food or Fish Emulsion once a year, which occasionally produces quick, luxuriant growth. The effects of excessive fertilization include stunted growth and unbranched, too tall plants.
Are ocotillos rooted deeply?
Ocotillo seeds should be inserted into a hole that is no deeper than twice as wide as the root system. It must be planted at the same depth as when it first began to grow. The majority of ocotillo plants sold in nurseries are bare-root plants that need to be firmly anchored in the ground. The ocotillo plant is then watered once per week for the remainder of the summer as it establishes. In order to keep it from toppling over and to preserve moisture, weight down the region around the roots with boulders and continue providing appropriate ocotillo maintenance.
Is an ocotillo a tree or a cactus?
According to this Arizona Daily Star article, ocotillos bloom continuously every year because they are more drought-tolerant than the typical wildflower.
The ocotillo is accustomed to hot and dry weather because it is a native of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.
Small oval leaves around two inches in diameter will emerge from its brown stems when the soil is sufficiently moist. The plant will rely on the chlorophyll in its stems to photosynthesize after the water runs out and the leaves fall off. Depending on the amount of rain, this process may occur four or five times annually.
The ocotillo is one of 11 species of desert plants in the Fourquieria family, which includes plants with thorns and the ability to survive in the desert.
The boojum tree, which is essentially a succulent Dr. Seuss version of the ocotillo, is one plant that is connected to these others.