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Ocotillo flowering ... but ? leaves ...
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Posted by vieja z7NM (My Page) on Thu, Jun 4, 09 at 0:15
| I finally got an ocotillo to grow & flower here in Albuquerque after seeing the ones the City planted on the dividers do well the past warmer years. The City ones are in flower but they also are all leafed out; why is mine flowering but no leaves? It does get limited water like the other plants in the section of yard of desert plants I have.... do I need to water it more? In the desert they just leaf out & flower after a rain so I was letting Nature take over!
Can I snip a piece of a branch off & plant it & will it also take root & grow? I had heard in Mexico they make living fences that way x cuttings. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ocotillo flowering ... but ? leaves ...
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| Early watering Feb/March will produce leafing and flowering. Later watering or limited will initiate growth and some/limited flowering. The stems are the primary photosynthetic organ of the plant just like cactus. |
RE: Ocotillo flowering ... but ? leaves ...
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| Thanks! So even if I water some now while flowering it won't leaf out? I figured it needed to leaf out to get nutrients/leaves. I'm so glad I finally got one to live & survive now two winters here. Does it need supplemental watering to survive .. they grow in the deserts? I had bought dried-out looking bare root ones that never grew but then got a live potted one x Rowland's Nursery while they were still in business & it is the one I have now. About starting from cuttings... have you tried it? What is the northern most zone they will be hardy (you're in zone 8)? I know years ago they were not here but our temps. have changed lately. |
RE: Ocotillo flowering ... but ? leaves ...
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| They root rather easily. Once established the need not be watered unless you want them to flower at a specific time. To accomplish this water 4-6 before desired blooming time. Bare root plants need to be watered every day for a wk and then once every two wks for the season. Make sure the soil is well drained as wet feet is the death nil of ocotillo. |
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