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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Fouquieria (splendens)

Jean Graham
Nursery Manager
USDI NPS - Joshua Tree National Park Native Plant Nursery
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, California 92277
760-367-5565
http://www.ggnpa.org
Family Scientific Name: Fouquieriaceae
Family Common Name: Ocotillo Family
Scientific Name: Fouquieria splendens Engelm.
Common Name: Ocotillo
Species Code: FOQSPL
Ecotype: Joshua Tree National Monument, California
General Distribution: Foquieria splendens is found in dry, rocky places from the southeastern Mojave and Colorado deserts east to Texas and Mexico.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 1 Gallon PVC Pipe container
Time To Grow: 8 Months
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm Root Plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are hand collected in July. Nylons bags are paced over developing fruits early in the summer. collect seeds from bags after fruits have dehisced.
Propagule Processing: Seeds are allowed to dry for 4 to 6 weeks in paper bags in a warm, dry room. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight containers at 7C.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seeds are soaked in water to remove any inhibitors and to allow full imbibition of seeds prior to sowing. Seeds are placed between sheets of blotter paper in nursery flats and wrapped in plastic bags to prevent desiccation. We transplant viable germinants into containers as soon as the radicle emerges. Flats are checked for new germinants daily.

Seeds are directly sown in containers as soon as they germinate on blotter paper. We use a growing medium of 2 parts sand, 1 part mulch and 2 parts perlite (v:v:v).Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (13 N:13P2O5:13K2O) is incorporated into the medium at the approximate rate of at the rate of 11g per 3l ( 1 gal) pvc pipe container.
PVC containers are 30 cm (12 in) tall and are 10 cm in diameter.

Germination %:80%
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 The Joshua Tree Native Plant Nursery is located in the Mojave Desert of southern California and has an average of 250 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in.)
The facility is comprised of two greenhouses, shade structures, mist propagation beds and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an automated drip irrigation system.
Establishment Phase: Seedlings are germinated during winter months in a small greenhouse were they remain for 4 weeks. Containers are watered with a drip irrigation system.
Length of Establishment Phase: 4 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Seedlings are moved to a larger greenhouse with more temperature variance where they remain for another 4 weeks.
Approximately 4 weeks old after transplanting, they are moved to the open growing compound that is covered with a 55% shadecloth during the summer months. During the months of intense summer heat, containers are irrigated by an automated drip system every other day with occasional deep irrigation to leach out accumulated salts.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 5 months
Hardening Phase: Irrigation frequency and duration is gradually reduced for 4 to 8 weeks prior to out-planting. The shadecloth is removed from the open growing compound in October when daytime temperatures begin to cool. Nursery stock is top pruned at this stage.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 months
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing compound.
Length of Storage: Variable; depends on out planting date.

Citation:

Graham, Jean. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Fouquieria splendens Engelm. plants 1 Gallon PVC Pipe container; USDI NPS - Joshua Tree National Park Native Plant Nursery Twentynine Palms, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/28). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.