A Review of Literature Concerning
the Use of Growth Retardants
on Tropical Foliage Plants

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University of Florida, IFAS
Central Florida Research and Education Center - Apopka
CFREC-Apopka Research Report, RH-90-10

R.J. Henny*

Introduction: Use of growth retardants in production of tropical ornamental foliage plants is not a routine practice, however, interest in potential benefits is increasing as growers look for ways to improve their products.

The purpose of this report is to list and summarize the published literature dealing with growth retardant work on tropical foliage plants. It intended only as a guide for anyone considering treatment of a specific plant group of plants. Several factors influence the effectiveness of growth retardants including cultivar, method of application, time of year, soil mix and general growing conditions. These factors were recently reviewed by Mansour and Poole (15).

Potential users of growth retardants should be aware that new chemicals such as Bonzi and Sumagic are very active at low application rates; subsequently there is little margin for error during application or results may be unpredictable. Trials on a small number of plants should be performed before application to an entire crop, even when results presented in Table 1 meet desired objectives since the research was conducted under conditions different than your own. In some cases results from different reports using the same chemical, applied in the same manner, on the same plant, produced different degrees of response. This is an excellent reminder that caution must be exercised to reduce the possibility of crop loss or prolonged production time due to excessive chemical use.

Table 1. A current summary of published literature regarding effects of growth retardants on ornamental tropical foliage plants.
Plant name Growth
retardant		 Method of
application		 Amount
applied		 Degree of
response		 ref #
 
Aglaonema modestum A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm none 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm none 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Alternanthera amoena A-Rest spray 0.6-5 mg/ft2 high 8
  B-Nine spray 945 mg/ft2 moderate 8
 
Aphelandra squarrosa A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Ardisia crispa A-Rest spray 50 ppm none 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm slight 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm none 9
 
Brassaia actinophylla A-Rest spray 50 ppm high 9
  A-Rest spray 5 mg/ft2 high 8
  A-Rest spray 113 ppm slight 20
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 none 2
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 none 16
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm none 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm slight 20
  B-Nine spray 945mg/ft2 moderate 8
  Bonzi drench 0.06-0.25
mg/6"pot		 none 16
  Bonzi spray 62.5-125 ppm slight 10
  Bonzi drench 0.75-4
mg/6"pot		 slight 10
  Bonzi drench 0.2-2mg/
16cm pot		 high 23
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot slight 7
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm moderate 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm none 20
  Sumagic drench 0.2-1mg
/16cm pot		 high 23
 
Cissus rhombifolia A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Bonzi spray 62.5-125 ppm slight 10
  Bonzi drench 0.75-4mg
/6"pot		 slight 10
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Codiaeum variegatum Bonzi spray 12-75 ppm high 23
  Bonzi drench .05-.4mg
/6.5"pot		 high 23
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot moderate 7
  Sumagic spray 12-75 ppm high 23
  Sumagic drench .05-.4mg
/16cm pot		 high 23
           
Cordyline terminalis A-Rest spray 5 mg/ft2 moderate 8
           
Cyanotis kewensis A-Rest spray 50 ppm moderate 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm moderate 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm high 9
           
Dieffenbachia maculata A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm none 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm none 4
  A-Rest drench 22-0.88mg
/11"pot		 moderate 13
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 slight 16
  B_nine spray 1000-1000 ppm none 4
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot moderate 7
  Bonzi drench 0.06-0.25
mg/6"pot		 moderate 16
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Sumagic drench 0.2-0.6
mg/6"pot		 moderate 16
           
Dracaena marginata Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6" pot slight 7
           
Epipremnum aureum A-Rest spray (3x)100 ppm high 17
  A-Rest drench .25-0.75mg
/6" pot		 moderate 3
  A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  A-Rest spray 5.0 mg/ft2 high 8
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm high 19
  B-Nine spray 945mg/ft2 slight 8
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot slight 7
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm slight 19
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Fatshedera A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 high 2
           
Ficus benjamina A-Rest drench .5-1.5mg
/8"pot		 moderate 11
  A-Rest drench 10mg/10"pot slight 1
  A-Rest spray 132 ppm slight 1
  A-Rest drench 0. 5-1.0mg
/8"pot		 moderate 12
  A-Rest drench+ spray 1.0mg/6"pot
200 ppm		 moderate 18
  Bonzi spray 500-2000 ppm high 1
  Bonzi drench 5-10mg/10"pot high 1
  Bonzi drench .125-8mg/4"pot high 14
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot high 7
           
Ficus elastica A-Rest drench 1mg/6"pot none 5
  Bonzi spray 62.5-100 ppm slight 10
  Bonzi drench .75-4mg/6"pot slight 10
           
Ficus lyrata Bonzi spray 62.5-125 ppm moderate 10
  Bonzi drench .75-4mg/6"pot high 10
           
Ficus retusa A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Bonzi drench .75-4mg/6"pot slight 10
 
Gynura aurantiaca A-Rest spray 50 ppm high 9
  A-Rest spray 5mg/ft2 moderate 8
  A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm none 9
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm + 4
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm + 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm + 4
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm none 9
           
Hedera helix A-Rest drench .25-1.0
/6"pot		 none 5
  A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm + 4
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg
/6"pot		 slight 7
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Hoya carnosa Bonzi spray 62.5-125 ppm slight 10
  Bonzi drench .75-4mg/6"pot slight 10
           
Monstera deliciosa A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
           
Nephrolepis exaltata Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot none 7
           
Peperomia caparata A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
           
Peperomia crassifolia A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 high 21
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0mg
/6"pot		 none 21
           
Peperomia metallica A-Rest drench 0.12-1.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0gm
/6"pot		 slight 21
           
Peperomia griseoargentea A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 high 21
 
Peperomia obtusifolia A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench .25-1mg
/6"pot		 moderate 5
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 16
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm none 4
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot moderate 7
  Bonzi drench 0.06-0.25mg
/6"pot		 moderate 16
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Sumagic drench 0.2-0.6mg
/6"pot		 high 16
           
Philodendron scandens
oxycardium		 A-Rest spray 10-200 ppm + 4
  A-Rest drench 0.5-5 ppm + 4
  A-Rest spray 50 ppm slight 9
  A-Rest spray 5mg/ft2 moderate 8
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0
mg/6"pot		 moderate 2
  A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0
mg/6"pot		 none 16
  B-Nine spray 2500-10000 ppm moderate 16
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm slight 9
  B-Nine spray(2x) 10000 ppm moderate 19
  B-Nine spray 1000-10000 ppm moderate 4
  Bonzi drench 0.06-0.25
mg/6"pot		 none 16
  Cycocel spray 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel drench 500-3000 ppm none 4
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm slight 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm slight 19
  Sumagic drench 0.2-0.8mg
/6"pot		 none 16
           
Pilea cadierei A-Rest spray mg/ft2 high 8
  A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
  A-Rest spray 50 ppm moderate 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm moderate 9
  Bonzi spray 25-400 ppm moderate 6
  Bonzi drench 0.12-2.0mg
/5"pot		 moderate 6
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0gm
/6"pot		 slight 21
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm high 9
           
Pilea depressa A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
  A-Rest drench 0.25-0.75mg
/6"pot		 slight 3
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg
/6"pot		 high 7
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0gm
/6"pot		 high 21
           
Pilea involucrata A-Rest spray 50 ppm moderate 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm moderate 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm slight 9
           
Pilea microphylla A-Rest spray 50 ppm slight 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm slight 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm moderate 9
           
Pilea serpyllacea A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 high 21
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0gm
/6"pot		 moderate 21
 
Plectranthus australis Bonzi drench 0.2-1mg
/6"pot		 high 23
  Sumagic drench 0.02-0.8mg
/6"pot		 high 23
           
Plectranthus nummularius Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot high 7
           
Saxifraga stolonifera Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot moderate 7
           
Saxifraga sarmentosa A-Rest drench 0.12-2.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
           
Sedum anglicum A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 21
  Cycocel drench 0.5-2.0gm
/6"pot		 moderate 21
           
Syngonium podophyllum A-Rest spray 50 ppm moderate 9
  A-Rest spray 5mg/ft2 moderate 8
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm none 9
  B-Nine spray 10000 ppm slight 19
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot slight 7
  Bonzi drench 0.1-1.0mg
/6"pot		 moderate 23
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm none 9
  Cycocel spray 3000 ppm slight 19
  Sumagic drench 0.25-1.0mg
6"pot		 moderate 23
           
Tradescantia fluminensis A-Rest drench 0.25-1.0mg
/6"pot 		high 2
           
Zebrina pendula A-Rest spray 5mg/ft2 high 8
  B-Nine spray 945mg/ft2 moderate 8
  Bonzi drench 0.5mg/6"pot high 7
  1. 1rating scale developed by the author to standardize published data where slight - 1-10%; moderate = 11-50% and high = 51% or greater growth reduction of treated plants versus untreated plants. The + sign indicates that a positive response to the growth retardants was reported but no numerical data presented in the original paper.

*Professor of Plant Genetics, Central Florida Research and Education Center - Apopka, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504

Literature Cited

1. Barrett, J.E. and T.A. Nell. 1983. Ficus benjamina response to growth retardants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 96:264-265.

2. Blessington, T.M. and C.B. Link. 1980. Influence of Ancymidol on four species of tropical foliage plants under different artificial light intensities. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105:502-504.

3. Blessington, T.M., A.A. Srithavaj, and C.C. Singletary. 1980. Influence of watering methods and Ancymidol on two tropical foliage species held in a simulated interior environment. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105:785-787.

4. Cathey, H.M. 1975. Comparative plant growth-retarding activities ancymidol with ACPC, phosfon, chlormequat, and SADH on ornamental species. HortScience 10:204-216.

5. Collins, Pamela C. and Thomas M. Blessington. 1981. Influence of production light and ancymidol on foliage plants. HortScience 16(2):215-216.

6. Cox, Douglas A. and Flora F. whittington. 1988. Effects of paclobutrazol on height and performance of aluminum plant in a simulated interior environment. HortScience 23(1):222.

7. Davis, Tim D. and Narendra Sankhla. 1987. When you don't want it to grow. Interior Landscape Industry 4(8):44-47.

8. Frank, D.F. and A. Donnan, Jr. 1975. Influence of A-rest on tropical foliage plants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 88:531-534.

9. Henley, R.W. and R.T. Poole. 1974. Influence of growth regulators on tropical foliage plants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 87:435-438.

10. Hickman, Gary W. 1986. A new growth regulator for greenhouse plants. California Agriculture 40(11):16-17.

11. Johnson, C.R. 1979. Influence of growth regulators on Ficus benjamina L. Nurserymen's Digest 13(5):88.

12. Johnson, C.R. and J.N. Joiner. 1978. Influence of ancymidol and ethephon on growth of Ficus benjamina L. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 91:204-205.

13. Joiner, J.N., R.T. Poole, C.R. Johnson, and C. Ramcharam. 1979. Effects of ancymidol and N,P,K on growth and appearance of Dieffenbachia maculata 'Baraquiniana'. HortScience 13:182-184.

14. Lecain, D.R., K.A. Schekel and R.L. Wample. 1986. Growth-retarding effects of paclobutrazol on weeping fig. HortScience 21(5):1150-1152.

15. Mansour, Hazem and R.T. Poole. 1987. Growth retardants - how can they help? Foliage Digest 10(10):1-3.

16. Mansour, H.A. and R.T. Poole. 1987. Trials with growth retardants on ornamental foliage plants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 100:375-378.

17. McConnell, D.B. and R.T. Poole. 1972. Vegetative growth modification of Scindapsus aureus by ancymidol and PBA. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 85:387-383.

18. Peterson, N.C. and T.M. Blessington. 1982. Postharvest effects of ancymidol on Ficus benjamina L. HortScience 17(4):612-614.

19. Poole, R.T. 1970. Influence of growth regulators on stem elongation and rooting response of foliage plants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 83:497-502.

20. Sanderson, Kenneth C. and C. Martin Willis, Jr. 1984. "But they're growing too much!" Interiorscape 3(5):76-77.

21. Vienravee, Kanok and Marlin N. Rogers. 1974. Growth control of terrarium plants with ancymidol. 1974. Florists' Review 155(4008):24-25, 67-71.

22. Wang, Y.T. 1987a. Influence of ancymidol on growth and interior quality of Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly'. HortScience 22(5):959-960.

23. Wang, Y.T. and T.M. Blessington. 1990. Growth of four tropical foliage species treated with paclobutrazol or uniconazole. HortScience 25(2):202-204.