NaoTK
Chumono
Enough talk! Someone needs to actually test Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) on bonsai species.
There are a few threads on the topic here and here and here
Purdue has a great overview here: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ho/ho-248-w.pdf
For the lazy:
I have chosen to focus on these 3 easily obtainable chemicals and they each have a different mechanism of action. I was able to buy a lifetime supply of all of them for <$100. It's important to note that these PGRs don't just retard growth, the plant mass is conserved. What you get is more lateral branching and thicker stems.
I have selected pre-bonsai material and will treat them according to the below table at least every 3 weeks. This is a qualitative study. We will do side-by side comparisons of internode length, leaf size, etc. I will update every month.
Day -20 days ago. I wont treat until leaves appear.
March 7, Day 0. I applied the cocktail to only the large maples which are already leafing out. The leaves are still inflating.
There are a few threads on the topic here and here and here
Purdue has a great overview here: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ho/ho-248-w.pdf
For the lazy:
I have chosen to focus on these 3 easily obtainable chemicals and they each have a different mechanism of action. I was able to buy a lifetime supply of all of them for <$100. It's important to note that these PGRs don't just retard growth, the plant mass is conserved. What you get is more lateral branching and thicker stems.
Common Name | Active Ingredient | Absorption sites | Application rate | Mechanism of Action |
B-Nine | Daminozide | Leaves | 1000-5000ppm | At the end of the GA (Gibberellic Acid) production process Daminozide renders a key enzyme for GA production useless, thus reducing GA levels. |
Cycocel/Citadel | Chloremequate Chloride | Leaves, Roots | 250-3000ppm | Inhibits GA production early in the process. |
Florel | Ethephon | Leaves | 250-5000ppm | Converted to ethylene in plant cells. The increased ethylene causes cells to limit elongation and increase in width instead. Causes flower drop, fruit drop, early ripening of fruit |
I have selected pre-bonsai material and will treat them according to the below table at least every 3 weeks. This is a qualitative study. We will do side-by side comparisons of internode length, leaf size, etc. I will update every month.
Group | Concentration | Japanese Maple (sango kaku) | Trident maple | Princess persimmon (identical genetic) | Large Japanese maple (SK) | Large Trident maple (from cutting) |
Control | NA | X | X | X | X | X |
B-Nine | 3000 ppm | X | X | X | | |
Cycocel/Citadel | 2000 ppm | X | X | X | | |
Florel | 3000 ppm suggested concentration used on azaleas | X | X | X | | |
Cocktail (all 3) | All above | X | X | X | X | X |
Day -20 days ago. I wont treat until leaves appear.
March 7, Day 0. I applied the cocktail to only the large maples which are already leafing out. The leaves are still inflating.