Abstract
Hydrangeas are an increasingly popular group of shrubs which are prized for their showy inflorescence. Nursery crop producers grow numerous hydrangea varieties for the landscape and florist markets. Hydrangeas are typically hand-pruned during propagation and production to promote compaction and to increase the number of branches which has potential for increasing blooms and marketability. Identifying a plant growth regulator (PGR) treatment that effectively improves the architecture of hydrangeas became an IR-4 Project research priority for 2011. Research evaluating Augeo (dikegulac sodium), Configure (benzyladenine) and Florel (ethephon) shows worthwhile results. Augeo (800 and 1600 ppm) significantly increased branching compared to untreated pots of florist varieties Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt's Supreme’ and landscape varieties H. macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ and H. paniculata ‘Limelight’. Configure (300 ppm and 600 ppm) and Florel (500 and 1000 ppm) did not significantly improve branching in five of six trials compared to the control. Significant chlorosis on Augeo treated plants was observed initially but this diminished by 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) for four out of six trials. Little to no crop injury was observed with Configure or Florel treatments to hydrangea liners. This research shows promise for identifying a plant growth regulator treatment to meet the demand for improved branching on hydrangea.
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