Pre-plant application of growth retardants to pinched and unpinched chrysanthemum cuttings

Increasing concentrations of ancymidol (α-cyclopropyl-α-(p-methyoxyphenyl-5-pyrimidinemethanol)) and daminozide (butanedioic acid mono 2,2-dimethylhydrazide) applied as pre-plant dips to chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum X morifolium Ramat. ‘Garland’) cuttings sequentially reduced the height of both pinched and unpinched plants. Pinching also reduced height, and lower concentrations of growth retardants were necessary to achieve the desired height control. Pinching reduced dry weight in most treatments, as did most chemical treatments. Flowering in pinched plants was delayed by all ancymidol dips, while only higher concentrations delayed flowering in unpinched plants. Higher concentrations of ancymidol also reduced flower diameter.