BALANCING PGR PRINCIPLES
The term PGR has come to include many things , and not all of them are harmful . Some of the of major classifications of plant growth regulators are auxins , cytokinins , ethylene generators , gibberellins , and growth inhibitors / retardants . Auxins elongate shoots . They are primarily used to increase growth , flower formation , and to increase root mass . Cytokinins stimulates cell division and are primarily used to increase root mass and new bud growth . Ethylene generators ripen fruit and are primarily used to ripen fruit uniformly , giving the plant consistent fruit size and weight . Gibberellins elongate cells and stimulate cell division and are primarily used to increase fruit and flower size . Finally , grow inhibitors and retardants stop or slow down growth . They are primarily used to increase flower production by shortening the internodes , make more node sites , and / or to completely stop the lateral growth of a plant . So the big question is , are PGRs illegal ? Well , no , not if they are used on ornamental plants , but without going too far down the rabbit hole of what is and isn ’ t legal , what I can say is that some are prohibited for use on plants grown , and intended for human consumption .
Good Control
PGRs are a great way to control plants . They will , if used in the right mixtures at the correct dosages , considerably improve the desired factors . PGRs can help a plant produce more flowers and fruits and assist in producing even consistent flowers and fruits . They can help you keep plant height consistent and reduce the time it takes for a plant produce its flowers and fruits . They can also make a plant less susceptible to fungi , diseases , and pests . PGRs can control plants in order to preserve the balance between the modern world and the natural world . By that I mean they have been used to stop growth in trees growing too high , which otherwise would have to be destroyed in order to prevent them from growing under bridges , telephone cables , and in other urban locations damaging or obstructing footings , buildings , and foundations .
At the other end of the scale , they can make houseplants stay manageable and become more resilient to stress and disease . PGRs are also used commonly and successfully within the retail flower business . They are used to make the flowers more appealing to the retail consumer by improving consistency in flower size and color . We ’ ve covered the positive attributes , so what ' s the problem ? As is often the case , when something seems too good to be true , it usually is .
A Moral Choice
Most people , including hydroponics shop owners and customers , would prefer not to sell or buy products that contain PGRs , if given a choice , but most do . There are several reasons for this , the first being the companies that produce the nutrients and additives do not always inform shop owners that their products contain PGRs , so the shop owner is none the wiser . On the flip side , some of the products that contain PGRs are so popular and sought after , a shop owner may find him or herself stuck with a moral choice . The owner can attempt to educate customers as much as possible on the benefits of non-PGR products but the bottom line is
PGRs can control plants in order to preserve the balance between the modern world and the natural world .
86 Maximum Yield USA | December 2016