Initiation of Flower Buds in Rhododendron after Application of Growth Retardants

Vegetative terminals of azalea ( Rhododendron spp.) plants of varying ages initiated flower buds promptly after application of the chemical growth retardants, tributyl-2,4-dichlorobenzylphosphonium chloride (phosfon) and (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), as soil drenches. This response occurred under environmental conditions which prevented or limited flower bud initiation in untreated plants. Normal flowering followed exposure of the treated plants to dormancy-breaking cool storage.