THE INFLUENCE OF GROWTH RETARDANTS AND CYTOKININS ON FLOWERING OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

S u m m a r y Growth retardants are applied in order to obtain short and well compact plants. They usually inhibit stem elongation, but also can infl uence the fl owering of plants. The aim of cytoki-nin application is to obtain well branched plants without remo-ving the apical meristem. Cytokinins usually increase the num-ber of axillary shoots but also can infl uence fl owering. Growth retardants and cytokinins can affect fl ower size, pedicel length, number of fl owers, fl ower longevity, abortion of fl ower buds and number of days from potting plants to the fi rst open fl ower. Flo-wering of growth retardant and cytokinin treated plants might depend on the method of growth regulator used (foliar spray or soil drench), plant species or even a plant cultivar, but in the highest degree it depends on the growth regulator rate used. These growth regulators, when are applied at rates appropriat