DOnt even get me started about the use of PGRs. Theyve been used commercially for as long as I have been involved with plants. My first horticulture corse in college was focused on how to use PGRs on pointsetia crops in the late 70’s. I think they are OK for potted plants that are created for florists (but still, it’s an out dated concept – the mum plants 10 inches tall with a foil wrapper), but I know that it needs to fit on a hospital table, but now that they are used everywhere, I am more concerned. Personally, I wouldn’t use them for anything – I miss the 4 foot tall pointsetias and the 3 foot tall Easter Lilies. Its more disturbing that they are used on shrubs, rhododendrons are almost always sprayed (including many Proven Winners) as well as nursery perennials – most every one comes treated. This fall I could not find a fall aster taller than 8 inches at our best nursery. Alls sprays will wear off and next year plants will grow to normal size, (imagine the shock an uninformed gardener will have!) but it’s not right. Their use on vegetable seedlings however is outrageous. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are almost always treated with a carcinogenic spray (which comes with a warning, but one that says that it wears off in four to six weeks). I can only presume that sprays are used across the greenhouse though, and if not, drift certainly must happen, spreading it onto herbs and edibles like lettuce or arugula that an uninformed gardener very well might buy and eat within a week or two. I see it happen all of the time. What gets me even more upset is that all PGRS are far more dangerous than Roundup and Imidicloprid according to all tests and the EPA guidelines. Why arent people on that bandwagon? My guess is that they just don’t know.

Hi Dee (sorry for the delay in responding – book deadline you know! So the subject always gets people fired up and surely my book will too as I often list the merits of both organic and inorganic fertilizer (to me it's essentially the same anyway and most chemists would agree). I use Miracle Gro on some things, if they need an analysis that is close to 28-8-16. It's a simple as that. I know that it's a little overwhelming but if we put the amount of work into researching what a plant needs nutritionally that we put into the health of our children, pets or even ourselves, then maybe we might feel differently about fertility. Growth regulators aside ( but as I said, I have seen some positive use of PGR's but I was shocked to learn that they are used even on Christmas trees and on many perennials found at the nursery which really ticks me off – nothing like buying a nice fall blooming aster only to find out that it really grows 5 feet tall the following year! Many branded perennial grow sheet list PRGS even for ornamental grasses. That concerns me a bit. Though, I've seen incredible gentians grown with PGR's last year. I think Im OK with that for some ornamental and disposable plants – dare I say pointsettia's, but I may be the only human who still likes the super tall ones! When I was an alter boy (shut up!) they used to tower over me (I was 5 years old), but they made an impression. I'm going to write a few posts about fertiliity but no matter what, they will be controversial. As for Bonnie Plants – I wasnt aware that they were bought out but I understand that national brands would need to maintain some sense of uniformity – not that I would condone the use of PGR's on veggies. I dont know if they reccomend their use, but what would stop a local licensed plug grower from trying to get their crop looking better than the competition? I always shudder when I see their basic sold at the nursery and I watch someone buying it who I susspect may pick some that evening for their dinner. That concerns me. Great as always to hear from you my friend – maybe someday we could be on a panel about these topics? Hope it warms up there soon! Matt