RESEARCH RESULTS FOR FLOWER GROWERS
POINSETTIA STUDIES 1966.67
Kenneth 0. Sanderson and Willis C. Martin, Jr.
Horticulture Series No. 11
Agricultural Experiment Station
Auburn University
E. V. Smith ~September, l968 uun lbmAuburn, AlabamaE r V., Smith
RESEARCH RESULTS FOR FLOWER GROWER
POINSETTIA STUDIES 1966 - 67
I. INFLUENCE OF SEVERAL MEDIA ON THE GROWTH AND KEEPING QUALITY OF POINSETTIA,
CV 'PAUL MIKKELSEN'.
On September 21, 1966, cuttings of the poinsettia cultivar 'Paul Mikkelsen'
were "stuck" under mist for direct rooting in 12 media. Prior to sticking, the
bases of cuttings were dipped in a combination fungicide and root inducing com-
pound consisting of 50% Ferbam and 50% Hormodin No.2. Five cuttings were
placed in a 6-in. pot. The media were: (1) soil and peat; (2) soil and bagasse
(Bet-R-Growth, a sugar cane by-product provided 
by the McCarthey Co.); (3)
soil, peat and perlite; (4) soil, peat and bagasse; 
(5) sand and peat; (6) sand
and bagasse; (7) vermiculite and peat; 
(8) vermiculite and bagasse; (9) calcined
clay ("Sorbolite", a baked clay product furnished 
by Clay Products Co., Bradenton,
Fla.); (1) calcined clay and bagasse; (11) calcined 
clay, vermiculite and peat;
(12) calcined clay, vermiculite and bagasse. Lime requirements 
were determined
for each mixture and limestone added accordingly. Other 
fertilization consisted
of 2 lb. of superphosphate and 6 lb. of 8-8-8 per cu. yd. Following rooting, the
plants were fertilized on a weekly basis with 20-20-20 at the rate of 1 oz. per
4 gal. of water.
All plants were grown single stem in a greenhouse at 600 F. On December 16,
1966, two pots of each media treatment were placed in a room at 65-700 F. The
plants received light from windows and incandescent lamps for approximately 9
hours each day. Keeping quality records, consisting of percentage of foliage
retained and bract condition, were taken on January 31, 1967.
The various media mixtures did not exert any influence on the date of the
flowering, December 16, 1966. The tallest plants were grown in media mixtures
of soil and peat and soil, peat and perlite, Table 1. Mixtures of soil and
bagasse sand and peat produced the shortest plants. The media combination of
soil, perlite and peat or bagasse produced taller plants than the other combin-
ations, Table 2. Plants grown in peat-amended mixtures (8.6 in.) were taller
than plants grown in bagasse-amended mixtures (8.1).
After 47 days under home keeping conditions, plants grown in soil and peat
and soil and bagasse mixtures had the highest percentage of foliage intact. The
media combination of calcined clay and the amendments had the poorest foliage
retention. Peat-and-bagasse-amended mixtures had essentially the same percentage
of foliage remaining (32% vs. 30%). Bract condition was best in plants grown in
sand and bagasse, Table 13. The bracts of plants grown in bagasse-amended mixtures
were in better condition than the bracts of plants grown in peat-amended mixtures,
Table 2.
_/ For more detailed information on specific questions, contact the authors 
at
Department of Horticulture, Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
36830. Note: Trade names of materials appearing in this report do not imply
endorsement by Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station.
/ Cuttings utilized in poinsettia research were propagated from stock plants
donoted by Paul Ecke Poinsettias, Encinitas, California.
Table 1. The Influence of Media on the Mean Height, Foliage Retention and
Bract Condition of Poinsettia cv. 'Paul Mikkelsen'
Keeping qual
Foliage
retention
ity
Bract
condition
Soil and peat . . .... ..........
Soil and bagasse . . . . . . . . . . .
Soil, perlite and peat . . . .
Soil, perlite and bagasse .. . . . . .
Sand and peat ............
Sand and bagasse . . . . . . . . . . .
Vermiculite and peat . . . . .
Vermiculite and bagasse . . . . . ....
Calcined clay and peat ........
Calcined clay and bagasse. . . . . ..
Calcined clay, vermiculite and peat . .
Calcined clay, vermiculite and bagasse.
Mean . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ..
9.7
6.9
9.6
9.0
7.1
8.1
7.1
7.9
9.2
8.3
9.0
8.1
8.3
70
60
40
40
10
25
30
35
15
10
25
20
31.7
Poor, shedding
Fair, starting to shed
Fair-poor, starting to
shed
Poor, starting to shed
Poor, shedding
Good-poor, some shedding
Poor, shedding
Fair-poor,starting to shed
Poor, shedding
Poor, shedding
Poor, shedding
Poor, shedding
1/ Equal portions of materials were used in all media. 
Limed according to test,
each medium contained 2 lb. of superphosphate and 
6 lb. of 8-8-8 per cu. yd.
2 Keeping quality determinations made 47 days after 
flowering.
Table 2. Influence of Media Combination on 
the Mean Height and
Keeping Quality of Poinsettia cv. 'Paul 
Mikkelsen'
1i/ Keeping quality
Media 
Height
above Foliage 
Bract
pot rim retention 
condition
In. %
Soil and amendment. ........... 
8.3 65 Fair 
- poor
Soil, perlite and amendment . ...... 
. 9.3 40 Fair -
poor
Sand and amendment . .
. . . . . . . . 7.6 
18 Good - poor
Vermiculite and amendment . .
. . ... 7.5 33 
Fair - poor
Calcined clay and amendment. . . . . . 8.8 13 
Poor
Calcined clay, vermiculite and amendment.. 8.6 23 
Poor
Mean 
................... 
8.4 
32
1/ Equal portions of materials 
were used in all media. 
Amendment was either peat
or bagasse (mean represents plants 
grown in both). Limed according 
to test,
each medium contained 
2 lb. superphosphate 
and 6 lb. 8-8-8 per cu. 
yd.
/ Keeping quality determinations were made 47 days after flowering.
Media
Height
above
not rim
In.
.
II. EFFECT OF VARIOUS GROWTH RETARDANT TREATMENTS ON SEVERAL POINSETTIA CULTIVARS.
Cuttings of poinsettia cultivars 'Elisabeth Ecke', 'Snowcap', 'Snowflake',
'Stoplight' and 'White Cloud' were direct rooted under mist in a soil mixture con-
sisting of equal parts of soil, peat, and perlite. The cuttings 
were stuck on Sept-
ember 20, 1966. Three cuttings were placed in a 6-in. pot. A combination fungicide-
root inducing powder consisting of 50% Ferbam and 50% Hormodin No. 2 was applied to
the base of all cuttings prior to "sticking". Following rooting, the plants were
grown single stem at 600 F. in full sun and fertilized each week with 20-20-20 at
the rate of 1 oz. per 4 gal. of water.
Growth retardant treatments were started on October 24, 1966. The treatments were:
(1) drench, 0.3% cycocel 60 ml per pot (Amer. Cyanamid Company's registered trademark
for (2-chloroethyl) trimethylamonium chloride); (2') drench, 0.3% cycocel plus a spray
of 0.5% B-Nine (Uniroyal Company's registered trademark for N-dimethylamino succinamic
acid); (3) spray, 0.25% cycocel combined with 1.0% B-Nine; (4) spray, 1.0% B-Nine;
(5 spray, 0.5% B-Nine; (6) spray, 0.25% cycocel; (7) spray, 0.25% cycocel in 25%
Green-Glo (a foliar material manufactured by the Green-Glo Co., Waco, Texas); (8)
spray, 0.25% followed one week later by a spray, 0.25% B-Nine; (9) spray, 1.0% B-Nine
in 25% Green-Glo; (10) check.
The flowering date, height above the pot rim and bract diameter was determined
for each plant. Data was collected on six plants of each variety.
The growth retardant treatments resulted in less than 1 to 4 days delay in the
date of flowering for each of the poinsettia cultivars, Table 3. The mean flowering
date for various retardant treatments differed from the check by 1-2 days. The United
States Department of Agriculture cultivars 'Snowcap', 'Snowflake', 'Stoplight', and
'White Cloud' flowered 7-19 days later than 'Elisabeth Ecke', 'Ecke White' and 'Paul
Mikkelsen'. 'White Cloud' was the last cultivar to flower, December 17. 'Paul Mikkel-
sen' flowered first, November 29.
Table 3. Effect of Various Growth Retardant Treatments on the Mean
Date of Flowering of Several Poinsettia Cultivars
i/ Cultivars 2
Treatment EE E W P M S C S F S L W C Mean
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel . 11/30 11/29 11/29 12/9 12/7 12/6 12/17 12/4
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel
spray;0.5% B-Nine . . 11/29 11/29 11/29 12/9 12/7 12/7 12/17 12/5
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
& 1.0% B-Nine . . . . 12/1 12/1 11/29 12/8 12/7 
12/7 12/17 12/6
Spray, 1.0% B-Nine . . 12/1 11/29 11/30 12/9 12/7 12/7 12/17 12/6
Spray, 0.5% B-Nine . . 11/30 11/29 11/29 12/9 12/9 12/7 12/15 
12/6
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel . 12/1 11/29 11/29 12/9 12/8 12/8 12/15 12/5
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
in 25% Green-Glo . . 11/30 11/30 11/29 12/9 12/8 12/7 
12/18 12/5
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
spray, 0.25% B-Nine . 12/1 11/29 11/30 12/9 
12/8 12/7 12/17 12/6
Spray, 1.0% B-Nine
in 25% Green-Glo . . 12/1 11/30 11/29 12/10 
12/9 12/7 12/18 12/6
Check . . . . . . . 12/1 11/30 11/29 12/8 12/7 12/7 12/14 12/5
Mean .1...... 2/1 11/30 11/29 12/9 12/8 12/7 12/17 12/5
1/ Plants propagated on Sept. 20, 
1966. All treatments applied Oct. 
24, 1966 with
the exception of the 0.25%
B-Nine spray in treatment 8 which was applied 
Oct. 31, 1966.
2/ Cultivars abbreviated as follows: E E: 
'Elisabeth Ecke', E W: 'Ecke White',
P M: 'Paul Mikkelsen', S C: 
'Snowcap', S F: 'Snowflake', 
S L: 'Stoplight', W C:
'White Cloud'.
~ I I
The mean height of the plant was greatest with the plants receiving a 0.5% B-
Nine spray, Table 5. The shortest height means occurred with plants receiving a
0.25% R-Nine spray in 25% Green-Glo, a 0.25% cycocel spray plus a 0.25% B-Nine
spray one week later and a combination spray of 0.25% cycocel and 1.0% B-Nine.
The treatment that gave the greatest height reduction over the check was the 1.0%
P-Nine in 25% Green-Glo. The cultivars differed in their response to the treat-
ments with no one treatment causing a maximum height reduction in all or a number
of cultivars. 'Elisabeth Ecke' produced the shortest plants. 'White Cloud' had
tallest mean height.
Table 4. Effect of Various
(Inches) Above
Growth Retardant Treatments on the Mean Plant Height
the Pot Rim of Several Poinsettia Cultivars
1/ Cultivars
Treatment EE E W PM SC SF SL W C Mean
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel . 12.0 17.5 15.5 15.6 14.0 19.1 16.3 15.7
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel
spray, 0.5% B-Nine. . 12.8 18.5 13.3 14.6 13.3 16.6 16.1 15.0
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
& 1.0% B-Nine . . . . 13.1 16.6 13.6 14.6 13.5 15.6 13.3 14.3
Spray, 1.0% B-Nine . . 13.3 17.0 17.5 17.0 11.5 17.1 16.1 15.6
Spray, 0.5% B-Nine . . 14.6 19.6 18.0 14.5 14.1 16.6 19.5 16.7
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel . 10.3 17.5 15.0 15.8 11.6 17.0 16.6 14.8
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
in 25% Green-Glo. . . 11.1 18.6 18.3 14.3 12.3 17.6 15.5 15.4
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
spray, 0.25% B-Nine. 9.8 15.8 13.6 15.5 12.3 16.3 16.0 14.2
Spray, 1.0% R-Nine
in 25% Green-Glo . . 10.3 17.1 13.6 12.6 11.0 16.5 16.1 13.9
Check .... . . .. 14.1 10.1 13.1 16.8 14.0 17.6 18.3 16.0
Mean .... ..... . 12.1 17.6 15.2 15.1 12.7 17.0 16.4 15.1
l/ Plants propagated on Sept. 20, 1966. All treatments applied Oct. 24, 1966
with the exception of the 0.25% B-Nine spray in treatment 8 which was applied
Oct. 31, 1966.
2/ Cultivars abbreviated as follows: E E: 'Elisabeth Ecke', E W: 'Ecke 
White',
P M: 'Paul Mikkelsen', S C: 'Snowcap', S F: 'Snowflake', S L: 'Stoplight',
W C: 'White Cloud'.
The application of growth retardants reduced the size of the bract, 
Table 5.
The smallest mean bract diameter (10.2 in.) was recorded for plants 
receiving the
0.25% cycocel spray in 25% Green-Glo. The check 
(untreated) had a mean bract
diameter of 12.9 in. The combination spray of 0.25% 
cycocel and 1.0% B-Nine
caused the most bract diameter reduction in the cultivars 
'Ecke White', Paul
Mikkelsen' and 'Stoplight'. The bract 
size of 'Snowflake' and 'White Cloud' was
most reduced by the 0.25% cycocel spray plus the 
0.25% B-Nine spray one week later
and the 0.25% B-Nine spray in 25% Green-Glo. The bract diameter 
of 'Snowcap'
suffered the most reduction when treated with a spray 
of 0.25% cycocel and 0.25%
cycocel in 25% Green-Glo. The 0.25% cycocel spray 
followed by the 0.25% B-Nine
5
spray one week later caused greatest reduction in bract diameter in the cultivar
'Elisabeth Ecke'. 'Elisabeth Ecke' and 'Snowcap' had the greatest mean 
bract
diameter. 'Snowflake' had the smallest mean bract diameter.
Table 5. Effect of Various Growth Retardant Treatments on the 
Bract Diameter
(Inches) of Several Poinsettia Cultivars
/ 
Cultivars
Treatment E E E W PM SC SF SL W C Mean
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel . . 13.0 12.5 11.6 13.5 10.5 12.8 
10.3 12.0
Drench, 0.3% Cycocel
spray, 0.5% B-Nine . .. 14.0 11.5 12.5 13.1 10.5 12.5 11.3 12.2
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
& 1.0% B-Nine...... 12.8 9.0 11.1 11.8 10.0 10.5 10.6 10.8
Spray, 1.0% B-Nine . ... 13.5 12.1 12.8 13.1 10.5 12.3 11.1 12.2
Spray, 0.5% B-Nine . ... 13.8 9.6 12.3 13.1 10.3 12.6 12.0 12.0
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel . . 12.3 11.3 12.5 12.0 10.1 11.5 11.5 11.6
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
in 25% Green-Glo .... 13.0 9.5 12.5 12.1 11.3 12.8 10.3 10.2
Spray, 0.25% Cycocel
spray, 0.25% B-Nine . . 12.0 10.3 11.6 13.0 9.6 11.6 9.6 11.1
Spray, 1.0% B-Nine
in 25% Green-Glo . . . 13.0 10.3 12.0 12.8 9.6 12.8 10.1 11.5
Check .......... 13.1 12.6 12.0 14.5 12.3 13.0 12.5 12.9
Mean 13. . . ..... 13.1 10.9 12.1 13.0 10. 12.2 11.0 ll.8
1/ Plants propagated on Sept. 20, 1966. All treatments applied with the exception
of the 0.25% B-Nine spray in treatment 8 which was applied Oct. 31, 1966.
j Cultivars abbreviated as follows: E E: 'Elisabeth Ecke', E W: 'Ecke White',
P M: 'Paul Mikkelsen', S C: 'Snowcap', S F: 'Snowflake', S L: 'Stoplight',
W C: 'White Cloud'.
III. SCHEDULED PRODUCTION OF THE POINSETTIA CULTIVARS, 'ECKE WHITE' AND 'PAUL
MIKKELSEN' UNDER NATURAL FLOWERING CONDITIONS.
Cuttings of the poinsettia cultivars 'Ecke White' and 'Paul Mikkelsen'
were rooted under mist on various propagation dates as shown in Table 6. All
pinched plants and the 10-in. single stem plants 
were propagated in peat pots.
The 10-in. pots were panned on October 17, 1966, and the 8-in. and 6-in. pots
on September 9, 1966. The remaining single stem plants were rooted directly in
the pots. A 1:1:1 soil, peat and perlite soil mixture was used in rooting and
growing the plants. All cuttings, except those taken in October were treated
with a mixture of 50% Hormodin No. 2 and 50% Ferbam. Hormodin No. 3 was used on
the October cuttings. Four pots of each cultivar were propagated on each date.
Upon callusing the plants were fertilizer with 25-10-10 at the rate of 1 oz. per
4 gal. each week. All plants were flowered naturally.
Table 6 shows the number of flowers, height and flowering dates of the plants
on various propagation schedules. 'Ecke White' had a mean number of flowers per
pinched plant of 2.9. The mean number of flowers per pinched plant for 'Paul
Mikkelsen' was 2.6. With the 
exception of the last two propagation 
dates for 'Paul
Mikkelsen'; the height of the plants 
was within the expected range predicted 
by
the originator of this schedule, 
Shanks of Maryland. Late propagation 
dates pro-
duced shorter plants than early propagation 
dates. Further experimentation 
on
scheduling is warrented to determine 
the influence of lighting to delay flowering
and the influence of the lighting on the 
height of the plants.
Table 6. Scheduled Production of the Poinsettia 
Cultivars,
'Ecke White' and 'Paul Mikkelsen'
Propagation Number Pot Pinch 
Number Height Flowering
date 1/ of size date 
/ of above date
cuttings (in:.) flowers rim (in.)
'Ecke White'
8/5/66 8 10 9/5/66 
22.5 16.0 12/7/66
8/15/66 8 10 SS 8.0 
17.2 12/7/66
s/15/66 6 8 9/15/66 17.0 15.2 12/11/66
8/19/66 4 8 9/20/66 10.7 16.0 
12/7/66
8/25/66 3 6 9/25/66 11.0 13.0 
12/9/66
9/1/66 6 8 ss 6.0 
16.0 12/7/66
9/9/66 5 6 ss 5.0 10.7 12/14/66
9/20/66 4 6 SS 4.0 9.0 
12/22/66
10/10/66 1 4 SS 1.0 8.4 
12/17/66
'Paul Mikkelsen'
8/5/66 8 10 9/5/66 19.7 17.7 12/12/66
8/15/66 8 10 SS 8.0 16.5 12/12/66
8/15/66 6 8 9/15/66 14.7 14.0 12/9/66
8/19/66 4 8 9/20/66 12.5 15.0 12/9/66
8/25/66 3 6 9/25/66 8.5 12.2 12/12/66
9/1/66 6 8 ss 6.0 17.5 12/7/66
9/9/66 5 6 SS 5.0 11.0 12/16/66
9/20/66 4 6 SS 4.0 6.2 12/22/66
10/10/66 1 4 ss 1.0 7.0 
12/22/66
1/ All pinched and the 10-in, single stem plants were propagated in peat pots
and later panned.
2/ Plants were grown both pinched and single stem (SS) and flowered naturally
without growth retardants.
IV. I\FTUENCE OF CYCOCEL DRENCHES AND B-NINE SPRAYS APPLIED AT VARIOUS TIMES
ON HEIGHT, STEM LENGTH AND BRACT HEAD DIAMETER OF POINSETTIA.
Cuttings of the poinsettia cultivars 'Paul Mikkelsen' and 'Elisabeth Ecke'
were propagated in sand under mist on July 24, 1966. A combination 
root-inducing
substance and fungicide was applied to all cuttings before sticking. 
The rooted
cuttings were potted on August 19, 1966 in a 1:1:1 soil, peat, and perlite 
medium
using 3 cuttings per 6-in. pot. All plants were pinched on 
September 8, 1966 and
growth retardant treatments were started. Growth retardant treatments consisted
of a check, cycocel drenches (1 qt. per 10 gal. with 6 oz. of solution applied to a
6-in. pot) and B-Nine sprays (0.5% to 1.0% concentrations) applied on various dates
as shown in Table 7. Three pots (9 plants) of each cultivar were used per treatment.
7
Two applications of a cycocel drench applied September 8 and October 
6
and a single cycocel drench applied September 22 produced plants 
with the
shortest mean height, Table 7. The two cycocel 
drenches applied September 8
and October 6 yielded the shortest plants 
for 'Paul Mikkelsen'. 'Elisabeth
Ecke' had the shortest plants when 
the plants received a single cycocel 
drench
on September 22 or two applications 
of cycocel on September 22 and October 
20.
The mean height of the cycocel 
treated plants was less than the mean 
height of
the B-Nine treated plants.
Table 7. Influence of Cycocel Drenches 
and B-Nine Sprays Applied at
Various Times on the Mean Height of 
Poinsettia, cv. 'Paul
Mikkelsen' and cv. 'Elisabeth 
Ecke'
/ Height (in.) above pot rim
Treatment 
Paul Elisabeth Mean
Mikkelsen Ecke
Check ....................... .. 
, 12.0 17.2 14.6
Cycocel drench, Sept. 8 ............ 
8.8 14.3 11.6
Cycocel drench, Sept. 8 and Oct. 6 . .
10.3 13.0 11.7
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22. . . . . . . . .. 
11.8 15.6 13.7
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22 and Oct. 20 . .
. 11.8 12.8 12.3
Cycocel drench, Oct. 6 .............. 
14.5 14.1 14.3
B-Nine, 1.0% spray Sept. 22 ... ... .. 15.7 
15.4 15.6
B-Nine, 0.5% spray Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 
. . 19.7 15.3 17.5
B-Nine, 0.5% spray, Oct. 6 and Oct. 20 .
. 17.6 16.4 17.0
Mean ........................ 
14.0 14.8 14.4
i/ Cuttings propagated July 24, 1966. 
Cycocel applied at the
3000 p.p.m. solution per 6-in. pot.
rate of 6 oz. of a
The length of the stem above the pinch was most effectively reduced by
two applications of a cycocel drench applied 
on September 8 and October 6 or
on September 22 and October 20, Table 8. 
The two earlier timed applications
(September 8 and October 6) were most effective on cv. 'Paul Mikkelsen'. 
A
single cycocel drench on September 8, and two 
drenches (one on September 22 and
the second on October 22) caused the greatest reduction in stem length 
in the
cultivar 'Elisabeth Ecke'. Cycocel treated plants (7'.1) had shorter stems above
the pinch than B-Nine treated plants (9.1).
Table 8. Influence of Cycocel Drenches and B-Nine Sprays Applied at Various
Times on the Mean Tength of Stem Above 
the Pinch in Poinsettia,
cv. 'Paul Mikkelsen-and cv. 'Elisabeth Ecke'
Stem length above pinch
Treatment Paul Elisabeth Mean
Mikkelsen Ecke
Check..... ..... . " 10.7 7.5.9.1
Cycocel drench, Sept.88 
5.0 7.9
Cycocel drench, Sept. 8and Oct. 6 . .. 7.1 
5.9 6.5
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22 ........... 7.9 6.2 7.1
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22 and Oct. 20 . . .1 5.0 6.6
Cycocel drench, Oct .6 .. .. .. .......... 3 6.2 7.3
B-Nine, 1.0% spray Sept. 22 .. ....... 10.3 7.4 89
R-Nine, 0.5% spray Sept. 6 and Oct. 6. 9.1 .8.6 8,
B-Nine, 1.0% spray, Oct. 6. .. .. .... ..9.4 9.2 9.3
B-Nine, 0.51~ spray Oct. 6 and Oct. 20 . 10 .2 8.0 9.1
Mean ....................... 0 6.98.
1j Cuttings propagated July 24, 1966. Cycocel applied at the rate of 6
p.p.m. solution per 6-in, pot.
oz. of 1000
The single cycocel drench applied on September 8 produced plants with the
smallest mean bract head diameter, Table 9. The check or no treatment had a
mean bract head diameter comparable to the most severe growth retardant treat-
ment. A cycocel drench on September 22 plus a second drench on October 22 caused
the greatest reduction in bract head diameter in cv. 'Elisabeth Ecke'. Cycocel
treated plants had a smaller mean bract head diameter (7.8 in.) than B-Nine
treated plants (8.4 in.).
Table 9. Influence of Cycocel Brenches and.B-Nine Sprays Applied 
at
Various Times on the Mean Bract Head Diameter of Poinsettia
cv. 'Paul Mikkelsen' and cv. 'Elisabeth Eckel.
Bract head diameter (in.'
Treatments Paul Elisabeth Mean
Mikkelsen Ecke
Check. . ... .... . . . . 6.7 9.0 7.9
Cycocel drench, Sept. 8 .. .... ..... 7.0 7.6 7.3
Cycocel drench, Sept. 7 and Oct.. 6. . 7.6 8.38.
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22..... ..... 6.6 9.68.
Cycocel drench, Sept. 22 and Oct. 20 8 .3 6.9 7.6
Cycocel drench, Oct. 6..........7.0 
8.98.
B-Nine 1.0% spray, Sept. 22...... ..... 7.1 9.68.
B-Nine 0.5% spray, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. . 7.1 9.784
B-Nine 1.0% spray, Oct. 6. .. .. ...... 6.7 10.7 
8.
B-Nine 0.5% spray, Oct. 6 and Oct. 20-0 6.7 9.1 7.9
Mean...... . ............. 7.1 
8.98.
]/Cutting propagated July 24, 1966. Cycocel applied at the rate of 6 oz . of a
3000 p.p.m. solution per 6-in, pot.
V. AN EVALUATION OF FIVE NEW POINSETTIA CULTIVARS.
Five new poinsettia cultivars, developed by Yoder Brothers, Barberton, Ohio,
were evaluated in 1967. The cultivars were Coronado, Flamenco, Franciso, Eldorado
and Rolando. The developer classed them as undisseminated seedlings which if
proven worthy would be patented or protected prior to dissemination to the commer-
cial trade. At present, these cultivars have not been released to the commercial
trade.
The cultivars were received from Parberton, Ohio as 
2 -in. pot plants. The
plants were potted (3 plants 
per 6-in. pot) in a sterile 
soil mixture consisting
of equal parts of soil, peat and perlite. Prior to potting, the pH of the mixture
was adjusted to 6.0 according to test and superphosphate (2 lb. per cu. yd.) added.
A single application of Terrachlor and 3 drenches of Dexon were used on the
plants for preventive disease control. Fertilization consisted of bi-monthly
applications of 25-10-10 at the rate of 1 oz. per 4 gal. of water. All the cultivars
except Coronado were evaluated as both pinched and single stem plants. Coronado
was not recommended for single stem culture. The culture schedule for the evaluation
was as follows:
Pinched crop
Single stem
Pot
Sept. 14
Sept. 29
Pinch
Sept. 21
Lighting-period
Sept. 14 - Oct.
Sept. 29 - Oct.
The mean plant height, bract diameter, flowering date and weeks of short day
response were recorded for each cultivar.
The results of the evaluation are presented in Table 10.
Table 10. Mean Plant Height, Bract Diameter, Flowering Date and
Weeks of Short Day Response of Yoder Poinsettia Cultivars
Grown Pinched and Single Stem
Bract Flowering Weeks
Cultivar Height (in.) diameter (in.) 
date short days
Pinched plants
Coronado 12.0 9.9 
12/20/67 10.9
Eldorado 14.2 12.6 
12/18/67 10.6
Flamenco 12.7 10.3 
12/20/67 10.6
Francisco 9.5 10.4 
12/18/67 10.6
Rolando 13.8 
12.6 12/18/67 10.6
Single stem plants
Coronado Not grown
Eldorado 14.9 
12.9 12/31/67 11.0
Flamenco 
12.7 9.3 
12/20/67 10.9
Francisco 
11.3 11.9 
12/20/67 10.9
Rolando 12.8 
13.3 12/18/67 10.9
10
Coronado produced a rather stocky, sturdy pinched 
plant (mean height 12.0 in.).
The mean number of breaks per plant was 
3.2. The foliage was medium size, dark green
and positioned high up on the bracts. Bract 
color, an intense scarlet red, was com-
parable or superior to existing cultivars. 
The color was brighter than the color 
of
Paul Mikkelsen or Elisabeth Ecke. The bract was medium sized and sinuated like the
leaf. Bracts were not well positioned for maximum 
display. Many of the bracts were
twisted or held at angles. Coronado required 
10.9 weeks of short days for a flower-
ing response.
Eldorado produced relatively tall plants both when grown.pinched 
and single
stem, Table 10. Foliage was large, deeply 
notched, medium to dark green and slightly
curled or sinuated in form. Elorado seemed to perform 
better when grown single
stem than when grown pinched. The mean 
number of breaks per plant when pinched was
2.9. Plant growth was quite uniform under both single stem and pinched 
culture.
Bract size was large, approaching that of Barbara 
Ecke Supreme. Elorado had an
interesting bract form with the bracts having a 
semi-formal, bi-lateral development
with a sinuated or ruffled appearance. Bract 
color was a brilliant orange-red, a
Santa Claus red. Lower bracts had a glazed appearance. 
Splitting of the bracts
was minimal or non-existant. This cultivar's short day response was 10.6 weeks
for pinched plants and 11.0 weeks for single stem plants. Eldorado 
was the most
promising red cultivar evaluated.
Flamenco averaged 12.7 inches in height under both pinched and single stem
culture. The mean number of breaks on pinched plants was 3.5. Stems were strong.
Pinched and single stem plants had uniform growth and were comparable in quality.
The bracts were a bright rose pink color. This color was a new pink which is not
found in current pink cultivars and was considered superior to that existing in
currently available pink cultivars. Bract diameters were 10.3 in. for pinched
plants and 9.3 in. for single stem plants. The horizontal displacement of the
bracts gave a maximum display. Foliage was dark green and of good substance.
The short day response of Flamenco was 10.6 weeks for pinched plants and 10.9 weeks
for single stem plants.
Franciso produced the shortest plants of the cultivars tested, Table 10.
Single stem plantswcre superior to pinched plants. The mean number of breaks per
plant was high (3.6), however, the shoots developing from the pinch were thin and
spindly. The bracts were an intense scarlet-red. Such a color intensity is not
found in current commercial cultivars. The bract form was uniformally ruffled
and resembled that of Stoplight. Bract displacement was not good. Many of the
bracts were turned or twisted thus not uniformly or completely displayed. Plants
flowered in 10.6 weeks when grown pinched and 10.9 weeks when grown single stem.
Rolando introduced a color that was different from existing cultivars. The
color was not a pink and not red and can be described as a rose red. Bract size
was large and wide. The form of the bracts was semi-informal. Leaf and bract
shape was not desirable. Rolando seemed to be more subject to splitting than
the other cultivars tested. Plants were tall, leggy and not compact (long inter-
nodes with few leaves). The average number of breaks per pinched plant was 
2.9.
Both pinched and single stem plants had a short day response of 10.6 weeks. 
Growth
was erratic with plants being of various heights under both cultures.
11
VI. INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS ROOT INDUCING SUBSTANCES ON THE ROOTING OF POINSETTIA
CV. ELISABETH ECKE CUTTINGS.
Cuttings of the poinsettia cultivar Elisabeth Ecke,a difficult to root cultivar,
were subjected to the root inducing treatments-shown in Table 11. The cuttings were
taken from field grown stock plants on August 23, 1967. The root inducing substances
were applied to the base of the cuttings 
as powders and 5-second liquid dips. 
Rooting
was done in sand and under mist. Five cuttings per treatment and five replications
were used. Approximately one month after treatment the rooting percentage and score
were recorded. Rooting scores were based on: 0 = no rooting, dead; 1 = no rooting,
alive; 2 = callused; 3 = light rooting; 4 = medium rooting; 5 heavy rooting.
Cuttings treated with a mixture of Hormodin No. 2 and Ferbam, and 20 p.p.m. in-
dolebutryic acid and 50 p.p.m. boric acid had the highest rooting percentages,
Table 11. Dips of 0-chloro phenoxy acetic acid, 2,4,5 trichloro phenoxy acetic acid
and a mixture of indolebutryic, naphalene acetic, 2,4,5 trichlorpropionic and boric
acids also had high rooting percentages. The former two materials have previously
yielded similar results with azaleas. Cuttings treated with a mixture of Hormodin
No. 2 and Ferbam had the highest mean rooting score. It is felt that the results
obtained with this mixture may be partially attributed to its fungicidal action.
Table 11. Influence of Various Root Inducing Substances on the Mean Rooting,
Percentage of Poinsettia cv. Elisabeth Ecke Cuttings
Treatments Per cent Rooting
rooted score
Hormodin No. 1 . . . . 47 2.1
Hormodin No. 2 . . . . . . . . . . ......... 13 
1.0
Hormodin No. 3......20 
1.6
Hormodin No. 2 and Ferbam, 1:1. .. . . . .. 7 3.7
Indole butryic acid (IBA) 20 p.p.m...27 
1.3
Indole acetic acid (IAA) 20 p.p.m............40 1.5
0-chiorophenoxy acetic acid, 20 p.p.m.. .............. 8
P-chlorophenoxy acetic acid, 20 p.p.m...67 2.7
Indole propionic acid, 20 p.pm... .................
53' 2.2
2,4,5 Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) 20 p.p.m.. 
. . 73 2.6
2,4,5 Trichlorphenoxy propionic acid (2,4,5-TP) 20 
p .p .m .. 53 2.2
2,4 Dichlorphenoxy acid (2,4 D) 20 p.p.m. .. .............. 53 2.5
Naphalene acetic acid (NAA~) 20 p.p.m. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 67 3.1
A-naphlene acetamid, 20 p.p.m.... ... ...........53 2.6
Beta naphoxyacetic acid, 20 p.p.m. .. .0... .. .. . 60 2.9
IEA, 20 p.p.m. and Boric acid, 50 p.p.m...............7 
2.9
Gibberellic acid, 100 p.p.m. ... . . . . . . . 60 2.5
1,IA, 10r.p- - ; -NAA; 10- p .p, .; ,4,5,(P,10pflm.an0Bri
12
VII. CUTTING PRODUCTION COMPARISONS OF FIELD GROWN 2-1/4-IN. 
AND NO. 1 SIZE STOCK
PLANTS OF FOUR POINSETTIA CULTIVARS.
The cutting production of 2-1/4-in. vegetative and No. 1 dormant stock plants
was compared under field culture in 1967. Four cultivars of poinsettia 
were used:
Barbara Ecke Supreme, Ecke White, Elisabeth Ecke and Paul Mikkelsen. The 2-1/4-in.
plants were received on April 7, potted into 4-in. peat 
pots and lighted with
incadescent lights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. until planting in the field on May 19.
The 2-1/4-in, plants were spaced in the field so as to allow 6.6 
sq. ft. per plant.
Dormant No. 1 stock plants were planted in the field on April 
12 so as to allow 13.2
sq. ft. per plant. Fertilization during the growing season consisted 
of applications
of 8-8-8, at the rate 3 lb. per 100 sq. ft. every 3 weeks until 
September 1. The
first application was applied on May 19 and the second on June 8. 
The plants were
pinched as needed until July 8. Cutting production records were taken on August 
15,
21, 23, and 28; September 25 and October 16.
Table 12 shows the mean number of cuttings per plant produced by dormant 
No. i
stock was approximately twice that of 2-1/4-in. vegetative stock. A cultivar 
response
was noted with dormant No. 1 stock plants of cv. Ecke 
White and cv. Elisabeth Ecke
producing more than twice as many cuttings as 2-1/4 in. vegetative 
stock. The cultivar
Paul Mikkelsen had the smallest differences in cutting production 
with the mean number
of cuttings per plant being 98.4 and 76.3 for No. 1 dormant and 2-1/4-in. vegetative
stock, respectively.
The cutting production of the 2-1/4-in. vegetative stock was 
more evenly dis-
tributed over the first four harvest dates than the No. 1 dormant stock, Table 
13.
Both types of shock plants produced almost 50% or more of their cuttings 
after
September 25. Cutting production of cv. Barbara 
Ecke Supreme and cv. Paul Mikkelsen
stock plants was better distributed than that 
of 'Ecke White' and 'Elisabeth Ecke'
stock plants.
Table 12. Mean Number of Cuttings Produced per Plant 
by 2-1/4-in.
and No. 1 Stock Plants of Four Poinsettia Cultivars i/
Cultivar 
Stock plant size
2-1/4 in. No. 1 Mean
Barbara Ecke Supreme 55.3 109.6 
82.5
Ecke White 
77.1 187.6 132.4
Elisabeth Ecke 
44.4 121.0 82.7
Paul Mikkelsen 76.3 
98.4 87.4
Mean 
63.3 129.2 96.3
1/ The 2-1/4-in. plants were potted 
on April 7, 1967 and held in the greenhouse
until field planting on May 19, 
1967. The No. 1 plants were received 
as
dormant stock plants and were planted in the field on April 
12, 1967.
13
Table 13. Percentage of Cutting Production Harvested on Various Dates from
2-1/4-Inch and No. 1 Stock Plants of Four Poinsettia Cultivars 1/
Date Cultivar
Barbara
Ecke Ecke Elisabeth Paul
Supreme White Ecke Mikkelsen Mean
2-1/4-Inch stock plants
August 15 15 0 0 14 7
August 21 0 0 46 21 17
August 28 22 39 0 6 17
September 25 28 0 0 20 12
October 5 35 61 54 39 47
No. 1 stock plants
August 15 19 0 0 15 9
August 21 17 18 
47 17 25
August 28 8 26 0 6 10
September 25 8 
0 0 9 4
October 5 48 56 53 53 52
/ The 2-1/4-inch plants were potted on April 7, 1967 and held in the greenhouse
until field planting on May 19, 1967. The No. 1 plants were received as dormant
stock and were planted in the field on April 12, 1967.
VIII. EFFECT OF PROPAGATION DATE, PINCHING AND LIGHTING ON THE GROWTH OF SIX
POINSETTIA CULTIVARS.
Cuttings of the poinsettia cultivars 'Barbara Ecke Supreme', 'Elisabeth Ecke',
'Ecke White', 'Indianapolis Red', 'Paul Mikkelsen' and 'White Cloud' 
were direct
rooted in a 1:1:1 soil, peat and perlite mixture under 
mist. The production schedule
is presented in Table 14. Both single stem and pinched culture 
were used. Pot size
and the number of cuttings per pot were reduced as 
the schedule proceeded. Plants
were flowered under natural daylength and natural daylength 
plus4 hours of light
in the middle of the night (10 p.m. to 2 a.m.). Lighting was done from 
September 15
to October 5. Fertilization consisted of 3 lb. of 25-10-10 
per 100 gal. applied every
two weeks. Data was recorded on plant height, number of flowers per pinched 
plant
and bract size of single stem plants.
Early propagated plants were taller than late propagated plants, Table 14. The
mean height of the plant was greatest (24.5 in.) when propagated August 
5 (pinched
and lighted) and August 15 (single stem and 
lighted). 'Indianapolis Red' had the
tallest cultivar mean height (29.3 in.) when propagated August 15 (single stem 
and
lighted).
14
Single stem plants (15.3 in.) were shorter than pinched plants (17.4in. ) but
one must attribute part of the difference to propagation date 
Pinching produced
the tallest plants with 'White Cloud' (18.5 in.) and the shortest plants with
'Elisabeth Ecke' (15.0 in.). 'Ecke White' (17.2 in.) and 'Elisabeth Ecke' (11.0 in.)
were tallest and shortest cultivar - single stem culture combinations
Lighting plants in the middle of the night increased plant height. The mean
height for lighted plants and natural day plants was 17.0 in. and 13.7 in. respect-
ively. 'Ecke White' (19.2 in.) produced the tallestlighted plant and 'Elisabeth
Ecke' (10.2 in.) produced the shortest natural light plants.
In the experiment, 'Elisabeth Ecke' (12.3 in.) had the shortest 
mean height
and 'Ecke White' (17.0 in.) had the tallest mean height.
Table 14. Influence of Propagation Date, Pinching and Lighting
on the Mean Height (in.) of Six Poinsettia Cultivars
Schedule Cultivars
Date Pinch Light BES EE EW IR 
PM WC Mean
/5 9/5 No 24.0 
17.0 24.0 22.0 21.0 24.0 
22.0
8/5 9/5 Yes 26.5 22.5 25.5 27.0.20.0 26.0 24.5
8/15 9/5 No 15.0 
12.0 19.0 18.0 18.0 
17.0 16.5
8/15 9/5 Yes 18.0 20.5 22.5 20.0 17.5 17.5 
19.3
8/15 No No 18. 10.4, 20.3 16.5 16'.1 17.1 
16.5
8/15 No Yes 24.4' 22.2 28.3 29.3 -21.2 
2J.r,3 24.5
8/20 9/20 No 13.3 12.6 13.3 17.3 13.3 
16.0 14.3
8/20 9/20 'Yes 15.3 14.7 19.0- 
19.7 19.3 18.7 .17.8.
8/25 9/25 N1o 11.3 8.2 10.3 10.3 9.3 
11.7 10.2
8/25 9/25 Yes 14.7 12.3 17.7 13.0 13.3 17.1 .14.7
9/1 No No 17.3 13.8 16.6 13.1 15.2 
18.5 15.8
9/1 No Yes 20.4 16.0 20.8 
17.4 16.1 21.3 1897
9/10- No No 12.6 3.9 
12.0 13.0 12.6 11.2 10.0
9/10. No Yes 15.4 4.4 18.2 14.9 15.6 18.1 14.4
9/20 No No 10.9 8.0 8.9 
.10.0 14.8 11.0 10.6
9/20 No Yes 12.7 9.6 
12-.3 10.4 12.0 12.2 11.5
9/30 No No 8.4 6.0 8~.6 7.5 6.5 9.6' .
9/30 No Yes 8.8 .0 8.4 
5.6 _8.1, 8.780
Mean 16.0 12.3 17.0 16..0 15.1l 
16.5 15.5
/ Plants were
(10), 8/15:
pot size and cuttings per pot varied 
w~ith propagation
8 in. (6), 8/20: 7 in. (4) and 8/25: 
6 in. (3).
date:, 8/5: 10 in
/ Cultivars abbreviated as follows: ES 
'Barbara
Ecke' , E : 'Ecke White', IR: 'Indianapolis Red',
'White Cloud' .
Ecke Supreme',; EE: 'Elisabeth
PM:- 'Paul Mikkels en' and. WC :
15
The propagation date did not seem to influence 
the number of flowers per plant
on pinched plants, Table 15. Naturally 
flowered plants averaged 3.0 flowers per
pinch whereas plants receiving supplementary 
lighting averaged 2.9 flowers per pinch.
Considering the cultivars, the highest (3.1) 
and lowest (2.8) mean number of flowers
per pinch were produced by 'Indianapolis 
Red' and 'Paul Mikkelsen' respectively.
Plants of 'Indianapolis Red' and 
'White Cloud'-grown on natural daylength 
had the
highest (3.2) mean number of flowers 
per plant of any cultivar-light combinations.
The least number (2.7) of flowers per 
plant were produced by 'Barbara Ecke Supreme'
and 'Paul Mikkelsen' grown on natural 
daylength. Several combinations oi pro-
pagation date, lighting and cultivars 
produced 3.6 flowers per plant, Table 
15.
The mean bract diameter of early propagated 
plants and late propagated plants
differed very little, Table 16.
Table 15. Influence of Propagation 
Date, Pinching and Lighting on 
the Mean
Number of Flowers per Plant of Six Poinsettia Cultivars 
Grown Pinched
Schedule 
Cultivars
Prop. Pinch. Light BES EE EW 
IR PM WC Mean
8/5 9/5 No 2.9 3.5 2.8 3.2 2.2 2.9 2.9
8/5 9/5 Yes 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.5 3.6 3.0 
3.2
8/15 9/5 No 3.5 2.8 2.8 3.2 2.5 2.7 2.9
8/15 9/5 Yes 1.9 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7
8/20 9/20 No 3.3 2.2 3.1 3.4 
2.6 3.2 3.0
8/20 9/20 Yes 3.2 2.3 2.9 3.2 2.5 2.6 2.8
8/25 9/25 No 2.8 2.8 3.4 2.8 3.3 3.6 3.1
8/25 9/25 Yes 2.7 3.6 3.2 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.0
Mean 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.0
]/ Plants were propagated under mist directly in finishing pot. Pot size varied
with propagation date: 8/5: 10 in. (10), 8/15: 8 in. (6), 8/20: 7 in (4) and
8/25: 6 in. (3). Incadescent lighting was done in the middle of the night (10
p.m. to 2 a.m.) from September 15 to October 15.
2/ Cultivars abbreviated as follows: BES: 'Barbara Ecke Supreme', EE: 'Elisabeth
Ecke', EW: 'Ecke White', IR: 'Indianapolis Red', PM: 'Paul Mikkelsen' and WC:
'White Cloud'.
Suppl~mentary lighting increased bract diameter. The bract diameters of natural
daylength and natural daylength plus supplementary lighting were 11.4 in. and 11.8
in. respectively. 'Barbara Ecke Supreme' (13.3 in.) had the largest bract diameter
and 'White Cloud' (9.8 in.) had the smallest diameter. Lighting produced the 
largest
bract diameter in 'Barbara Ecke Supreme' (13.9 in.) and the smallest bract diameter
in 'White Cloud' (9.7 in.). The largest mean bract diameter for natural daylength
plants was with 'Barbara Ecke Supreme' (12.8 in.) and the smallest with 'Paul
Mikkelsen (10.0 in.) and 'White Cloud' (10.0 in.). A combination of early propagation,
supplementary lighting and 'Elisabeth Ecke' produced a bract diameter of 15.7 in.
16
Table 16. Influence of Propagation Date, Pinching and Lighting on the Mean Bract
Diameter (inches) of Six Poinsettia Cultivars Grown Single Stem
Schedule Cultivars
Prop. Light BES EE EW IR PM WC Mean
8/15 No 12.4 8.5 14.3 12.1 11.5 9.1 11.3
8/15 Yes 15.6 15.7 11.9 13.4 8.1 
9.3 12.3
9/1 No 14.0 13.8 13.6 13.5 12.6 11.9 
13.2
9/1 Yes 14.4 13.1 12.1 14.5 9.8 
11.0 12.5
9/10 No 12.8 5.5 12.6 11.3 10.5 
11.1 10.6
9/10 Yes 12.5 7.4 13.2 12.1 
9.8 9.6 lO.8
9/20 No 12.1 12.0 11.0 10.8 
10.6 8.8 10.9
9/20 Yes 14.0 14.4 12.5 12.7 
11.3 8.9 12.3
9/30 No 12.6 
12.7. 10.8 11.9 10.0 
8.9 11.2
9/3 0 Yes 12.9 13.1 12.6 8.1 11.1 9.7 11.3
Mean 13.3 11.6 12.5 12.4 10.5 
9.8 11.6
1/ Plants were propagated under mist directly in finishing pot. Pot size and cuttings
per pot varied with propagation date: 8/5: 10 in. 
(10), 8/15: 8 in. (6), 8/20:
7 in. (4) and 8/25: 
6 in. (3)-.
2 Cultivars abbreviated as follows: BES: 'Barbara 
Ecke Supreme', EE: 'Elisabeth
Ecke', EW: 'Ecke White', IR: Indianapolis Red', PM: 
'Paul Mikkelsen' and WC:
'White Cloud'.
IX. INFLUENCE OF PROPAGATION DATE AND GROWTH 
RETARDANT TREATMENT ON THE HEIGHT AND
BRACT DIAMETER OF POINSETTIAS, CV. BARBARA 
ECKE SUPREME AND CV. PAUL MIKKELSEN.
Four groups of poinsettia cuttings, 'Barbara 
Ecke Supreme' and 'Paul Mikkelsen'
were propagated directly into 6-in, 
pots on three different dates: August 14, 
August
28 (2 groups) and September 25. Propagation 
media consisted of 1:1:1 soil, peat and
perlite. All cuttings were treated 
with a 1:1 mixture of Hormodin No. 
2 and Ferbam.
Rooting was carried out under mist 
in a lightly shaded greenhouse.
Following rooting, the plants were 
fertilized every two weeks with 
25-10-10 at
the rate of 1 oz. per 4 gal. of water. 
Approximately one month after propagation,
the plants were treated with growth 
retardants. Treatments for the first 
two pro-
pagation groups (August 14 and August 
28) were as follows: (1) check, no 
treatment;
(2) single spray of 1.0% B-Nine 
(N-dimethyl amino succinamic acid); 
(3) two sprays
of 0.25% cycocel (2-chloroethyl 
trimethylammonium chloride) applied 
one week apart;
(4) combination spray of 0.5% 
B-Nine and 0.25% cycocel; (5') 
single drench of 0.25%
cycocel. The remaining propagation 
groups (August 28 and September 
25) were treated
as follows: (1) check, no treatment; (2) single 
spray of 0.5% B-Nine; (3) single
spray of 0.25% cycocel; (4' combination spray 
of 0.25% B-Nine and 0.15% cycocel;
(5 single drench of 0.15% cycocel.
The experiment consist of 2 
cultivars, 4 propagation groups, 
4 replications
and 5 treatments with 3 pots 
(4 cuttings per pot) per 
treatment. Data consisted
of the height of plant above 
the pot rim and bract diameter.
The mean height of the plants 
from the various propagation 
dates ranged from
7.5 in. (September 25 to 11.6 in. (August 14).
17
The greatest mean height occurred for both cultivars 
with the August1pro-
pagation date, Table 17. Both cultvars produced theshretma higtwn
propagated on September 25. The mean bract diameter ranged from 10.9 in. (Sept-
ember 25) to 12.3 in. (August 28, second group), Table 18. The greatest and
smallest mean diameter for the two cultivars respectively were: 13.5 in. (August
28, second group) and 11.3 in. (September 25) for 'Barbara Ecke Supreme' and 11.0
in. (August 28, second group) and 10.4 in. (August 14) for 'Paul Mikkelsen'.
Table 17. Influence of Propagation Date and Growth Retardant Treatment on the Height
(in.) of Poinsettias cv. 'Barbara Ecke Supreme' and cv. 'Paul Mikkelsen'
Retardant treatments Cultivar Mean
Propagated 8/14/67
Check . ... . .. .......... .... 15.8 13.3 14.6
1.01 B-Nine spray 9/14/67 12.5 12.3 12.4
0.25% Cycocel spray 9/14/67 and 9/21/67 . 9.0 10.7 9.9
0.5% B-Nine and 0.25% Cycocel spray 9/14/67 . 11.0 11.1 11.1
0.25% Cycocel drench 9/14/67... ..... 10.1 10.3 10.2
Mean .11.7 11.5 11.6
Propagated 8/28/67
Check. ........ 12.4 10.5 11.5
1.0% R-Nine spray.10/3/67 . 10.5 
8.2 9.4
0.25% Cycocel spray 10/3/67 & 10/10/67 . 6.5 7,5 7.0
0.5% B-Nine & 0.25% Cycocel spray 10/3/67 . 7.4 
7.4 7.4
.0 25% Cycocel drench..... ...... .. 67.6
Mean........................... 00 99.1. 8.2 8
Propagated 8/28/67
Check .. .................... 13.0 11.2. 12.1
0.5% B-Nine spray 10/3/67. ........... 12.0 11.2 11.6
0.25%'Cycocel spray 10/3/67. . . .. . . . . 9.2 .9.3 9.3
0.25% B-Nine and 0.15% spray 10/3/67 . . . 9.0 9.4 9.2
0.15% Cycocel drench 10/3/67 .... .. ... 68.87
Mean......................10.4 10.0 10.2
Propagated 9/25/67
Check.......................0.8 6.8 .
0.5% B-Nine spray 10/30/67............9.2 7.18.
0.25% Cycocel spray 10/30/67...... 7.3 6.2 6.3
0.25% B-Nine and 0.15% Cycocel spray 10/30/67 . 7.1 6.6 6.9
0.15% Cycocel drench................6.9 6.1 6.5
Mean .. ........... ...............3 6.6 7.5
Table 18. Influence of Propagation.Date and Growth Retardant Treatment on the
Bract Diameter (in.) of Poinsettias, cv. 'Barbara Ecke
Supreme' and cv. 'Paul Mikkelsent
Retardant treatment Cultivar Mean
BES PM
Propagated 8/4/67
Check .......... ....... .......... 11.7 10.9 ll.8
1.0% B-Nine spray 9/14/67 ............ 12.1 11.3 
11.7
0.25% Cycocel sprays 9/14/67 and 9/2/67 . 11.0 9.7 
10.4
0.3% B-Nine and 0.25% Cycocel 9/14/67. ... 11.4 10.3 10.8
0.25% Cycocel drench 9/14/67..11.1 10.0 10.6
Mean....................... 11.5 10.4 11.0
Propagated 8/28/67
Check..................14.4 11.9 13.2
1.0% B-Nine spray 10/3/67 .13.6 11.0 12.3
0.25% Cycocel sprays 10/3/67 and 10/10/67 . . 11.0 10.0 10.5
0.5% B-Nine and 0.25% Cycocel spray 10/3/67 . 11.3 10.0.10.7
0.25% Cycocel drench 10/3/67...11.9 10.2 11.1
Mean... . . . 12.4 10.6 11.5
Propagated 8/28/67
Check........ ................ .. . . . 14.1 11.4 12.8
1.0% B-Nine spray 10/3/67..............14.2 11.1 12.7
0.25% Cycocel spray 10/3/67. .... .... .12.8 10.9 .1.
0.25% B-Nine and 0.15% Cycocel spray 10/3/67 13.3 11.2 12.3
0.15% Cycocel drench 10/3/67.............13.0 10.4 11.7
Mean ........................ 13.5 11.0 12.3
Propagated 9/25/67
Check. ...... . ....... .. . 9.9 11.1 
10.5
0.5% B-Nine spray 10/30/67 ............ 12.1 11.5 11.8
0.25% Cycocel spray 10/3 0/67 ... 11.2 10.0 10.6
0.25% B-Nine and 0.15% Cycocel spray 10/30/67. 11.8 10.1 
11.0
0.15% Cycocel drench 10/3 0/67.. ...........11.4 
9.7 10 6
Mean.............................11.3 10.5 
10.9
19
A single spray of B-Nine 
caused the least reduction 
in plant height and 
bract
diameter on all propagation 
groups, Tables 17 and 
18. Two sprays of 0.25% 
cycocel
applied one week apart 
produced the shortest 
plants and the greatest 
reduction in
bract diameter with plants 
propagated on August 
14 and August 28. A single 
drench
of 0.15% cycocel produced 
the greatest height reduction 
in the September 25 pro-
pagated plants. Both the 
cycocel drench and the 
single cycocel spray yielded
the greatest reduction 
in bract diameter for 
plants propagated on 
September 25.
In comparing the growth 
retardant treatments 
on the two August 
28 propagation
groups, the higher rate 
of the materials retarded 
the height and bract 
diameter
more than the lower 
rate. In this study, 
cycocel was a more effective 
growth
retardant on poinsettia 
than B-Nine, cycocel 
sprays were often more 
effective than
cycocel drenches. The 
leaves of cycocel sprayed 
plants often exhibited 
temporary
chlorosis. The combination 
spray of cycocel and 
B-Nine gave little if 
any chlorosis
and was almost comparable 
to the cycocel spray 
in growth retardation. 
With very
few exceptions the two 
cultivars yielded the 
same response to the growth 
retardant
treatments.