I just received a "lecture" on another garden site. As a result I'd like to know if LariAnn or anyone on this board has studied or successfully used gibberellic acid to induce the production of an inflorescence with aroid species. I have no need to try this but my curiosity is making me want to know. I suggested the individual check the results on Aroid l that are available on the net since as I read them some of aroids best and brightest are skeptical. http://www.hort.net/lists/aroid-l/search.pl The more I read and reread this individual's post I now doubt they were looking for info but instead were out to prove a preconceived belief. It did make me wonder if someone might be in the business of selling this chemical though. This is the proof they offered: http://www.fshs.org/Proceedings/Password Protected/1995 Vol. 108/23-24 (HENNY).pdf Now I guess I'll be off to my "blackboard" to write whatever it is I'm supposed to write 1000 times. Also, would some of you remind me not to be so eager to try to provide information and help when it comes to aroids??? And don't worry, I won't bother to respond on that post again. But I do have trouble understanding why some people just have to be hostile on any forum? When someone is trying to offer information exactly what is the point of being hostile? Thanks!
Gibberellic acid has been used to induce blooming in Caladium, especially when trying to get plants to bloom concurrently so as to get the chance to hybridize them. I would have used it by now myself except that I've been able to get my plants to bloom with the right timing so far. However, some aroids are recalcitrant enough that I am not above trying it. This is especially true when it comes to plants like Philodendron mello-barretoanum and P. goeldii, which bloom out of sync with the rest of my mecos. I may have no choice but to try it with them in order to get the chance to cross them. Gibberellic acid (GA) has been used specifically to induce blooming in certain plants, and I do know that it has been used in Caladium hybridizing work. Below is a link to a U. of Fla. writeup on the use of GA for induction of blooming in Spathiphyllum. I'm sure I could find more references to this use in aroids but I'm short of time right now. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP320 LariAnn Aroidia Research
Oh, here's the link to the use of GA in Caladium bloom induction (it is a PDF file, not a web page): Gibberellic Acid Stimulates Flowering in Caladium hortulanum Here's a webpage with the same information: http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gibberellicacid.htm LariAnn
