Abstract:
The process of the invention provides for inducing the flowering of tropical ornamental plants at times when they do not flower naturally, by contacting the foliage with higher concentrations of a plant growth regulator. The benefits of this process are that horticulturists and landscapers can time the flowering of plants for certain times, or market demands.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/411,328, filed Sep. 22, 1989, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 231,129, filed Aug. 11, 1988, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tropical ornamentals are used widely as potted plants and for landscape purposes. The natural flowering habit of such plants is generally sporadic, unpredictable, and not simultaneous. It would be desirable to be able to control the flowering of tropical ornamentals, and, also, to enhance the flowering along with having multiple flowering cycles. These desired are shared by all in the tropical ornamental industry, but, unfortunately, there is no prior known art way to accomplish these laudable goals. The invention which is described herein achieves these goals in a novel and nonobvious manner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention concerns a novel process for inducing the flowering of tropical ornamentals at times when they do not flower naturally. More specifically, the invention concerns the use of a plant growth regulator (PGR) compound to induce the flowering of tropical ornamentals. 
     Exemplifying the subject invention is the use of various known PGR compounds to control the flowering of tropical ornamental at times when they do not flower naturally. For example, the application of ancymidol to the foliage of Ioxra taiwanensis results, after a relatively precise period of time, in full (simultaneous) flowering of the plant. The post-harvest flowering quality generally lasts for about 31 days. Upon cessation of flowering, the plant can be treated again with the PGR. After another time period simultaneous flowering will occur again. 
     Thus, the subject invention provides for complete control of flowering. This control allows for a better and more extended use of tropical ornamentals by the horticulture and landscape industries. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Upon contacting the foliage of a tropical ornamental plant with an effective flowering inducing amount of at least one PGR, there is obtained a controlled flowering stage in a predetermined amount of time. 
     Any tropical ornamentals can be treated, for example, various Ixora species, such as Ixora taiwanensis, Ixora maui and Ixora nor grande, gardenias, oleanders, adenium mandevilla, Hibiscus, for example, Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis, and the like. 
     Examples of PGRs which may be used in the invention are as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________TradeName  Chemical Name    Common Name Supplier______________________________________A-Rest alpha-Cyclopropyl-alpha-                  Ancymidol   Eli Lilly (4-methoxyphenyl)-           &amp; Company 5-pyrimidinemethanolB-Nine Daminozide butanedioic                  Alar        Uniroyal acid mono(2,2-dimethyl-      Chemical hydrazide)Dropp N-phenyl-N&#39;-1,2,3-thia-                  Thidiazuron Noram diazol-5-yl ureaEm-   Diethanolamine salt of                  Mefluidide  3Mbark  (N-[2,4-dimethyl-5- [[(trifluoromethyl)- sulfonyl]amino]phenyl acetamideStik  1-Naphthaleneacetic                  NAA         Union acid                         CarbideCutless analog of ancymidol          Eli Lilly                              &amp; CompanyBonzi (±)-(R*,R*)-β-(4-                  Paclobutrazol                              Sandoz Chlorophenyl)methyl)- alpha-(1,1-dimethylethyl)- 1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanolSu-   (E)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-                  Uniconizole Chevronmagic 4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4- triazol-1-yl)-1-penten- 3-olPro-                   Benzyladenine                              Abbottmuline                             Labor.______________________________________ 
    
     Any analog or derivative of the above or other PGRs can be used in the invention so long as they are non-phytotoxic. Optimal concentrations of PGRs can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. Generally, such concentrations can be expected to be about 3 to 4 times, or more, the concentration of the PGR used for plant growth regulation. 
     The PGRs given above are examples only. Other PGRs can be used so long as they are non-phytotoxic at the concentrations necessary to induce flowering, as described herein. Presently, ancymidol is the preferred PGR. Also, the PGRs can be used in mixtures with each other. 
     An effective flowering inducing amount of a PGR is an amount in the range of about 3 to about 4 times or more of the amount the PGR is generally used as a plant growth regulator, This then highlights the nonobviousness of the subject invention. If the PGR is used at the level normally indicated for plant growth regulation, controlled flowering does not occur. 
     Following are examples which illustrate procedures, including the best mode, for practicing the invention. These examples should not be construed as limiting. All percentages are by weight and all solvent mixture proportions are by volume unless otherwise noted. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Control of Flowering of Ixora taiwanensis by Use of Ancymidol 
     Ixora taiwanensis plants were given a specific misting until runoff of a mixture consisting of water, a standard horticulturally acceptable surfactant to enhance the coverage of the PGR, and 150 mg/liter of ancymidol. When applied to the foliage of the plants, the PGR composition temporarily changes the hormonal balance within the plant system from a vegetative to the complete reproductive stage. The effect of the PGR composition is temporary, and following full bloom, plants will revert back to normal. No damage or impediment of normal growth affects the plants following the flowering period. Treated plants will develop flowers from each growing point and mature within about 75-76 days in the summer and about 120-125 days in winter. See the following Tables 1 and 2. 
     Ixora taiwanensis does not flower normally in the winter because of the cold temperatures. If they flower, they do so sporadically. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________Control of flowering of Ixora taiwanesis bythe application of ancymidol at various concentrations.(Summer - Temperature range 70° F. to 90° F.)                             # of   Concen-                   inflor-                                    %Chemical   tration    Days to  Height                             escence                                    flower-Treatment   (ppm)      flower   (cm)  per plant                                    ing______________________________________Control no chemical              sporadic 36.0   3.0    2Ancymidol    37.5 ppm  76       29.0  35.4    90Ancymidol    75.0 ppm  78       23.8  40.6   100Ancymidol   150.0 ppm  78       24.4  40.4   100Ancymidol   264.0 ppm  75       24.2  40.6   100______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________Control of flowering of Ixora taiwanensis bythe application of ancymidol at various concentrations.(Winter - Temperature range 60° F. to 75° F.)                             # of   Concen-                   inflor-                                    %Chemical   tration    Days to  Height                             escence                                    flower-Treatment   (ppm)      flower   (cm)  per plant                                    ing______________________________________Control no chemical              --              0      0Ancymidol   18.8 ppm   --              2      6Ancymidol   37.5 ppm   --             10      47Ancymidol   75.0 ppm   123            46     100Ancymidol   150.0 ppm  122            53     100______________________________________ 
    
     The critical ingredient is the PGR in the above tests. The surfactant, as noted above, is merely used to enhance coverage. Surfactants which can be used include anionic, cationic, and non-ionic agents. See &#34;Detergents and Emulsifiers&#34; 1971 Annual by John W. McCutcheion, Inc., for a disclosure of surfactants. Generally, 1-10% by weight of the surfactant can be used. Specific adjustments can be made by persons skilled in the art using routine procedures. 
     The PGR can be formulated into standard well-known formulations for horticultural and landscape uses, as well as for home owners. It can be marketed in concentrations suitable for inducing the flowering of tropical ornamentals. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Control of Flowering of Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis by the Application of Growth Regulator Paclobutrazol at Various Concentrations. Winter 1988 (October-December), 1989 (January-February)* 
    
     
         ______________________________________               Total    Concen-    number          Number of    tration    of flowers                         Height                               inflorescenceTreatment    mg (pot)   per plant (cm)  per stem______________________________________Control  No chemical               0         99.5  0Paclobutrazol     6 mg      5.0       66.6  each node                               has flowersPaclobutrazol    18 mg      10.5      45.5  each node                               has flowers______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 3 
     Induction of Flowering of Ixora taiwanensis by the Application of Various Growth Regulators at Various Concentrations (Jan. 1988) 
     
         ______________________________________    Concen-                 NumberChemical tration  Days to  Height                            of     %treatment    (ppm)    flower   (cm)  flowers                                   flowering______________________________________Control  --       --       31.8  0       0Ancymidol    18.8     124      29.8   8.6    17.9    37.5     123      30.8  18.4    38.3    75.0     120      26.0  36.6    76.1    150.0    119      26.0  49.8   100.0Paclobutrazol    100.0    122      24.2  38.8   100.0    200.0    120      23.8  47.6   100.0Uniconizole    25.0     118      23.6  47.8   100.0    50.0     119      25.8  47.2   100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Induction of Flowering of Ixora taiwanensis by the Application of Various Growth Regulator Mixes (May 1988) 
     
         ______________________________________               Number   %       %Treatment           of       flower- Bypass(ppm)               flowers  ing     shoots______________________________________Control             0         0      0Control (ancymidol) 29.4     100       3.4Ancymidol (100) + uniconizole (5)               31.0     100       1.3Ancymidol (100) + uniconizole (10)               31.6     100     0Ancymidol (150) + uniconizole (5)               32.0     100     0Ancymidol (150) + uniconizole (10)               32.0     100     0______________________________________