Seasonal and Chemical Influences on the Flowering of Gypsophila paniculata ‘Bristol Fairy’ Selections1,2

Abstract

Abstract Gypsophila paniculata L. cv. Bristol Fairy flowered only under long photoperiods. Neither 5°C storage up to 8 weeks nor weekly GA 3 sprays at concentration from 50 to 2,000 mg/liter induced flowering at short photoperiods. Established shoots with 12 nodes flowered after 3 weeks of 24 hours photoperiod induction, but young shoots with 5 nodes (newly pinched plants) did not flower after 3 weeks of induction. Critical photoperiod of several selections of ‘Bristol Fairy’ ranged from 12-18 hours. Inadvertent selection of clones with longer critical photoperiods appears to be responsible for poor winter flowering in Florida.