Time to clear up some misconceptions. Gibberelic acid (GA) is not a chemical; instead, it is one of several naturally occurring hormones found in most plants. Plants use these naturally occurring hormones to regulate growth, initiate growth, trigger flower bud formation, or facilitate rapid growth of tissue to cover wounds. Some plants manufacture more hormones than others do. These hormones include auxins, such as indole-3-acetic acid (or IAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA),or napththaleneacetic acid (NAA). Auxins promotes stem elongation, root formation, flower bud initiation. Cytokininis usually promote plant tissues to change forms when necessary (i.e. epidermal cells into root cells). Most plants that will root readily in water usually contain loads of Auxins, willows and coleus come to mind. Many of these hormones were discovered in the late Â30Âs and have been in used ever since to help propagate plants and trigger fruit formation in trees. For instance, some fruit trees tend to bear only every other year. By using various auxins or GAs, fruit trees can be made to bear a crop every year. Naturally occurring plant hormones are allowed under the USDAÂs NOP regulations. However, it is an expensive affair to concentrate naturally occurring plant hormones. Genetic engineering solved the problem by inserting genes for these hormones into bacteria, then fermenting them in vats as dchall correctly described. What is not allowed in the organic regs is using any material that has been genetically engineered. Therefore, it is OK to use the naturally occurring hormones, but not the "synthetic" ones. Peace Valley Growers Supply might have naturally occurring hormones. One note of interest is that the notorious chemical Alar was a synthetically formulated hormone that was designed to interfere with GAs so apple would color-up quickly.

Marilyn, trying to research online the effects of phosphorus on seeds made my head bizzy and I didn't get very far. My personal theory, based on mostly what I know of corn, grass and soybean production and the like would be that large doses of Phosphorus would increase blossoms at the expense of decreased seed. I don't think it would stop seed production, just set it back. My other personal theory is that some fertilizer being helpful doesn't mean three times as much is necessarily better than just enough. Right now while it's so dry here, I'm thinking how easy it would be to completely burn up every annual in the garden with a big dose of Nitrogen without adequate water. Nell Oh yeah, for increased seed production (more beans?), you'd use a fertilizer with more Potassium, like 5-10-15 -- or a careful dose of wood ashes. Fertilizer 'speriments would make a good science project, wouldn't they?

Hi Mary! Thanks for all the osmanthus info! Now I'll have to google them. :) I live in Tulsa, OK and last year I left 'Betty Marshall' (a white brug with spicy fragrant blooms) in the ground and thanks to the mild winter we had last year it survived! The only problem is it takes all summer for it to grow large enough to flower. :( It's been blooming for a couple of weeks now but I wish I had kept a larger specimen in a pot for quicker blooms. You might try posting your question on the brug forum. You'd probably get tons of recommendations. :) -Robert

I hear you all. Don't know what these crazy plants like. I have 4. 2 new ones doing well in full sun but had buds when I bought them. One gets shade from 2pm on. Nothing blooming yet. Not even a sign of it. Died to the ground over winter. The last one gets sun from noon to sunset with a break from 2-3 pm. It looks as though it may have one bud coming. It has been in place for 3 years now. I bought it the very first year they were out. Dies to the ground every winter and has never got bigger than 12 inches in all directions. I am so disappointed and stupid enough to have invested in 2 new ones this year. What are the other continuous bloomers out there? I am new to hydrangeas It may be time to consider replacing the 3 year old.