BA Application Promotes Offset Formation in Hosta Cultivars

Abstract A foliar spray of 0, 1250, 2500, or 3750 ppm BA was applied to 10 hosta cultivars. BA application promoted offset formation in 8 cultivars at 30 days after treatment (DAT) and in all cultivars at 60 DAT. At 30 DAT, no offsets had formed in controls (0 ppm BA) of ‘Halcyon’ or ‘Samuel Blue’, but plants receiving 3750 ppm BA averaged 3.1 and 5.5 offsets, respectively. In the remaining cultivars at 30 DAT, maximum increases in offsets compared to controls ranged from 0.9 offset for ‘Stiletto’ to 6.2 offsets for ‘Hyacinthina’. Untreated plants of ‘Halcyon’ formed no offsets by 60 DAT, whereas plants receiving 3750 ppm BA averaged 3.8 offsets. In the remaining cultivars at 60 DAT, maximum increases in offsets compared to controls ranged from 2.1 offsets for ‘Great Expectations’ to 7.6 offsets for ‘Stiletto’. Offset stage of development, based on number of unfurled leaves, was more advanced in treated plants than in controls of two cultivars, less than that of controls in two cultivars, and similar to c...