In professional agriculture and gardening, yields are often the primary focus. These industries are often driven by profits and hitting margins, so any way to ensure maximum is the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) to maximize results.
While natural PGRs can enhance plant growth safely, many synthetic PGRs have been criticized for their potential health risks, especially in crops meant for consumption or inhalation.
In this article, we’ll explain what PGRs are, why chemical PGRs are problematic, and how natural alternatives can safely enhance plant growth.
What exactly are performance growth regulators?
Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) are substances that influence plant development by controlling growth, flowering, fruit ripening, and stress responses. These can be natural (derived from plants or seaweed) or synthetic (chemically manufactured).
Natural PGRs are usually found in plants as phytohormones like auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, and they help plants naturally regulate processes like cell division and elongation.
Synthetic PGRs, on the other hand, mimic these hormones but can have adverse effects on plants, the environment, and human health. They are commonly used in large-scale farming to achieve faster growth, higher yields, or uniform appearance in fruits and vegetables.
Now you may be thinking, but I make sure I only grow with clean nutrients and avoid any type of PGRs, but you would be surprised at just how widespread and commonly used they are across the world, from agriculture to the cannabis industry. Below is a list of the different types of performance growth regulators that are commonly used.
● Ancymidol
● Daminozide
● Ethephon (2-chloro- ethylphosphonic acid)
● Chlormequat chloride
● Aminozide
● Prohexadione
● Prohexadione calcium
● Trinexapac-ethyl
● Flurprimidol
● Paclobutrazol
● Uniconazole
Why Do Growers Use PGRs?
The challenges large-scale farmers face can often be resolved with the use of performance growth regulators. A loss in the crop can be a devastating financial setback for many business or agricultural sectors. This is where synthetic PGRs come in.
PGRs offer several advantages for commercial-scale farming, which is why some growers rely on them.
Here are 9 common reasons:
1. Control stem elongation and plant height for compact growth.
2. Increase the final yield of crops.
3. Enhance the quality and size of fruits and flowers.
4. Speed up the ripening of fruits and vegetables.
5. Boost resistance to pests and environmental stress.
6. Promote more flowers and fruiting sites.
7. Simplify seed production.
8. Create uniform growth for better market appeal.
9. Generate larger profits for large-scale operations.
While these benefits might sound appealing, synthetic PGRs often come with significant risks.
Why Are Synthetic PGRs Considered Harmful?
Some synthetic PGRs are classified as toxic chemicals and can be harmful to human health when ingested or inhaled. Exposure to these substances has been linked to organ damage and other health issues, especially when used on consumable crops. Also, handling potentially harmful chemicals should always be done by trained and qualified professionals.
For this reason, it’s important to be cautious when choosing produce or crops that may have been grown with synthetic PGRs. Most people consider them extremely harmful and poisonous and do everything they can to avoid them in the grow room and in the supermarkets. Consumers and growers alike should prioritize natural alternatives to avoid exposure to these harmful substances.
Natural PGRs: A Safer Solution
Plants naturally produce their own PGRs in the form of phytohormones. These hormones regulate cell growth, flowering, and stress responses without the risks associated with synthetic chemicals. Natural PGRs can be obtained from products with plant extracts, which are rich in auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and other beneficial compounds.
ATA NRG Alga-C, for example, does not contain PGRs, like all other ATAMI products, but it is packed with amino acids, trace elements, vitamins and micronutrients that give the plant everything it needs to boost its own enzymatic and hormonal activity, improving its condition naturally. Alga -C will help your plant to:
• Encourage cell division and elongation.
• Strengthen resistance to pests and diseases.
• Help plants recover from environmental stress.
How to Use ATA NRG Alga-C for Optimal Growth
1. Hand Watering
Mix 2-5 ml of ATA NRG Alga-C per litre of water. Use this mixture to saturate the soil around the roots. This provides plants with a nutrient-rich tonic that promotes lush growth and increases flower and fruit production.
2. Foliar Spraying
Mix 2 ml per litre of water and spray it lightly onto the tops and undersides of leaves. This method is most effective during the vegetative stage and should be avoided during flowering to prevent mold or mildew.
How can you tell if cannabis buds contain PGRs?
Over the last 5 years, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of imported flowers that would arrive in Europe that were grown using PGRs. As a daily smoker yourself, you may think how do I know if I am smoking PGR grown flower, and what are the telltale signs?
Organic grown / salt-grown buds
● The buds will be light but compact to squeeze,
● The buds will be dry and make a clear snap.
● Trichomes will cover the buds and smaller leaves
● Terpene production will be at its peak level,
● The flavour and taste will be smooth and enjoyable.
PGR-grown cannabis buds
● The buds will not be spongy and not dry enough to break open.
● There will be very little resin on the flower or smaller leaves.
● Buds can have a dense, rock-hard structure and feeling.
● The ash can turn charcoal black and not burn correctly.
● The buds may appear swollen and mutated in some cases.
● Flavour will be minimal and not enjoyable to smoke.
Our final thoughts
One of the strongest reasons why people choose to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs is down to the fact they can obtain peace of mind. People wish to eat healthy and toxic-free food, that is clean of PGRs and harmful pesticides.
