For many greenhouse growers, plant growth regulators (PGRs) are known primarily as tools for producing compact, uniform plants with improved market appeal. However, industry experts stress that the benefits go far beyond plant quality. At a time when labor is scarce and expensive, PGRs are recognized as labor-saving solutions that reduce repetitive tasks, simplify scheduling, and help growers avoid costly mistakes.

“Trimming, spacing, fertilizing — those things all require people. With a PGR, you can control growth and still deliver a good-looking plant,” says Sam Drahn, Director of Technical Services at OHP.

Predictability = Fewer Surprises

Dudley Dabbs, Sales Representative for Fine Americas, has worked with growers across the country for nearly two decades and has seen the role of PGRs evolve. He recalls that early adoption was driven mainly by crop scheduling and height control. “Very seldom is everything perfect in the greenhouse,” he says. “PGRs give growers the flexibility to hold crops without losing salability.”

That flexibility directly reduces labor strain. When plants are on a predictable growth path, there are “no surprises” waiting after a long weekend or holiday. “If it’s managed by PGRs, you come back and everything is still on track,” says Dabbs.

Additionally, when last-minute changes occur, PGRs act as a safeguard. “If a customer delays delivery, you can regulate just enough to hold the crop without losing it,” Dabbs says. If the crop is already under regulation, growers can “just regulate up a little bit, just a notch or two, to hold them where they are,” rather than scrambling with drastic interventions.

Dabbs emphasizes that plants under consistent regulation also require less movement inside the greenhouse. “What’s the most precious thing in the greenhouse? Square footage,” he says. “Without PGRs, you’re always moving and spacing plants because they’re fighting for room. With regulation, you can leave them where they are. That really saves on labor.”

Drahn adds that many growers have an “aha” moment when they start thinking of PGRs as efficiency tools instead of just growth-control tools. “There’s a PGR for almost every stage of development,” says Drahn. “Once growers realize they can use them strategically to save labor as well as manage height, it really opens up new ways of thinking.”

Efficiency at Every Stage

Both OHP and Fine Americas emphasize that PGRs can deliver savings across the entire production cycle. Drahn notes that compact, well-regulated plants not only reduce in-house maintenance but also cut down on shipping problems. “Plants arrive looking fuller, less leggy, and you’re not paying for an extra truckload,” he says.

Dabbs highlights early interventions that prevent wasted time and money. Applying rooting hormones or vigor products at seeding or transplanting can improve germination, reduce blanks, and eliminate the need for replanting. “This is labor too — somebody has to go back and fill those trays,” he says.

Dabbs also notes that putting crops on a consistent PGR regime reduces fertilizer and water inputs by nearly a third. “Somebody has to set the injectors, check the systems, and make sure the orders are right — that’s all labor,” he says. “Cutting back on fertilizer and water isn’t just about cost savings; it’s fewer tasks for employees to manage.”

Application Approaches

One factor in labor efficiency comes down to how products are applied. Drahn notes that while drenches can be highly precise, sprays often fit better into daily workflows. “For most growers, sprays are easier — you can get through a house pretty quickly. But drenches can be more prescriptive if you have the systems in place,” he says.

Over-application remains one of the biggest grower concerns. He cautions that growers sometimes use PGRs too reactively. “Let’s say you need to ship quickly but just made a heavy application of a PGR — you’ve created a bigger problem,” says Drahn. Instead, smaller inputs more frequently keep growth steady and prevent costly setbacks. “A little goes a long way,” he says. “If you use lower rates more often, you can keep crops right where you want them without the risk of shutting them down completely. That makes PGRs a much more forgiving tool.”

Dabbs points to the introduction of Fresco, a GA 4+7 plus 6-BA product, as a game-changer. Before 2015, over-regulated plants were often destined for the dumpster. “Now we have a get-out-of-jail-free card,” he says. “A drench of Fresco can bring plants back into balance, saving both product and labor.”

Both experts agree that grower education is critical. “We spend a lot of time coaching and visiting growers,” says Drahn. “Our literature is always updated before Cultivate and includes other well-known brands throughout the industry. Our job is to make sure the grower feels confident using it — that’s when you get the real efficiency benefit.”

Fine Americas also publishes PGR Guides for annuals and perennials, providing baseline rates and best practices. Dabbs points out that the guides aren’t just technical sheets — they’re designed to give growers starting points that can be adapted to their own conditions. “Every greenhouse is different,” he says. “The guides help people find that baseline so they’re not starting from scratch.”

Looking Ahead

With labor costs climbing and margins tighter than ever, growers are rethinking every input. PGRs may be a small line item, but they deliver outsized returns — not only in crop quality, but in the time, money, and stress they save in the process. “Labor is one of the biggest challenges,” Drahn says. “PGRs are part of the solution because they let you do more with less.”

By reducing hands-on work, cutting inputs, and keeping crops on schedule, PGRs provide consistency where growers need it most. Whether it’s avoiding mistakes, managing shipping, or ensuring every tray is salable, PGRs are proving to be indispensable tools for quality and efficiency alike.