Florel is not designed to harm the tree: it interrupts the flower to fruit process for a single season rather than killing tissue, and a treated tree returns to normal fruiting the following year. Long term safety comes down to following the label, which rules out spraying a stressed tree and sets the bloom stage and temperature range for each application.

How does Florel affect a tree?

Through ethylene, a natural plant hormone. Its active ingredient, ethephon, converts quickly to ethylene inside the plant, and that hormone signal stops flowers from setting fruit; during active growth, ethylene can also slow new vegetative growth.

Is it safe to spray Florel on the same tree every year?

Nothing on the label prevents it for a healthy tree. It sets no yearly limit for fruit elimination, and each spray affects only that season's flowers. What it does rule out is spraying a tree under stress from disease, high temperatures, or drought, so a struggling tree is left unsprayed in that year.

What label conditions protect the tree?

Correct timing, temperature, and coverage. At mid to full bloom, with temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, a spray of Florel Fruit Eliminator mixed at about 3 ounces per gallon of water covers the blossoms for that season, with some species needing a lower concentration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavily should Florel be sprayed?

Enough to wet the foliage, not to the point of runoff, with good coverage for complete fruit elimination.

How often is Florel reapplied for mistletoe?

About every four years. Complete control is unlikely in the first year, and after that a tree usually goes about four years before it needs treating again.

Should the whole tree be sprayed for mistletoe?

No. Only the individual bunches of mistletoe are sprayed, not the entire tree.

Is ethephon toxic?

Its toxicity is very low, and residue on the plant converts quickly to ethylene, though ethephon itself is classed as corrosive, so the label's handling directions apply.