Cameron and Reid (1983) demonstrated
that spraying seedling geraniums with the ethylene
action inhibitor, silver thiosulfate (STS),
effectively prevented petal shattering during
shipping. While the application of STS reduced
petal abscission in geraniums, it also predisposed
them to Phythium root rot (Hausbeck et
al., 1987). An additional drawback of spraying
potted flowering plants with STS is that it has a
narrow range of concentrations at which it is
effective as an ethylene action inhibitor without
being phytotoxic (Nell, 1993).