Plant growth regulators (PGRS) hold great potential for managers choosing to direct the cotton crop towards earliness. Unlike herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, PGRs are designed to impact directly on the cotton plant. This PGR/crop interaction complicates efforts to develop application guidelines that lead to consistent results. Cotton producers considering the use of any PGR should understand the benefits and risks associated with the use of these materials. Then, a specific PGR should be used in response to a specific situation. Viewed in this light, PGRs are tools used within a total crop management system. The specific roles that selected PGRs can play in this system will be discussed.