Apical dominance in Alstroemeria is studied to develop an improved propagation protocol for this crop. Four types of explants were prepared: an intact rhizome with two intact shoots (+R+2S), an intact rhizome with two decapitated shoots (+R-2S), a decapitated rhizome with two intact shoots (-R+2S), and a decapitated rhizome with two decapitated shoots (-R-2S). The explants were cultivated on solid MS medium with 9 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). -R-2S explants showed the highest and +R+2S the lowest axillary-bud outgrowth. Outgrowth in -R+2S and +R-2S explants was intermediate. So, axillary buds are released by removal of the rhizome tip and by removal of the shoot tips. In both decapitated shoots and decapitated rhizomes, application of lanolin with 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) to the cut end restored apical dominance. This indicates that both tips exert an effect via basipetally transported auxin.