Chemistry: fertilizers – Processes and products – Inorganic material
Patent
1998-12-11
2000-12-19
Straub, Gary P.
Chemistry: fertilizers
Processes and products
Inorganic material
71 6401, 71 63, 71900, 47 44, 47 651, 47 4112, A47G 700
Patent
active
061622737
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to floral foam containing nutrients and preservatives for cut flowers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Floral foam has already been used for a long time as an aid for arranging cut flowers. The foam is used to hold the flowers in position and can absorb water and thus supply water to the flowers. It is also known that a floral foam of this type can be brought into contact with a solution of nutrients and/or preservatives. For instance, Australian Patent Application 95/24825 describes the adhesion of pieces of foam to a support. Said foam is saturated with water which can contain a preservative and subsequent insertion of cut flowers in the foam can take place.
The disadvantage of this well-known method is that the user has to work with nutrient solutions and has to choose the right quantity thereof. It will not take long before the dosage deviates from the right quantity to be used. An adequate action of the nutrients and preservatives is therefore not assured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to floral foam and its production method wherein the foam has been injected beforehand with the appropriate quantity of nutrients and preservatives, which makes the foam particularly easy to use and has a better result.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention the floral foam containing nutrients and preservatives for cut flowers is characterised in that the foam has been pre-injected with nutrients and preservatives in an amount of 6-15 g, preferably of 8-12 g, per dm.sup.3 water which can be absorbed by the foam.
Using the indicated quantity of nutrients and preservatives diluted in water the keeping qualities are better than those obtained with a similar floral foam which contains water only. In particular, the quantity of nutrients and preservatives is such that the longevity of the flowers is improved by at least 25%, or at least 2 days. A prolonged longevity of 50%, or 6 days is also achievable.
The correct quantity of nutrients and preservatives depends on the quantity of water which can be absorbed by the floral foam. This quantity can be determined easily by weighing the piece of dry floral foam, then placing the piece of floral foam in water until no further water is absorbed and then determine the weight again. The difference is the weight (and after converting g to ml) also the volume of water which can be absorbed by the floral foam. The quantities of nutrients and preservatives to be injected are 7-11 and 0.02-3 g respectively per dm.sup.3 or rather 8-10 and 0.025-0.5 g respectively per dm.sup.3.
The material used for the floral foam according to the invention can be any material customary for this purpose, such as phenolic resin foam. The only condition is that the foam can be injected and is water-absorbent, which condition is met by the majority of floral foam materials. Common types of floral foam are, for example, obtainable under the tradenames OASIS, SWAMPY, SAVANNA, MOSY, JIFFY, etc.
The nutrients which can be used are the types customary for cut flowers, such as glucose, sucrose and other sugars. Suitable preservatives are the conventional agents, such as anti-fungal or anti-bacterial agents, for example aluminum sulphate, and optionally agents for algae control. In addition to nutrients and preservatives, other active substances, such as odour substances, colorants, fortifiers, osmosis regulators (for example potassium ions), pH regulators, and the like, can also be present in the floral foam.
The floral foam according to the invention can be produced starting from a foam mould into which a concentrated solution or dispersion of the nutrients and preservatives is introduced.
The invention concerns a production method for manufacturing floral foam containing nutrients and preservatives for cut flowers. In this foam 10-30 ml of a solution containing nutrients and preservatives per dm.sup.3 water is injected which can be absorbed by the floral foam. The solution or dispersion contains 3.5-5.5 mg, preferably 4
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Cours Herman Georges Marie
Herman Paul Thomas Dirk
Huijsmans Joseph Anton Johannes
Janssen Johannes Antonius Marie
Pokon & Chrysal B.V.
Straub Gary P.
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