Growing body for plants especially for plant seedlings

Details Growing body for plants especially for plant seedlings Growing body for plants especially for plant seedlings

1999-05-19

2001-04-24

Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)

Plant husbandry

Receptacle for growing medium

For transplanting

C047S064000, C047S073000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06219968

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a solid body for growing plants, especially plant seedlings.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A solid body in the form of a planting and cultivating container used, in particular, for cultivating and raising plants is known (DE 195 16 572 C2). The container comprises a bottom wall part and a side wall part embodied in a single piece therewith. The wall parts are made of coconut fibers bound into a coconut fabric by means of latex. Plants are placed into the container together with earth. When large numbers of plants are involved, this container, by its nature, requires a relatively large area and is also relatively expensive. Moreover, planting the plants entails more work, because humus or earth mixtures must first be put into the container. Further, because the planting and cultivating container must possess a certain strength, at least its side wall parts are reinforced with one or more integrated stiffening ribs formed by material compression. Such containers are very expensive when high piece numbers are involved. On the other hand, containers produced from coco fibers and latex can decompose biologically, so that the disadvantages associated with plastic containers, metal containers and the like do not occur.
When containers of the above type cannot be used because the space required by the seedlings is not available, the problem is posed of how to nonetheless benefit from the biological decomposability of containers made from coco fibers and latex. Another problem is raised by the materials to be placed in the container, such as earth, humus or growth-promoting fertilizers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to endow the solid body for growing plants with a more compact structure and to simplify its use when planting plants.
According to the invention, this object is attained with the aforementioned basic solid body for growing plants, especially plant seedlings, by using a solid body of coco peat that has an insertion area for plants on the top. When coconuts are processed, the coco fibers and the coco peat are separated from each other in a known manner in special coconut mills. Advantageously, the invention permits coco peat to be used in a still-processible state and in place of natural peat, which, in the near future, will no longer be available in sufficient quantities. In addition, the coco peat is biologically decomposable, serves to replace the earth or humus, and does not need to be placed into a container. The solid growing body is not only manually simpler to use, but also requires less space. Nor are there any strength problems during transport and handling. In addition, the solid growing bodies, which can have an uncompressed insertion area for plants, can be manufactured in all sizes. Thus, such solid growing bodies can also be used for tree seedlings and the like.
The planting of plants, seedlings, cuttings and seed corn is aided by the fact that the insertion area comprises one or more holes or a depression, or the like.
In further embodiment of the invention, the solid body of coco peat is geometrically shaped, and its outer shape is fixed by compression. Almost any technically and economically producible shape that is advantageous for ergonomic manual handling during planting in a cultivating area can be used.
According to further embodiment of the invention, the solid growing body is made of 100% compressed coco peat with a compression ratio of between 2:1 and 10:1. The compression ratio takes into account the various geometrical shapes as well as the different plant sizes and types.
Advantageously, the degree of compression of the compressed solid body of coco peat can be selected as a function of the size (the dimensions) of the solid growing body, whereby the lowest degree of compression is associated with the largest solid growing body.
Further, in an essential embodiment, the compressed solid is coated with latex, except for the insertion area. As a result, the shape created by compression can be maintained and, during lengthy storage, the coco peat is protected in the interior from external influences. In addition, handling and storage are simpler. Thus, even the smallest growing bodies cannot stick together, and all retain their compressed shape.
According to other features, the latex can be neutralized. A two-stage process is thereby used during coating. A first step calls for the immersion of the solid growing body into a first acidic latex mixture, while a second step calls for immersion into a second, neutralizing mixture of latex, which contains carbon-containing additives (Sri Lanka Patent 10303 of Apr. 10, 1992).
In a design that is especially advantageous with respect to handling the solid growing body and placing it into free cultivation (area of earth), the solid growing body is shaped and compressed into a (cylindrical) round disk of predeterminable thickness (height) and predeterminable diameter.
The creation of a compact solid body with controllable thickness allows other substances that are important for plant development to be added as simply as possible. It is thus advantageous that, with less than 100% coco peat, mineral substances are mixed with the solid growing body.
Other substances can also be added to the solid growing body in this way. In another example, with less than 100% coco peat, artificial fertilizer is mixed with the solid growing body.
Such substances can be added before or after compression of the solid growing body. It has proved particularly advantageous for the coco peat to be processed into a solid while in a relatively moist state.
Optimal conditions for the process of compressing the solid growing body are attained when the moisture content of the coco peat is 10% to 16%.


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