Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
1996-10-18
2001-06-19
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247269
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plant growing system and to plant container systems and to methods for growing plants.
Container planting is well known and widely practiced. Its uses vary from locations wherein other types of gardening are impossible such as in urban settings such as high rise buildings to its use for decorative and aesthetic purposes such as flower boxes. Container gardening is also widely practiced for purposes of space utilization and design such as for patios, solariums and the like.
In the field of container planting or gardening, different concepts have developed over the years to provide an integrated approach to plant growth. These systems include the use of hydroculture, hydroponics, artificial growing media, natural potting soil, etc.
In hydroculture systems, the entire root mass of a plant is completely immersed in stagnant nutrient water and consequently only a few plants are able to adapt to such conditions.
In hydroponic systems, the entire root mass of a plant is completely immersed in running nutrient water and the system utilizes a pump irrigation system. While some plants of commercial value can be grown with this method, other plants such as roses do not thrive under hydroponic cultivation methods.
Artificial growing media have proved themselves to be valuable alternatives to conventional potting soil. This type of system is useful for those plants which have evolved their root system mainly for anchoring purposes in media other than soil—i.e. orchids and other epiphyte plants. Planting media can include mixtures of bark, peat moss, Spanish moss, sphagnum moss, fertilizer, vermiculite, etc.
Systems of containers using natural potting soil are well known and widely used as they prove themselves able to sustain the life of substantially all plants for a given period of time. There have been many proposals in the art to provide improvements for such natural soil containers; such improvements have included self watering devices such as wicks or special bottom reservoirs. While these systems provide the roots with direct contact with soil particles and microorganisms, the limitations of all these containers is that the water reservoir is generally not large enough or available enough for the growing needs of all plants. Also, another fundamental limitation is that the roots of all plants cultivated in these containers end up being incarcerated inside of a compact potting soil ball. Roots do not further expand outside of the said ball without being damaged as they can escape only through the drainage holes that have not been designed for this very purpose. The growing roots that reach the bottom of all plant containers grow in a pattern known as spiralization: the roots grow in a circular pattern that represents a waste of energy by the plant. The roots become engaged in a vicious circle of unnecessary growth in order to find the necessary space for water seeking and uptake. This provokes the suffocation of root tissue, the complete arrest of growth by the plant, and the start of dormancy. People who are familiar with the art of plant husbandry know that it is time to change the pot for a larger one, a technique known as repotting, otherwise, plants lose their leaves and may even die.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel container for plants wherein an integrated approach to plant growth is provided.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel gardening system which helps to maximize root and plant growth for a wide variety of plants while preventing the process of spiralization of root tissue.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a horticulture method which is reliable, easy to use and suitable for a wide variety of plants.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant container comprising a container having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, a soil support member spaced from the bottom wall to define a space between the bottom wall and the soil support member, at least one wall extending downwardly from the soil support member to thereby define a cavity, a plurality of apertures in the wall, an air inlet to the space, the air inlet communicating with an upper portion of the space, a gas outlet from the space, the gas outlet being spaced from and located below the gas inlet means such that air entering the space from the air inlet will pass through a substantial portion of the space before exiting the gas outlet.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, a soil support member spaced from the bottom wall to define a space between the bottom wall and the soil support member, a liquid outlet extending between the space and exterior of the container, the soil support member having at least one downwardly extending wall to define a cavity, a plurality of apertures in the downwardly extending portion, the downwardly extending portion and the apertures extending below the liquid outlet.
In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a horticulture method comprising the steps of supplying a container having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom and a soil support member spaced from the bottom wall to define a space between the bottom wall and the soil support member, and at least one downwardly extending portion from the soil support member to define a cavity, placing a non soil medium in the cavity, placing a soil on the soil support member on top of the non soil medium, maintaining a liquid level within the space such that the liquid contacts the non soil medium, and maintaining an air space between the soil and the liquid while permitting a slow air exchange between the air space to exterior of the container.
As is well known, 50% of the total biomass of many plants used for ornamental or agricultural purposes is underground. One role of the root zone is to provide support and anchorage for the plant canopy which in turn transforms the sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Roots are also required to provide the plant with water and nutrients; some of the nutrients and oligo-elements found in clay are not directly available for the roots. Soil microorganisms have the ability to convert unavailable nutrients into easier forms for assimilation by the roots. The root systems of plants have evolved complex interactions with the soil microorganisms in order to assist the process of nutrient conversion and uptake. Nutrient assimilation is usually performed by roots that are located in the first few inches of topsoil and these roots have evolved complex symbiotic interactions with microorganisms found in the top soil. Nutrient assimilation is a process that happens simultaneously with oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide evacuation from healthy root cells.
In one aspect of the present invention, the present system is characterized by stratification of three different zones or regions which are incorporated in a container system. The system permits any plant to reach maturity by giving special attention to the specific needs of its radicular system. It provides an environment for those roots that specialize in the function of water seek and uptake. The system attempts to mimic that which is commonly found in nature. The system also provides a transition region between the soil and the water with a balance between air and water supplies.
An environment is provided such that an air supply may provide the expanding aquiferous root population with intermittent direct contact with either water or moist cool air. The cool air is gradually renewed at all times in order to provide the same roots with a constant supply of oxygen and to provide soil microorganisms with a constant supply of nitrogen. The roots are also provided with a constant supply of cool water vapor so that they are protected from desiccation.
An aerated labyrinth is prov
Fincham Eric
Jordan Charles T.
Palo Francis T.
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