CA3018838A1 - Mobile light-deprivation greenhouse - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile greenhouse for cultivating short-day photoperiodic plants such as cannabis.
The device is comprised of a wheeled growing pot for containing a quantity of plant growing media and configured to form a mobile plant-growing dolly. The dolly includes a trellis-cage affixed over its growing pot; the trellis-cage being configured for supporting a light-modifying hood that encloses any foliage growing therein and also configurable for supporting foliage growing therein. A translucent greenhouse hood is provided that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent inclement weather from damaging the plant foliage growing therein. An opaque light-deprivation hood may be provided that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent sunlight from reaching the plant foliage growing therein.

Description

Mobile light-deprivation greenhouse Field of the Invention The invention is a horticultural tool directed towards enhancing the quality of short-day photoperiodic plants by selectively blocking their exposure to the sun.
Background of the Invention The trend towards legalizing marijuana is creating new markets for high-quality cannabis; commercial growing facilities are springing up to meet the demand.
More importantly, individuals are gaining the freedom to legally cultivate a small number of cannabis plants for personal use. Their legal situation is quite similar to that which governs people wishing to brew their own beer or to grow their own tobacco.
Expert cannabis growers utilize a horticultural technique known as "light-deprivation".
Light-deprivation exploits the plant's natural "short-day photoperiodicity"
trait by subjecting it to periods of artificial darkness, thereby simulating late-season (short-day) growing conditions. The plant's natural response is to prematurely sprout flowers, thereby exposing the buds to optimal, mid-summer conditions. Light-deprivation can advance flowering by approximately 2 months so practicing it rewards the grower with a much better harvest than if the same plants had spent their peak mid-summer growth period producing leafy foliage instead of high-value flowers.
Both cannabis and tobacco are short-day photoperiodic plants suitable for cultivating with the present invention. Other useful or decorative plants exhibit short-day photoperiodism (basil, green onion, coffee, chrysanthemum, poinsettia and many more).
The mobile greenhouse described below is therefore a multi-purpose gardening tool and its use is not limited to cultivating cannabis. Cannabis (like tobacco) is one of many short-day photoperiodic plants and is used herein as an illustrative example to describe and claim the present invention. Users located in jurisdictions where growing cannabis with this device is still illegal may use it for growing other plants.
Ideal growing conditions Since cannabis evolved under a hot tropical sun, its genetic makeup responds optimally to intense natural sunlight shining directly onto its flower buds. No horticultural system based on artificial indoor lighting can match the full-spectrum energy and intensity of the sun so outdoor growing is inherently better-suited to producing a higher-quality product, particularly if it is combined with the use of light-deprivation to lengthen the period during which the flower buds are exposed to the more intense light.
Over 100 "cannabinoids" have been identified and while the psychoactive effect of THC
has been the focus of public attention, the cannabis plant's full array of cannabinoids has great potential for providing humanity with beneficial medicines.
Furthermore; the complex mix of cannabinoids and terpenes contained in sun-ripened and organically-grown cannabis provides recreational users with a more enjoyable and savory experience than ingesting indoor-grown, commercial-grade marijuana.
Highest-quality cannabis can only be grown under ideal conditions. Therefore, in order to maximize the plant's benefit to society, it must be grown in a light-deprivation greenhouse that can provide the following 3 modes of operation:
1) The greenhouse must include a cloaking mechanism that can deploy an opaque light-deprivation membrane over the plants in a manner that triggers the plant's short-day photoperiodic flowering response. .

2) The greenhouse must also be able to deploy a translucent membrane over the plants that protects them from wind and cold while still allowing photosynthesis to proceed.

3) Since translucent greenhouse coverings attenuate at least 10% of the light passing through them; and since an impermeable membrane also inhibits proper plant ventilation; the ideal light-deprivation greenhouse must also be able to retract both its opaque and its translucent membranes, thereby enabling complete ventilation and allowing the sun to shine directly onto the plant's prematurely-sprouted flowers. Ideally, good ventilation of the plants is also maintained while the light deprivation and translucent coverings are in place.
Indoor cannabis producers who cultivate their plants in a light-tight room can easily practice light-deprivation; simply by turning off their grow-lights to simulate shorter days.
Practicing light-deprivation in a greenhouse or outdoors is a much more difficult task; a grower relying on solar illumination must deploy some sort of light-cloaking device over their plants to shorten the period during which sunlight can shine on them.
Prior art devices To accomplish that light-cloaking task, one relevant prior-art device is US
patent number 9295202: "Automated canopy greenhouse" by Wallace et al. The Wallace light-occlusion mechanism (seen at www.cgs420.com) provides a means for selectively darkening the growing space inside a large greenhouse; it utilizes a stationary electric motor, in combination with a torsion spring to control the travel of cable-driven trolleys constrained to travel over a semicircular path, thereby deploying an opaque planar sheet or over a quonset-style greenhouse structure. It cannot provide all three of the environmental conditions listed above.
Another relevant prior-art cloaking device is US application number entitled: "Greenhouse with synchronizing cover assembly and method for inducing plant photoperiodism in plants" by Fence, Johah et at. Their light-cloaking mechanism (seen at www.emeraldkingdomgreenhouse.com) operates quite differently; it utilizes a pair of mobile electric motors that move in concert to rotate an end of two rolls of opaque planar sheet material such that each roll deploys over a curved side of a greenhouse structure. It too cannot provide all three of the conditions required for optimal growth.
Goals of the invention - Given that the prior-art greenhouse cloaking devices cannot provide all three of the environmental conditions needed for optimal yield and quality of a short-day photoperiodic crop.
- And given that the prior art light-deprivation devices conceived for commercial-scale growing are too big, complex and expensive to scale down to the modest needs of an individual wishing to grow a small number of high-quality plants for personal use.
- And given that, due to shading from nearby buildings, small backyard growers are often challenged by a lack of sunlight. During each day, the sunlit portion of their property moves so stationary plants cannot enjoy optimal growth. That problem can only be solved by moving each plant to a location that maintains its exposure to direct sunlight. Alternatively, the problem can be addressed by augmenting weakened natural sunlight with artificial lighting.
- And given that, the external shading problem caused by nearby buildings is compounded by internal shading from within each plant's dense foliage.
Internal shading can be mitigated by pruning and attaching the growing foliage onto a trellis in a manner that allows more sunlight to penetrate past the plant's low-value leafy foliage onto its higher-value flower buds.
- And given that, in temperate climates far from the equator, even when the sun is shining directly onto a plant, its intensity is not sufficient for optimal growth.
Ideally, the intensity of sunlight falling on each plant is somehow amplified to simulate the solar conditions it would experience in its native habitat nearer the equator.
- And given that, small-scale cannabis growers will be challenged by stringent legal requirement to provide security around their plants in order to prevent their crop from being stolen by thieves or accessed by underaged users.
The overall goal of the present invention is to provide a light-deprivation greenhouse that eliminates all of the drawbacks and challenges noted above.
The invention in its general form will first be succinctly summarized, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.

Summary of the Invention A mobile greenhouse for cultivating short-day photoperiodic plants comprised of:
1. a wheeled growing pot for containing a quantity of plant growing media and configured to form a mobile plant-growing dolly;
2. a trellis-cage affixed onto the plant-growing dolly over its growing pot;
the trellis-cage being configured for supporting a light-modifying hood that encloses any foliage growing therein and also configurable for supporting foliage growing therein;
Optionally included with 1 and 2:
3. an opaque light-deprivation hood that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent sunlight from reaching the plant foliage growing therein;

4. a translucent greenhouse hood that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent inclement weather from damaging the plant foliage growing therein;

5. a reflective solar collector panel that is removably affixed to the mobile greenhouse and formed to concentrate sunlight onto the plant foliage growing therein;

6. a motion-sensing security system affixed to the mobile greenhouse and configured to alert the user of illegal activity;

7. one or more artificial lights that are adjustably attached to the trellis-cage for illumination of plant foliage that is growing therein.

8. an opaque light-deprivation hood that includes separable seams and curtain-propping members which enable the user to convert the light-occluding hood into an openable reflective solar curtain that amplifies the intensity of sunlight shining into the mobile greenhouse.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG 1 illustrates an overview of the mobile greenhouse in its translucent mode.
FIG 2A illustrates a folded configuration of the plant growing dolly shown in FIG I.

FIG 2B illustrates the semi-folded configuration of the growing dolly shown in FIG 1.
FIG 2C illustrates the mobile configuration of the growing dolly shown in FIG
1.
FIG 2D illustrates the parked configuration of the growing dolly shown in FIG
1.
FIG 3 illustrates the parked growing dolly of FIG 2D when prepared for planting.
FIG 4 illustrates the growing dolly of FIG 3 with a plant growing inside its trellis-cage.
FIG 5 illustrates the mobile greenhouse of FIG 1 and the growing dolly of FIG
4.
FIG 6 illustrates the mobile greenhouse of FIG 1 configured for light deprivation.
FIG 7 illustrates the use of a solar reflector to concentrate light onto the trellis-cage.
FIG 8 illustrates the effect of pruning the plant inside the trellis-cage of FIG 7.
FIG 9 illustrates another embodiment of the solar reflector shown in FIG 7.
FIG 10 illustrates the mobile greenhouse of FIG 9 when its crop is ready for harvest.
FIG 11 illustrates the mobile greenhouse of FIG 4 with supplementary lighting.
FIG 12 illustrates details of FIG 11, including the trellis-cage's internal trellis-strings.
FIG 13 illustrates a light-deprivation hood that can be converted into a solar reflector.
FIG 14 illustrates the reflector hood being reconfigured into a light-deprivation hood.
FIG 15 illustrates the supports used to fully configure the reflector of FIG
13.
FIG 16 illustrates a large-scale view of the reflector supports shown in FIG
15.
FIG 17 illustrates another large-scale view of the reflector supports shown in FIG 15.
FIG 18 illustrates the solar reflector shown in FIG 15 when it is fully opened.
Additional subject matter drawings filed within 12 months FIG 19 illustrates another embodiment of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 1 FIG 20 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 21 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 22 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 23 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 24 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 25 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 26 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 27 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 28 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 29 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 30 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 31 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 32 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 33 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 FIG 34 illustrates another aspect of the mobile greenhouse of FIG 19 Description of the Preferred Embodiments FIG 1 is an overview illustration showing mobile greenhouse 2 in front of user 1 and parked outdoors on ground 7. Trellis-cage 6 is affixed onto plant-growing dolly 3 and plant 4 is supported inside it. Translucent cage-hood 5 is draped onto the trellis-cage to protect the plant from inclement weather.

The plant-growim dolly FIG 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D better illustrate the foldable style of plant-growing dolly 3 that may be a preferred element of the mobile greenhouse shown in FIG 1. Note that foldability of the growing dolly 3 is desirable however it is not necessary;
it merely facilitates compact storage of the mobile greenhouse while not in use. A non-folding version of wheeled growing pot 10 with a non-telescoping handle (not illustrated) may also be used to configure the invention. To minimize solar heating of plant media 12, growing pot 10 will preferably have a light-reflective outer surface.
FIG 2A shows dolly 3 in its fully-folded configuration. FIG 2B shows it partially unfolded to form the box-shaped mobile growing-pot 10 used for cultivating the plant 4 shown in FIG 1 and having dolly-wheels 8 for mobility. FIG 2C shows the fully unfolded dolly with its extended handle 9 gripped by user 1 so that, when tilted onto its wheels, it can be rolled about. FIG 2D shows the dolly tilted forward onto the ground in its parked configuration.
The mobile greenhouse FIG 3 illustrates the plant-growing dolly 3 of FIG 2D after user 1 has added several components that partially prepare it for use as a mobile light-deprivation greenhouse.
Growing-pot 10 has been filled with growing media 12; preferably it is a mix of organic soil and natural nutrients that is formulated for growing cannabis. To prevent any of the growing media from escaping through joints in foldable growing pot 10, an impermeable, form-fitting pot-liner 11 may be inserted prior to filling the pot with growing media 12. To enable proper drainage, the bottom of pot 10 and liner 11 typically have a grid of small holes pierced through their bottom panel (not visible). To maximize their drainage efficiency, the user will typically place a small amount of gravel over the drainage holes before filling the pot with growing media 12. A low-profile basin (not illustrated) may be provided so the user can slide it under growing-pot 10 to collect irrigation runoff.
Security measures Cannabis legislation typically classifies the plant as a controlled substance that must be grown under tight security; this applies to both large commercial growers and to private citizens growing just a few plants for personal use. To satisfy that requirement, the present invention offers a variety of robust security features.
FIG 3 illustrates electronic security system 13; it enables the mobile greenhouse to meet that legal requirement by providing 7 different layers of security functions which thwart thieves or deny access to unauthorized or underaged persons. The mobile greenhouse's 7 cumulative layers of security operate as follows:
1. Electronic security system 13 utilizes an internal accelerometer-based motion sensor to detect when an unauthorized person is tampering with the mobile greenhouse 2. The security system housing 13 is shown affixed to dolly 3 by simply embedding its housing into the surface of growing media 12 however it can be affixed at any location on the greenhouse structure that imparts motion or vibration to the sensor.
If unauthorized motion or vibration of the structure is detected by the armed system then it sounds an alarm siren to alert the user or other authorized persons to the potentially illegal situation. The alarm sensitivity threshold may be adjustable to address different security threats: a higher threshold will only trigger the entire greenhouse is moved while a lower threshold will activate the siren if someone merely brushes against any part of it.
Arming and disarming the motion-sensing alarm may be accomplished using a keypad on housing 13 to enter the system's password. Preferably, the arming/disarming task is accomplished using a wireless key-fob transmitter similar to those used to wirelessly lock or unlock an automobile.
2. The electronic security system 13 may also detect unauthorized persons moving in the vicinity of the parked mobile greenhouse through the use of a non-contacting sensor instead of an accelerometer-based contact sensor. Suitable non-contacting sensors are available that utilize Passive Infrared (PIR) technology. Microwave or ultrasonic sensors may also be used to detect the approach of unauthorized persons. Arming and disarming this more robust embodiment of the security system is accomplished as described above.
3. Upon triggering of an alarm state, the electronic security system 13 may activate a silent alarm state that automatically and wirelessly sends a pre-programmed text message or email alert to user 1 informing them that an intruder is on their property potentially interfering illegally with secure cannabis growing device 2.
4. The electronic security system 13 may also activate a nearby surveillance camera (not illustrated) that visually captures the person causing the alarm.
This data would permit the homeowner to safely and securely call 911 with complete law enforcement information, regardless of where the user might be located during the incident.
5. To provide maximum security, the electronic security system 13 may also include an electric fence energizer that is grounded to the mobile greenhouse's metal trellis-cage. An intruder touching any part of the cage will instantly receive a harmless but startling electric shock. The shock may also initiate the alarm siren and electronic messaging procedures described above. This electro-shock feature might also be used for deterring wild animals such as deer or groundhogs from eating the crop.
6. Furthermore, in addition to the 5 electronic countermeasures outlined above, the metal trellis-cage acts as a locked physical barrier that impedes an intruder's ability to access the cannabis growing therein.
7. And finally, the device's user instructions inform growers that (if required by local law) their mobile greenhouse must only be used in a locked restricted-access growing environment. For personal-use growers, simply using their mobile greenhouse within the confines of a fenced-in backyard meets that legal requirement (provided it has a securely locked gate). Courts have ruled that any person scaling a homeowner's fenced-in compound or breaking through its locked gate is committing a break and enter offence. Regardless of any legal requirement, using the present invention within a locked environment is a prudent security measure for all growers.
Using the mobile light-deprivation greenhouse in combination with one or more of the above 7 measures will give the crop a high enough level of security to meet any legal requirement.
The trellis-cage FIG 4 illustrates the dolly 3 shown in FIG 3 after trellis-cage 6 has been affixed to it to form mobile greenhouse 2. The attached trellis-cage provides adequate space for optimally cultivating the single cannabis plant seedling 4 however several seedlings may be grown to maturity in the same space, albeit with a somewhat reduced yield per plant. A light-modifying hood is selectable placed over the trellis-cage as needed for optimal plant growth therein.
User 1 grasps handle 9 and wheels plant 4 about as needed to locate and orient it for optimal exposure to the sun. In its most basic embodiment, the mobile greenhouse (without a hood attached over its trellis-cage), the user can simply wheel the dolly indoors to protect the growing plant from periods of inclement weather.
Similarly, the most basic embodiment (claim 1) can be used to wheel the plant indoors in order to subject it to periods of light-deprivation in a darkened room. Homeowners might wheel their greenhouse inside their residence for either of these purposes however a nearby garden shed or windowless garage may suffice. A user of the most basic embodiment may also practice light-deprivation by draping any light-cloaking membrane over the frame formed by trellis-cage 6 (a bed-blanket, an opaque tarp etc).
The trellis-cage's 6 sides are substantially rectangular grills, typically made of metal rods 20 welded into a regular mesh pattern and typically surrounded by edge members for joining the grills to form the cage. Strengthening elements may be added near the fixation points joining trellis-cage 6 onto growing-pot 10. The regular grid spacing of the cage's mesh size is wide enough for user 1 to reach into the trellis-cage for tending and pruning the foliage growing therein. Typical grid mesh spacing ranges between 4 and 6 inches; in the example depicted in FIG 4, the trellis-cage uses a 6-inch grid mesh that enables user 1 to easily access anywhere within its 36" x 36" x 54" growing space.
The bottom wire-mesh panel of trellis-cage 6 is securely bolted onto the rim of growing pot 10 using appropriately configured adaptor plates and clamping fixations (not illustrated), thereby annexing a growing room onto mobile growing pot 10 for cultivating the foliage of plant 4. Once the trellis-cage and growing pot are joined together, the user can grip any portion of the cage-mesh to tilt and dolly the pot about, thereby obviating the need for dolly handle 9. If a handle 9 is present, the back panel of trellis-cage 6 may be bolted to it, thereby reinforcing the structural integrity of the fully assembled greenhouse 2. To provide additional load bearing capacity, diagonal bracing wires (not illustrated) may be tensioned between opposite corners inside the cage.
Internal support for optimal pruning Expert growers improve their plant's productivity with constant pruning and training of its budding foliage onto an anchoring trellis. Productivity is particularly abundant when a trellis is used in conjunction with pruning practices known as "super cropping", "scrogging" and "marijuana topping". To enable the trellis-cage 6 to provide optimal support for these practices, user 1 will typically complete the assembly and preparation of their mobile greenhouse by lacing the cage-mesh of its trellis-cage 6 with a trellis-support-string 19 (not visible in FIG 4). Trellis-support-strings 19 (visible in FIG 12) are laced in a crisscross pattern across the cage to form a 3D support structure.
The resulting multilevel support grid enables new growth from plant 4 to be anchored at many locations within the trellis-cage 6, thereby spacing apart its dense matrix of maturing flower buds for equal and optimal exposure to the sun.
The trellis-cage 6 is typically shipped disassembled and in a flat-pack configuration. Its sides are user-assembled along the cage's orthogonal edges using metal clips, plastic ties or wire wrappings, thereby forming a secure metal room into which foliage grows from the plant seedling 4 located in pot 10 below. Note that the trellis-cage 6 depicted throughout this specification overhangs the rim of its underlying growing pot 10, by a substantial amount, thereby providing a substantially larger volume of trellised greenhouse space for nurturing a larger crop. Its wide horizontal dimension maximizes the plant's exposure to the sun, thereby improving both its yield and its quality.
The illustrated large overhang of trellis-cage 6 past the rim of growing-pot 10 is advantageous however in some circumstances it will be preferable to have a trellis-cage width that is narrow enough to fit through a doorway. For example: an apartment-dweller cultivating a tobacco plant on their balcony might wish to bring their plant indoors for periods of shelter from cold weather or for periods of light-deprivation inside a darkened room. To do so they would need to use a trellis-cage that is narrow enough to fit through their balcony door. Alternatively (if no legal height or width restrictions apply) the user could reorient how the elongated trellis-cage shown in FIG 4 is fastened to the mobile growing pot 10 such that the resulting tall and narrow mobile greenhouse can fulfill their need.
The height of trellis-cage 6 may be dimensioned to help the user restrict the height of their plant if that is required by law in their particular legal jurisdiction.
For example: the trellis-cage shown in FIG 4 is 36 inches high, thereby helping to insure that the height of plant 4 remains within that limit. Similarly, if a width restriction exists in a user's particular legal jurisdiction, dimensioning the trellis-cage accordingly will help to insure the plant remains legal while still promoting optimal health and productivity.
The mobile greenhouse FIG 5 illustrates the dolly shown in FIG 4 with its light-modifying hood comprised of translucent cage-hood 5 draped over the support-frame formed by trellis-cage 6. User 1 selectively deploys the translucent cage-hood as needed to shield plant 4 from the effects of inclement weather conditions.
Cage-hood 5 is made of commonly available translucent greenhouse film and fashioned into a form-fitting hood that slides easily over trellis-cage 6. The translucent hood is sized and shaped such that it can be easily deployed onto its support frame as shown or else removed, folded and stored nearby until needed again. The cage-hood is dimensioned to hang down into contact with ground 7, thereby forming a fully enclosed greenhouse environment around plant 4.

Translucent cage-hood 5 may include one or more access flaps (not illustrated). The flaps can be opened to enable user 1 to reach through the mesh of trellis-cage 6 for cultivating plant 4. Each access flap may include an edge fixation such as zippers or hook-and-loop fasteners that enables it to be left open to help ventilate the greenhouse for optimal growth.
Light-deprivation FIG 6 illustrates the dolly shown in FIG 4 with its light-modifying hood comprised of opaque light-deprivation cage-hood 14 draped over trellis-cage 6. User 1 selectively deploys this cage-hood as needed to trigger the short-day photoperiodic response of plant 4 (explained in Background above).
Cage-hood 14 is made of commonly available opaque fabric that is fashioned into a loose-fitting hood that slides easily over trellis-cage 6. The opaque hood is sized and shaped such that it can be easily deployed onto its support frame as shown or else removed, folded and stored nearby until needed again. Opaque cage-hood 14 will typically be sized slightly larger than the translucent cage-hood 5 shown in FIG 5, thereby enabling the user to overlay it and leave the translucent protection layer in place while still being able to selectively subject plant 4 to periods of darkness.
Note that in FIG 6, opaque light-deprivation hood 14 is shown with a dark coloured outer surface. Since a dark outer surface would absorb solar energy that might overheat a plant growing inside, in a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of hood 14 is highly reflective. White or aluminized fabric is preferable to the black fabric depicted in FIG 6.
Solar energy amplification FIG 7 illustrates the use of a reflective panel 15A to concentrate additional sunlight onto trellis-cage 6. The (white or aluminized) reflective panel 15A is affixed to the back of greenhouse 2 such that user 1 can easily move and orient the greenhouse and reflective towards the sun, thereby enabling supplementary sunlight to be and reflected onto the shaded side of plant 4.
To increase the effective area of panel 15A, angled side panels 15B and 15C
may be hingedly affixed to it, thereby increasing the intensity of sunlight being reflected onto trellis-cage 6 (fixation details not illustrated). As each day progresses, user 1 may occasionally move and reorient greenhouse 2 to repoint it approximately towards the sun, thereby improving its growth rate.
Note that trellis-cage 6 provides plant 4 with unrestricted outdoor ventilation so heat is immediately convected away. The result is that even during hot summer weather the plant cannot be damaged by the additional solar energy being reflected onto it; a thermophilic, heliophilic plant such as cannabis will thrive in the amplified sunlight.
FIG 8 illustrates the effect of optimally cultivating the young plant 4 shown in FIG 7. It also illustrates a stabilizing support structure that can be affixed to trellis-cage 6 to help prevent high winds from blowing onto reflective panels 15A, 15B and 15 and toppling greenhouse 2.
To prevent wind-toppling, one or more propping members 30A and 30B, are affixed onto trellis-cage 6, preferably engaged onto its forward outer corners as shown. FIG 16 illustrates a suitable prop attachment fixture that adjustably engages onto the cage's wire-mesh construction.
Prop members 30A and 30B stabilize the extremities of the parked greenhouse 2 for maximum support geometry. The effective prop-lengths may be lengthened to raise and pivot greenhouse 2 about its wheels 5, thereby tilting it back as shown in FIG 2C.
The backwards tilt serves to better orient reflective panel 15 towards the sun as well as to better balance the greenhouse over its center of mass for better resistance to wind-toppling.
FIG 9 illustrates another embodiment of the solar reflector shown in FIG 7.
Instead of folding three hinged panels, a single reflector panel 15 is provided that is held by a tensioned-bowed frame of thin flexible edge members. A tensioned upper cable at 16A
and a rigid floor member at 16B enable the reflector panel 15 to stand alone with the weight of mobile greenhouse 2 acting as a wind anchor. Additional anchoring may be provided by tent pegs (not illustrated).
FIG 10 illustrates the mobile greenhouse of FIG 9 when plant 4 is fully matured and ready to harvest. To facilitate drying and curing the ripened flowers, the user may simply cut through the base of the plant's main stem and then detach trellis-cage 6 from growing dolly 3 with the mature plant still supported on its internal trellis-strings (strings 19 are visible in FIG 12). The trellis-cage and its spaced-apart harvest of mature flowers can then be hung upside down in a darkened and well-ventilated room for convenient curing.
Auxiliary liqhting FIG 11 illustrates the mobile greenhouse 2 of FIG 4 when equipped with one or more supplementary electric lighting units for use during cloudy weather.
Electrical cord 18 adjustably suspends electric lightbulb 17 from any location on the upper grid-mesh of trellis-cage 6. By adjusting the height and location of each lightbulb 17, the user can optimize their effect to suit that plant's current state of growth.
When one or more lightbulbs 17 are used in conjunction with a translucent cage-hood 5 (as shown in FIG 5) greenhouse 2 becomes better-suited for early-season sprouting of seedlings or late-season crop-finishing in colder weather. The lightbulbs serve to both illuminate plant 4 for better photosynthesis and to heat the inside of the mobile greenhouse to combat the effects of cold weather. To further enhance the plant's growing environment, a "CO2 Grow Bag" (not illustrated) may be hung inside the translucent cage-hood 5 to enrich the atmosphere with CO2.
FIG 12 is a large-scale view of FIG 11, showing the trellis-cage's internal trellis-strings 19. The crisscrossed trellis-strings are laced throughout the volume of trellis-cage 6, thereby forming an orthogonal support matrix that enables cultivation of plant 4 using the advanced pruning techniques described above.
Dual-mode trellis-cage hood FIG 13 illustrates a dual-mode trellis-cage hood 21 that can serve as either an opaque light-deprivation hood or as a reflective solar energy amplifier.
Convertible hood 21 is shown partially opened into its solar-reflector mode.
The upper edge of opaque, reflective fabric panel 22 is affixed to the upper rear edge of trellis-cage 6 using fabric loop-tabs, edge-sleeves, hook-clips or similar curtain attachment means (not illustrated). Panel 22 thereby forms a curtain which hangs down the back of the trellis-cage to seal against the ground and reflect incident sunlight back onto plant 4.
Side and top curtain-panels 23A, 23B, 24, 25A and 25B are contiguous with the fabric of back panel 22 and can be wrapped around the sides and top of trellis-cage 6 to fully enclose it when light-deprivation is required (see FIG 6).
When curtain-panels 22, 23A, 23B, 24, 25A and 25B are wrapped over and around trellis-cage 6, their edges meet to form joinable seams along 26. Seams 26 are selectively joinable using zippers, snaps, VelcroTM strips or the like that enable the user to either open the hood into its light-amplification mode or close it into its light-deprivation mode. Roll-up sides and top panels (not illustrated) are also within the scope of this convertible light-deprivation trellis-cage hood embodiment.
FIG 14 illustrates the convertible hood 21 when the user has nearly closed its seams 26 to configure its light-deprivation mode. When linear fixations 26 are fully closed, the convertible hood 21 will resemble the opaque hood 14 in FIG 6. The interior of the underlying trellis-cage 6 thereby becomes dark enough to trigger the short-day photoperiodic response of plants growing therein.
FIG 15 illustrates the convertible hood 21 when it is almost fully configured into its open, solar-reflector mode. Top panel 24 is swung up and back towards the back of greenhouse 2 where it will hang adjacent to back-panel 22. Reflector-curtain support rod 27A is shown floating near its operative position on the top of trellis-cage 6 and support rod 27B is shown fully engaged into its operative position. Support rods 27A
and 27B affix to the top of trellis-cage 6 and cantilever past its left and right ends. When affixed in place, they provide support for hanging reflector curtains 25A and 25B at an angle that reflect additional sunlight onto plant 4.
FIG 16 is a large-scale view of the curtain support rods shown in FIG 15. The mesh of trellis-cage 6 provides convenient purchase points for affixing and cantilevering support rods 27A and 27B outboard of the trellis-cage. Reflective side-curtains 25A
and 25B
can be hung onto hooked rod-ends 29A, 29B for support at the desired reflection angle.
To affix support rod 27B to trellis-cage 6, fixation-hooks 28 are engaged under cage-mesh rods 20.
FIG 17 is another large-scale view of FIG 15. Curtain support rod 27B is cantilevered past the right end of trellis-cage 6; its tip serves as a fixation point for curtain support-hook 29B. To prevent the reflective fabric of the large panel formed by 23B
and 25B
from collapsing to the ground, support-hook 29B is engaged through whichever one of the linear plurality of curtain support¨holes 31 used to suspend the reflective side-curtain at its best angle for reflecting supplementary sunlight onto plant 4.
FIG 18 illustrates the fully-opened configuration of the convertible hood 21 shown in FIG
15. Curtain support-rods 27A and 27B are affixed to the top of trellis-cage 6 and support-hooks 29A and 29B are positioned for engagement into one the linear plurality of the curtain support-holes 31A and 31B. Note that, for neatness, outer panels 23A
and 23B may be folded back and secured against panels 25A and 25B as shown.
Note also that reflective curtain 21 is suspended such that gusts of wind will cause it to billow instead of acting like a sail that could topple the parked mobile light-deprivation greenhouse.
Commercial embodiment The foregoing describes a mobile light-deprivation greenhouse embodiment that is ideally suited for use by an individual growing a single short-day photoperiodic plant (such as cannabis or tobacco) that is legally grown for personal use. A large commercial grower can however make use of the present invention by deploying a large plurality of mobile light-deprivation greenhouses inside a fenced-in compound.
To use this commercial embodiment (not illustrated), workers must move about the array of parked mobile greenhouses and cover each plant with its light-deprivation hood as needed. For optimal results, workers must also prune and anchor foliage onto each greenhouse's internal trellis as well as deploy its translucent hood as needed.
Using this commercial embodiment is more labour-intensive than when using the highly mechanized prior art light-deprivation greenhouses. There are however compensatory savings due to low capital costs and easy scalability. Existing commercial grow-ops based in large greenhouses are inherently synergistic with use of the present invention.

They typically include fenced-in areas that could serve as a secure parking lot for a large number of the mobile light-deprivation greenhouse described above. Since the cannabis harvested from this embodiment of the invention is of inherently higher quality than its indoor-grown counterpart, the commercial grower can market it as a "sun-ripened" vintage-quality premium product that can be sold at a higher price.
Improved ventilation embodiment (for refiling within 12 months of the content above) The foregoing describes an embodiment of the mobile light-deprivation greenhouse that requires that plants being grown therein be hermetically sealed inside an impermeable trellis-cage hood for substantial periods of time. Deploying either of its cage-hoods results in a lack of plant ventilation; a condition that retards growth and fosters disease.
Poor ventilation is particularly problematic when using the light-deprivation hood because (prior to the autumnal equinox in mid-September), the hood must enclose the plants and shield them from sunlight for long periods every day (up to 4 hours at mid-latitudes).
A remaining inventive challenge is therefore to devise a way to ventilate the cage-hood without admitting light that would disrupt early flowering. To address that challenge, the embodiment described below enables good plant ventilation under all operational scenarios, including during light-deprivation. Other features are disclosed that aid plant growth and facility ease of use.
Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment of the invention 2 that provides optimal ventilation and optimal growth of light-deprived plants. To enable optimal root aeration wheeled growing pot 10 forms a plant-growing dolly constructed with one or more horizontal slots 34 formed through its perimeter wall. The plant roots breath through an air-permeable "landscaping fabric" liner 36 that is placed inside growing pot 10 to prevent growing media 12 from spilling through root-aeration slots 34.
Note that for optimal plant nourishment and harvest quality, the roots of plants 4 require a large volume of growing media 12 (preferably an organic compost mix). The mobile greenhouse 2 depicted in Figure 19 has a growing-pot dimensioned to contain approximately 60 gallons of soil; an amount that might weigh approximately 500 pounds. To enable user 1 to maneuver such a heavily laden growing-pot 10, the mobile greenhouse 2 may be fashioned in the general shape of a wheelbarrow as shown.
Wheelbarrow handle extensions 35A and 35B may be attached to its growing pot rim extension 33, thereby improving the leverage with which user 1 can maneuver the heavy greenhouse when optimizing its solar exposure.
Handle extensions 35 are typically detachable so that they can also serve as propping members to prevent the greenhouse from toppling over in high winds (see Figure 32).
The location of the growing pot's wheels 8 and its feet 32 may be adjustably positioned with respect to the structure's center of gravity, thereby improving the user's mechanical advantage when levering the heavy load into its mobile configuration.
The width of growing pot 10 and its rim 33 is typically dimensioned small enough to enable the entire greenhouse to be wheeled through a standard residential doorway, thereby enabling plants to be sprouted indoors during winter and moved outdoors in the spring. Note that the rim extension 33 overhangs can serve as handholds that enable two or more people to lift and carry the entire greenhouse 2 up or down a stairway if needed.
Note also that rim 32 extends far enough past growing pot 10 to provide enough horizontal space for including closable vents 38A and 38B. Each closeable vent can be adjustably opened to enable fresh air to flow upwards into trellis-cage 6.
When no cage-hood is present (as shown in Figure 19) the vents 38 are typically left closed so that their reflective upper surface can augment the amount of sunlight that is reflected onto plants 4 (see Figure 25 to understand the complete solar reflecting apparatus).
Note also that rim 32 surrounds an opaque area such that the bottom of trellis-cage 6 is fully sealed against light penetration from below. This provides a more robust way of preventing light from entering cage 6 compared to the skirted cage-cover 5 shown in Figure 1 (that must seal against the ground to prevent light from entering from below).
Figure 20 illustrates the effect of cultivating plants 4 inside the greenhouse structure shown in Figure 19 (or in Figure 1). To achieve such high productivity, user 1 has made use of the trellis strings 19 (shown in Figure 19) to optimally prune each plant (as referred to further above) while constraining its enhanced growth onto its surrounding trellis strings. This process maximizes the number of flowers within the greenhouse while regularizing their location along a 3D grid that optimizes light penetration and growth. To further enhance solar exposure of the flowers, trellis-cage 6 is occasionally moved and reoriented by user 1 so that its long side faces toward the changing position of the sun. By facilitation light penetration and intensity, the plants can have a high proportion of their leafy foliage pruned away so that their high-value flowers are more directly exposed to the sun; by providing plants 4 with optimal growing conditions, the few remaining leaves on each plant will still be able to provide an adequate area of photosynthesis for fueling optimal growth throughout each plant.
To achieve the optimal plant growth illustrated in Figure 20, user 1 must also deploy the light-deprivation cage-hood shown in Figure 21 (covering the cage as needed to provoke early flowering). The user will also deploy the translucent cage-hood shown in Figure 28 (covering the cage as needed to protect the crop from inclement weather).
Whenever possible, the user will refrain from covering the trellis-cage 6 with either of its two trellis-cage hoods. During favorable conditions, the plants should be left exposed to natural wind and sun as shown in Figure 20; this provides them with optimal ventilation and provokes optimal photosynthesis. To further improve each plant's growing environment, the two cage-hoods will be folded into their flat "cassette"
format and then used to concentrate solar energy onto them (described below and shown in Figures 24, 25 and 26).
Figure 21 shows the embodiment of Figure 20 after its light-deprivation trellis-cage hood 14 has been deployed to simulate shorter days (in the case of cannabis, a daily 12-hour darkness regime is needed to provoke flowering). The illustrated example of cage-hood 14 is comprised of seven hinged panels that enable the user to rapidly open or close it as required. Back panel 22 is hinged along it upper edge to top panel 24 and along its left and right edges to end-panels 23B and 25A. To facilitate compact folding, front panels 23A, 25B and 25C are hinged as shown in Figure 22. To provide light-tightness, all panels fit closely onto growing-pot rim 33 along their lower edges and their upper edges close tightly against top panel 24.

To provide a lightweight and easy to use trellis-cage hood 14, its seven panels may (preferably) be made of corrugated plastic such as CoroplastTM. The panels used to form the light-deprivation trellis-cage hood must be opaque and preferably reflective on at least one side.
The translucent version of the greenhouse's cage-hood assembly (shown fully-folded as 43 in Figure 24 and fully-deployed in Figure 32) is configured to transmit as much light as possible and to also have good resistance to UV light degradation; a suitable choice for these panels is therefore Coroplast's "CoroClearTM" product; a corrugated plastic panel that has been optimized for greenhouse use. Note that for reason's explained below (under Figure 25), the translucent cage-hood assembly's back panel 22 is preferably made of the same opaque and reflective material that is used throughout the light-deprivation version of the cage-hood.
Figure 22 shows the opaque trellis-cage hood of Figure 21 when it is partially folded into a configuration that allows sunlight to penetrate through trellis-cage 6 and onto plants 4. Panels 23A and 23B have been detached from trellis-cage 6 and hingedly swung about against the back panel 22. Similarly, panels 25A, 25B and 25c have been swung around towards their rear storage location. Top panel 24 is shown partially swung up and back towards its rear storage configuration; it swings over and against the back of the five (previously-stored) side panels, thereby capturing and constraining all the other hinged panels into a compact flat "cassette" format. Once folded into a flat cassette format, the panels may be secured in place using snap-tabs, hook-and-loop-tabs, magnets or similar fixation means that prevent the folded cage-hood cassette from inadvertently swinging open.
The hinged panel assembly 14 also includes fixation means for temporarily affixing its hinged panels around the trellis-cage. A preferred fixation embodiment is to embed small magnets along the panel-edges (not illustrated). Each embedded magnet is edge-positioned such that, when the panels are swung nearly flush against the (metal) trellis-cage 6, they are magnetically attracted towards the cage and held in place to hermetically seal the enclosure. Windy conditions may require a more secure a more secure fixation means so appropriately configured VelcroTM tabs or mechanical clips may also be used to prevent inadvertent opening of a closed trellis-cage hood.
Figure 23 shows the opaque trellis-cage hood of Figure 21 and Figure 22 after all of its seven panels have been fully folded into a flat "cassette" configuration 42 for easy removal and storage. The back panel 22 includes a plurality of hook-type clips 41 that are positioned for engagement onto the back of trellis-cage 6. This clip-on cassette configuration enables the user to quickly exchange an opaque light-deprivation cassette for a translucent weather-protection cassette and vice versa. In both cases, the cassette can be easily opened and then closed around trellis-cage 6 to affect its desired hood-function. At any time, the closed growing cage (as in Figure 21) can be reopened into the configuration of Figure 32 to enable unrestricted exposure of plants 4 to their natural environment.
Note that opaque panel 22 will typically include a highly reflective surface facing onto cage 6 (either aluminized or pure white). This reflective panel configuration enables cassette 42 to remain stored onto to cage 6 at all times with the added benefit of augmenting the amount of sunlight shining onto plants 4 (they receive both direct rays and reflected rays). To achieve this solar concentration benefit, the user need only point the face of panel 22 approximately towards the sun as it moves from east to west during the day; for example (in the northern hemisphere) greenhouse 2 could remain pointed directly South-East during the morning and then repointed 90 degrees to point directly South-West during the afternoon. At all times, plants 4 would receive some level of extra illumination (reflected from the rear). The reflective upper surface of sliding vents 38A and 38B would add to the amount of sunlight that shines onto plants 4 (reflected from below).
Figure 24 illustrates the two cage-hood cassettes used to provide either light-deprivation or weather-protection. Opaque cage-hood cassette 42 is mounted onto the back of trellis-cage 6 where it can be opened or closed for light-deprivation when needed. When folded into its flat cassette format it reflects supplementary sunlight onto plants 4.
Translucent cage-hood cassette 43 is shown detached from the greenhouse for storage until inclement weather occurs. When needed, the user replaces opaque cassette with the translucent one 43 and then unfolds it around cage 6 to protect the plants until conditions improve. Note that in its preferred embodiment, translucent cassette 43 has the same reflective back panel 22 as the one used in the light-deprivation cassette 42.
When they are folded into the cassette configuration shown, the two cage-hood cassettes perform the same solar-reflector function when they are mounted onto the back of the trellis-cage 6 as shown.
Figure 25 illustrates a means for converting either of the unused cassettes into an auxiliary solar reflector; a configuration that further augments the amount of sunlight shining onto each plant. To convert the greenhouse's unused trellis-cage cover, cords 44A and 44B are used to suspend the (unused) cassette 43 against the lower edge of trellis-cage 6 (or into one of the growing pot's root-aeration slots (34 in Figure 19)).
When the unused cassette is horizontally suspended in front of the trellis-cage as shown, its large reflective surface is orthogonally positioned with respect to the vertical reflective surface of light-deprivation cassette 42; together they focus an even greater amount of sunlight onto plants 4.
An alternative to using cords 44 for positioning the unused cassette 43 for use as a solar reflector is to unfold its top panel (24 in Figure 22) so that it can serve as a ground-prop along its outboard edge (this configuration not illustrated).
To concentrate even more reflected sunlight onto plants 4, panels 23A and 23B
may be swung flush against the west end of trellis-cage 6 as shown so that the morning sun, rising in the east is reflected from the west onto the plants. This three-plane "corner cube reflector" focusses maximum sunlight onto the plants while its open-air ventilation prevents any heat build-up (the direction nomenclature used above assumes that the greenhouse is in the northern hemisphere and is pointed south; opposite directions will apply in the southern hemisphere).
Figure 26 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 25 when configured for use during the afternoon (instead of during the morning). The east end of trellis-cage 6 is now blocked by folded reflective panels 25A and 25B, thereby reflecting the afternoon sun onto the plants from three sides (from the north, from the east and from underneath).
Figure 27 illustrates an embodiment of the light-deprivation hood 14 that enables optimal ventilation of the plants being grown therein. Top panel 24 includes a 3-sided gasket 45 that is made of open-cell foam. The open-cell foam used to form gasket 45 is typically configured such that it forms a dark-colored micro-labyrinth through which warm air rising from inside the closed light-deprivation hood 14 can escape freely but without any light being transmitted back towards the plants that would disturb their early flowering process.
The underside of the overhang 37 formed by the extended pot-rim 33 includes one or more lower vent intake apertures 46 (see Figure 28). Lower intakes 46 enable incoming air to feed a "chimney effect" ventilation that rises inside of the darkened light-deprivation growing environment. Air enters the lower intakes 46 whereupon solar-driven convection causes it to travel horizontally toward the opened vents (38 in Figure 19). The fresh incoming air then rises through the growing plants and exits the deployed light-tight cassette 42 via its open-celled upper gasket 45.
Figure 28 is a bottom view of the greenhouse shown in Figure 27; its light-deprivation cassette having been replaced with its unfolded translucent cassette 43. The vent intake apertures 46A and 46B are formed through vent floor 38C and 38D so the height of growing-pot rim 33 creates a "light-baffle" tunnel that enables air to enter from below at the front and exit upwards from the rear (at 38A and 386). Since the airway into sealed trellis-cage 6 is serpentine pat, it prevents any light from entering from below.
Note that the interior of the light-baffle tunnel will typically be painted black in order to minimize reflective light transmission. Note also that the intake apertures may be covered by an air filter such as PollenTecTm screen that prevents insects, pollen or spores from entering the greenhouse and degrading its eventual harvest.
Figure 29 is another bottom view of the greenhouse shown in Figure 27 illustrating how electric fans 54a and 54B may be used to augment the natural convection used to drive ventilation. It also illustrates use of a wire to electrically ground the growing plants to earth; a growing technique that some experimenters have found increases plant vigor.

To connect the plants growing inside growing box 10 to ground, electrically conductive wire 48 is embedded in their growing media and the routed to exit via watering drain hole 53A. To complete the electrical circuit, wire 48 is connected to metal grounding plate 49, thereby grounding plants 4 whenever and wherever the mobile greenhouse is parked. The other illustrated drain hole (53B) is used for another growth enhancement function (see watering wick 51 and pan 52 in Figure 34).
Figure 30 is a bottom view of the greenhouse shown in Figure 27 that better illustrates how vent intake aperture 46 feeds air into a horizontal light-baffle tunnel formed between the upper and lower faces of growing-pot rim 33. Light-baffle tunnel 47 is typically painted black to minimize internal reflections; air entering via aperture 46 must traverse the width of trellis-cage 6 whereupon it enters the growing environment via an (opened) vent slider (see 38 in Figure 31).
Note that pivot-pin holes 55 may be provided at various locations around the perimeter of growing pot rim 33. The pivot-pin holes are used to either secure the detachable wheelbarrow handle extensions (35A and 35B in Figure 19) or to pivot the handle extensions for use in bracing the structure in a manner that prevents it from toppling over in high winds (see Figure 32).
Figure 31 is a large-scale top view of the greenhouse shown in Figure 30 showing construction details of its aeration liner 36, its trellis-cage 6, its light-baffle 47 and its sliding air vent closure 38.
Figure 32 illustrates how detachable wheelbarrow extension handles 35a and 35b may be repositioned on growing pot 10 (as shown in Figure 19) and reused as props that prevent the greenhouse from toppling over in high winds. To enable this propping function, wheelbarrow handles 35 include pins 56 which engage into the pin-holes 55 formed around the perimeter of growing pot rim 33. Engaging a single pin (such as 56C) will enable the prop to swing down to the ground as shown and brace the structure during windy weather.
Figure 33 illustrates the greenhouse of Figure 19 when configured for grow many small potted plants 4A, 4B and 4C. No growing media is placed in in growing pot 10 and a plurality of vertically tiered rows of plants are arrayed within trellis-cage 6. Each tier of plants is supported translucent shelving 50 (50A supporting plants 4A, 50B
supporting plants 4B etc.). To convert the greenhouse for this mode of operation, the trellis cords 19 shown in Figure 19 are typically unstrung the cage 6 to make room for shelves 50.
This usage mode will typically be practiced indoors during the winter as a precursor to carrying the greenhouse 2 outdoors to take advantage of summer weather. When used indoors, artificial lighting may be suspended inside that cage (see Figure 11).
Figure 34 illustrates a means for automatically watering plants by wicking water upwards into the mass of growing media contained within growing pot 10. To accomplish this, wicking cord 51 is buried within the growing media and hangs down below the growing pot into a pan filled with water (wicking cord 51 exits the growing pot via drain-hole 53B shown in Figure 29). The user need only periodically refill pan 52;
capillary action will draw water up cord 51 and maintain correct growing media hydration for optimal plant growth.
Conclusion The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary.
The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is further described and defined in the claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims (6)

Claims l claim:

1. A mobile greenhouse comprised of:
- a wheeled growing pot for containing a quantity of plant growing media and configured to form a mobile plant-growing dolly;
- a trellis-cage affixed onto the plant-growing dolly over its growing pot;
the trellis-cage being configured for supporting a light-modifying hood that encloses any foliage growing therein and also configurable for supporting foliage growing therein;

2. The mobile greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising an opaque light-deprivation hood that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent sunlight from reaching the plant foliage growing therein;

3. The mobile greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising a translucent greenhouse hood that removably fits over the trellis-cage to prevent inclement weather from damaging the plant foliage growing therein;

4. The mobile greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising a reflective solar collector panel that is removably affixed to the mobile greenhouse and formed to concentrate sunlight onto the plant foliage growing therein;

5. The mobile greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising a motion-sensing security system affixed to the mobile greenhouse and configured to alert the user of illegal activity;

6. The mobile greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising one or more artificial lights that are adjustably attached to the trellis-cage for illumination of plant foliage that is growing therein;