GB2098044A - Containers for growing plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A horticultural growing module comprises a vessel (10) whereof the peripheral wall is internally convergent from its upper edge and the bottom interior has upstanding therefrom spaced protuberances (16) to support, in use of the module, a sustained quantity of compost at a level above the bottom interior whereby to maintain a reservoir below said level. One or more filling channels (21) open from the upper edge of said peripheral wall and emerge at the bottom interior, thus, enabling observation of the extent of filling when the sustained quantity of compost is in position in the vessel. The vessel may be so constructed as to permit observation of the level of the reservoir intermittently or continuously around the compost which may or may not be contained independently. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Horticultural growing modules This invention relates to horticultural growing modules.

Growing modules in the form of bags of plastics or other material filled with compost have a number of inherent disadvantages in that they are structurally unstable, liable to sag and split, are visually unattractive, have a tendency to waterlogging, compact by their own weight and the weight of water in them, inhibiting aeration, proper watering and thereby root formation vertically and otherwise which prevents full and proper plant development and fruiting. They are normally usable only once. Watering often involves overspill, which causes fertiliser leaching and irregular watering, and often results in over or under watering, preventing the best development of plants, and causing messy deposits of stained water over the sides. The modules require plant supports for most plants.Supporting the plants is difficult where the module might be used or preferred to be used on window sills or hard staging. The size, shape and construction of the growing module prevents its use in many sites including window sills, ledges and shelves. Growing modules are difficult to stack because of their shape and the material from which they are made.

With a view to offsetting the aforesaid disadvantages, there have been made various ancillary devices such as undertrays embodying reservoirs with capillary watering, and special supports, and in some instances the modules have provision for users to bind the module to prevent sagging or splitting.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide a rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing mod ule comprising a vessel whereofthe peripheral wall is internally convergent from its upper edge and the bottom interior has upstanding therefrom spaced protuberances to support, in use of the module, a sustained quantity of compost at a level above the bottom interior whereby to maintain a reservoir below said level, for capillary watering, with or without one or more filling channels opening from the upper edge of said peripheral wall and emerging at the bottom interior and enabling observation ofthe filling extent when the sustained quantity of com post is in position in the vessel.

The vessel may be constructed so as to hold exist ing and future sizes of growing bags, by virtue of the rigidity or semi-rigidity of the vessel, in round or oval cross section, but in contact with the aforesaid protuberances, so as to allow proper aeration, watering and root formation of the plants. The vessel may be of such design and shape as may permit standing of the module on window sills, ledges and other sites presently too narrow for growing modules. The ves sel may be constructed from suitable plastics or other material that may permit it to be used a number of times, and may allow sterilisation for prevention of plant disease. The vessel may be so constructed as to permit observation of the level of the water in the reservoir intermittently or continuously around the compost which may be, or may not be, contained independently from the vessel.There may be means integral with the said peripheral wall for mounting supports for growing plants without disturbance of the compost, or compost container, supported in the vessel in use of the module. A peripheral ledge may be provided about the upper edge of the peripheral wall to facilitate stacking of a number of like vessels, as tapering of the peripheral walls from top to bottom also provides for stacking a number of like vessels. A quantity of compost may be sustained in a growing bag, either of existing standard manufacture, or of such sizes as may in future be manufactured for general sale, or particularly for this invention, the growing module being of plastics or other suitable material having the properties suitable for the purpose.Alternatively the quantity of compost may be sustained by a tray which is a sliding fit within the vessel to rest on or near to the protuberances. The tray is a flat, corrugated or indented plate with drainage holes therethrough.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line I - I of Fig. 2 of a horticultural growing module in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the module; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a tray; Fig. 4 is an elevational view looking on to the interior surface of a modified horticultural growing module in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the module of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing, a horticultural growing module comprises a vessel 10 of plastics material, or metal or wood, or other suitable material, and of such construction that it remains rigid or semirigid during use, and may be sterilised for re-use subsequently.

The vessel is rectangular in plan and the opposite sides 11,12 and ends 13, 14 thereof converge uniformly or otherwise in the downwards direction.

A peripheral ledge 15 is provided about the upper edge of the vessel to facilitate stacking of a number of like vessels. A number of protuberances 16 of like height are provided on the bottom of the vessel at points appropriate to support over the full area of the bottom 17 ofthevessel 10, or the majority thereof, in spaced relationship to the bottom 17, a sustained quantity of compost. The compost may be contained in a growing bag of plastics or other suitable material, or may be sustained by a tray 18 (Fig. 3) in the form of a flat, corrugated or indented plate which is a sliding fit from above in the vessel 10 at or nearthe height of the protuberances 16, and has drainage holes ( not shown) therethrough.A reservoir is therefore maintained in the bottom of the vessel 10 up to the level ofthe protuberances 16 and which may provide water to the compost by means of capil lary wicks or material capable of providing water capillary action to the compost. Thevessel 10 may be constructed in such a way that the flutings 19 (Fig.

4) on the sides or indentations 21 (Fig. 2) in the ends thereof may permit watering to be carried out from above, without disturbing the compost, and permitting the water level to be observed from above.

Tubes, mounts, slots or holes may be provided at the inner or outer sides, such as the holes 20 (Fig. 2), or a combination of both, or incorporated in the walls of the vessel, and are directed upwards or downwards enabling the locating of bamboo canes or other supports for plants without disturbing the compost in the vessel. Wicks may be inserted either through the drainage holes in the tray prior to fitment in the vessel or directly into the underside of the compost contained in a bag of plastics or other suitable material, or there may be fixed loose absorbent material in the reservoir, with a view to supplying water from the reservoir to the compost th rough capillary action.

Horticultural growing modules in accordance with the invention may readily be attractively designed and constructed with tapered fluted indentations for use in the home, in public spaces, in greenhouses and other sites that may presently be considered unsuitable for growing modules.

Horticultural modules in accordance with the invention may be moulded readily from plastics material which is rigid, or semi-rigid and inert in the moulded condition and may be re-used a number of times after sterilisation.

Claims (8)

1. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module comprising a vessel whereofthe peripheral wall is internally convergent from its upper edge and the bottom interior has upstanding therefrom spaced protuberances to support, in use of the mod ule, a sustained quantity of compost at a level above the bottom interior whereby to maintain a reservoir below said level, for capillary watering, with or with out one or more filling channels openings from the upper edge of said peripheral wall and emerging at the bottom interior and enabling observation of the filling extent when the sustained quantity of compost is in position in the vessel.

2. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in claim 1, and of plastics or other material enabling repeated use of the vessel with sterilisation between successive uses.

3. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and constructed to permit observation ofthe level ofthe water in the reservoir intermittently or continuously around the compost.

4. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in claim 1, 2 or3, including means integral with the said peripheral wall for mounting supports for growing plants without disturbence of the compost, or compost container, supported in the vessel in use of the module.

5. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in claim 1, 2,3 or 4, including a peripheral ledge about the upper edge of the peripheral wall to facilitate stacking of a number of like vessels, as tapering of the peripheral walls from top to bottom also provides for stacking a number of like vessels.

6. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in claim 1,2,3,4, or 5, including a tray which is a sliding fit within the vessel to rest on or near to the protuberances, said tray being a flat, corrugated or indented plate with drainage holes therethrough.

7. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, and constructed to hold growing bags of round or oval cross-section and in contact with the protuberances, so as to allow proper aeration, watering and root formation of plants in growth therein.

8. A rigid or semi-rigid horticultural growing module substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.