GB2124463A

GB2124463A - Outer water container for plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2124463A
Application number: GB08318368A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilhelm Lubich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-13
Filing date: 1983-07-07
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: NL8302472A; GB2124463B; ATA271982A; GB8318368D0; DE8318221U1; BE897209A; DK318383D0; AT374337B; DK318383A

Abstract

A raised support for at least one flowerpot (8) and a liquid container (4), which is defined by the bottom (2) of the outer pot (1), are provided adjacent to the bottom (2) of the outer pot (1). Absorbent material (15) is provided between the shell of the outer pot (1) and the flowerpot (8). To ensure an adequate humidity of the air around the plant (12), the absorbent material (15) defines with the flowerpot (8) a flow passage and extends into the liquid vessel (4), in which the upper limit (5) for the liquid level is defined by at least one air passage (16) extending through the shell (3) of the outer pot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Outer pot for flowerpots This invention relates to an outer pot for use with flowerpots, comprising a raised support for at least one flowerpot adjacent to the bottom of the outer pot, a liquid container defined by the bottom of the outer pot, and absorbent material disposed between the shell of the outer pot and the flowerpot.

When indoor plants are held in a flowerpot filled with soil rather than in a nutrient solution, the supply of water must be controlled in adaptation to the liquid requirement of the plant in order to ensure that the plant will develop properly. The liquid requirement of the plant will depend on the size of the plant, its stage of development and the humidity of the air. For this reason the supply of water to indoor plants in flowerpots must be regularly supervised.

It is known from U.S. Patent Specification 1,928,810 that a water supply which is adapted to the water requirement of the plant can be effected in that the flowerpot is placed on a raised pedestal provided at the bottom of the outer pot so that a liquid container will be provided between the bottom pedestal and the shell of the outer pot and the liquid level in said liquid container will be limited by the height of the pedestal because the bottom pedestal is provided with a central air supply hole. Above the liquid-container the annular space between the flowerpot and the shell of the outer pot is entirely filled with an absorbent fibrous material, which prevents an escape of moisture from the soil through the porous flowerpot.Water is supplied to the plant in that liquid which has evaporated from the liquid container enters as vapour through corresponding openings in the bottom of the flowerpot into the interior of the latter. A disadvantage resides in that the water supply is inadequate for plants having a relatively high water requirement and that the packing in the annular space between the outer pot and the flowerpot can prevent a loss of liquid through the flowerpot but cannot avoid an evaporation from the leaves of the plant.

If the flowerpot js placed on a liquid-containing body which constitutes a bottom insert in an outer pot (British Patent Specification 1,295,695), the plant can be amply supplied with liquid because the liquid level in the outer pot is determined by an opening formed in the shell of the outer pot above the bottom of the flowerpot. As the annular space between the outer pot and the flowerpot is also filled with a material which is mainly intended to absorb water and to prevent its evaporation, the liquid in the outer pot does not improve the air conditions around the plants protruding from the flowerpot.

Whereas such an air conditioning is to be provided by another known pot (German Patent Specification 55 358), which is placed into a water bath and contains an insert, which defines flow passages with the shell of the outer pot so that water vapour can flow into the region in which plant portions protrude from the flower pot, the surface of the water bath is relatively small so that the desired result can be produced only in a rather incomplete degree.

It is an object of the invention to avoid these disadvantages and to provide for use with conventional flowerpots an outer pot which ensures that water will be supplied to a plant in accordance with its water requirement and that the air around the plant protruding from the flowerpot will be properly humidified.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention in that the absorbent material, which constitutes a covering on the shell of the flowerpot or as a separate insert, leaves a flow passage between said absorbent material and the flowerpot and extends into the liquid container and an upper limit for the liquid level in the liquid container is defined by at least one air passage extending through the shell of the outer pot.

When the absorbent material is arranged in accordance with the invention, an annular flow passage will be obtained between the flowerpot and the outer pot and will be defined on the outside by the absorbent material so that liquid can evaporate not only from the liquid container but from a much larger surface area. The resulting humidification of the air will prevent a loss of liquid through the shell of the flowerpot and will ensure that a desirable air-conditioned zone, which prevents an undesired evaporation of liquid from leaves of the plant, will be provided around the plant portions which protrude from the flowerpot.As a result, moisture will be supplied at a rate which is controlled by the plant in a manner which is similar to natural conditions because the indoor plant must virtually get the required liquid through the soil from a region which is similar to a region which contains underground water whereas the means which confine the soil cannot exert a detrimental influence.

The absorbent material may desirably consist of a covering on the outer pot. The absorption capacity of that covering may decrease in the course of time, particularly when water to which a substrate has been added is filled into the liquid container. For this reason the covering is desirably detachably mounted on the shell of the outer pot so that the original conditions can be reestablished by the application of a new covering.

Comparable results will be produced if an insert extending into the liquid container is used instead of a covering on the shell of the outer pot but in that case the replacement will be much easier.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a simplified vertical sectional view showing an outer pot in accordance with the invention for use with flowerpots and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line Il-Il in Figure 1 and showing that outer pot.

The outer pot 1 which is shown consists substantially of a bottom 2 and a shell 3. The arrangement is such that the outer pot 1 defines adjacent to its bottom 2 an open-topped liquid container 4. An upper limit 5 for the liquid level in the liquid container 4 is defined by three air passages 6 extending through the shell 3. The liquid container 4 contains a support 7 for at least one flowerpot 8. That support is constituted by a hollow pedestal 9, which rises from the bottom 2 and has such a height that the flowerpot 8 is supported at a vertical distance from the bottom 10 of the container by radial ribs 1 which are disposed below the upper limit 5 for the liquid level in the liquid container 4.As a result, the liquid has direct access to the flowerpot 8 at the bottom thereof but a liquid level which would be detrimental for the indoor plant 1 2 need not be feared in the flowerpot 8.

Filling openings are constituted by air passages 6, which are disposed above webs 14, which extend between the pedestal 9 and the shell 3 and have a height corresponding to the height of the pedestal. Additional air passages 13 are formed in the shell 3 between the air passages 6. That design results in an advantageous stiffening of the outer pot 1 adjacent to its bottom 2 and facilitates also the supervision of the required liquid level, which should not go down below the top of the pedestal and the support 7 for the flowerpot. A finger stuck through one of the air passages 6 may be used for a check whether the ribs 14 are still covered with water or whether water must be added.

The shell 3 is provided on its inside surface with a detachably mounted, liquid-absorbent covering 15, which extends into the liquid container 4. That liquid-absorbent covering 1 5 may be replaced by a corresponding insert and will result in a greatly intensified evaporation of liquid so that, in conjunction with the flow of air through the air passages 6 and 13, air conditions which are beneficial for the plant 1 2 can be provided around the plant 12.The air flow which is obtained is indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and results in a delivery of moisture to the flowerpot 8, which is usually permeable to moisture, so that a drying of the soil 1 6 in the upper portion of the flowerpot will be prevented, and in a supply of moisture to the portions which protrude from the flowerpot so that they can also take up moisture from the ambient air. In any case, an undesired delivery of moisture to the ambient air will be prevented.

It will be understood that the embodiment shown by way of example can be varied greatly in shape and size within the concept of the invention, which essentially resides in that an air flow which has been moistened from the liquid container 4 is obtained between the flowerpot 8 and the outer pot 1 and which ensures by the formation of suitable air-conditioned zones that the flowerpot 8 will be indirectly supplied with moisture in addition to the direct supply of liquid to the flowerpot 8 through the liquid bath in the liquid container 4.

Claims

1. An outer pot for use with flowerpots, comprising a raised support for at least one flowerpot adjacent to the bottom of the outer port, and absorbent material disposed between the shell of the outer pot and the flowerpot, characterised in that the absorbent material, which constitutes a covering on the shell of the flowerpot or as a separate insert, leaves a flow passage between said absorbent material and the flowerpot and extends into the liquid container and an upper limit for the liquid level in the liquid container is defined by at least one air passage extending through the shell of the outer pot.

2. An outer pot according to claim 1, characterised in that the absorbent material consists of a covering on the shell of the outer pot.

3. An outer pot according to claim 1, characterised in that the covering is replaceably mounted on the shell of the outer pot.

4. An outer pot according to claim 1, characterised in that the absorbent material is constituted by a separate insert between the outer pot and the flowerpot.

5. An outer pot for use with flowerpots, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.