GB2131663A

GB2131663A - Humidifying air around plants

Info

Publication number: GB2131663A
Application number: GB08333178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Edward Stone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-12-13
Filing date: 1983-12-13
Publication date: 1984-06-27
Also published as: GB8333178D0

Abstract

To increase the humidity of the atmosphere around a plant in a dry indoor location, a trough (1) is fitted to the rim of a plant pot (5) containing the plant. In a preferred embodiment, the trough (1) is in the form of a ring having an outer side wall (2) and inner side wall (3), a base (4) joining the outer and inner side walls, and an outwardly extending flange (6) which rests on the rim of the pot. The trough (1) is filled with a water absorbent material (3) such as capillary matting consisting of a mass of interwoven synthetic fibres into which water is poured. In an alternative embodiment the trough is an integral part of a plant pot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Humidifier apparatus and method This invention relates to a humidifier apparatus and method for increasing the humidity of atmosphere around an indoor plant.

Indoor plants are subject to the relatively dry atmosphere of heated buildings, and some varieties are prone to infestation by insects or to fungus diseases.

As a means of reducing these effects, this invention provides a method of raising the humidity of air in the region of an indoor plant planted in a plant pot, comprising (i) providing a trough on the pot adjacent the rim of the pot, the trough being shaped substantially to encircle the plant, and (ii) introducing a quantity of water into the trough for evaporation into the atmosphere around the plant.

According to one aspect of the invention, this may be achieved by providing a humidifier device comprising a trough in the form of a closed loop and shaped for mounting on a plant pot on or adjacent an upper rim thereof, the trough having an outer side wall, and inner side wall, and a base integrally moulded in plastics material.

Alternatively the device may comprise two or more trough sections shaped for fitting together on an upper portion of a plant pot so as to extend around the perimeter of the pot, each trough section comprising an outer side wall, and inner side wall, a base connecting the outer and inner side walls, and two end walls. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a plant pot including humidifier means, the pot comprising a base portion, and a side wall portion joined to the base portion, the side wall portion having a rim portion incorporating a trough for containing a quantity of water for evaporation.

In each case the trough may be filled with a water absorbent material such as a number of layers of synthetic fibre capillary matting which is soaked in water and allows gradual evaporation over a period of time to maintain a higher level of humidity around a plant in the pot relative to the humidity of its surroundings. The trough or trough sections may be an accessory which is fitted to a conventional flower pot, or it may be an integral part of a pot. The trough is preferably U-shaped in section, and may be circular, square, rectangular or in other shapes depending on the shape of the pot to which it is to be attached or of which it is part. Alternative water absorbing materials such as a synthetic sponge, sand, small pebbles, or other granular or fibrous material may be used.

The water in the trough may be mixed with any of a variety of insecticides depending on the species of insect on the plant. Likewise a fungicide can be dissolved in or mixed with the water to combat fungus diseases in the plant. The insecticide or fungicide could also be granular in form. By providing a trough for insecticides or fungicides, possible damage to the roots of the root system of the plant is avoided.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned side view of a plant pot with a humidifier trough fitted inside the perimeter of the pot; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trough shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative trough having a cut-out to assist removal; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a further alternative trough formed from two trough sections; Figure 5 is a sectioned side view of a plant pot with an external humidifier trough; and Figure 6 is a sectioned side view of a plant pot with an integral trough.

Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment in accordance with the invention comprises a trough 1 in the shape of a ring having an outer side wall 2, an inner side wall 3, and a connecting base 4 dimensioned to fit inside the rim of a standard size flower pot 5. The outer side wall 2 has an outwardly extending flange 6 joined to its upper edge which locates the trough 1 on the rim of the pot 4. The trough 1 is filled with a water absorbent material acting as a water retainer 7. This may be capillary matting comprising an interwoven mass of synthetic (e.g. nylon) fibres packed to a sufficient density to soak up water poured into the trough 1 and to transmit it from one part of the matting to another by capillary action to allow gradual and continuous evaporation of water into the atmosphere above the pot.

The ring configuration of the trough 1 is shown more clearly in Figure 2, but it will be appreciated that rectangular or other configurations can be employed to suite differently shaped pots or trays.

In certain circumstances, the trough of Figures 1 and 2 may be difficult to remove, for example if a large or delicate plant has been planted in the pot. In such circumstances it is advantageous to form the trough 1 with a cut-out 8 as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the trough 1 can be produced in a number of sections, preferably two semi-circular sections 9 and 10, as shown in Figure 4. Both of these alternative embodiments can be removed from the pot without passing the plant through a restricted diameter ring.

It is also possible to mount a trough 1 on the outside of a plant pot rim, as shown in Figure 5.

Here an inner flange 11 is provided for location on the rim of the pot. The particular trough 1 shown in Figure 5 retains an outer flange 6 so that it can be mounted either on the outside of a small pot or on the inside of an appropriately sized large pot.

This is useful if a plant becomes pot-bound and has to be transferred to a larger pot, so that, providing the pots are of the correct sizes, the trough 1 can be transferred with the plant from a smaller pot to a larger pot.

Each of the embodiments of trough 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is preferabiy moulded from plastics material with the outer side wall 2, inner side wall 3, and base 4, outer flange 6, and, where present, inner flange 11 all integral. The trough or trough sections may be a loose fit on the pot, or a push fit.

Referring now to Figure 6, the trough may be incorporated as an integral part of a special plant pot 12. The trough is formed by moulding an inner wall portion 13 inside the main side wall portion 14 of the pot, the inner wail portion including a base section 1 5 which is joined to the main side wall portion 14 at a level adjacent to, but spaced from, the outer rim 1 6 of the pot. Thus, a channel 1 7 is formed between the main side wall portion 14 and the inner wall portion 13 which acts as a trough in accordance with the invention. As with -the detachable trough, the integral trough can also be located outside the main side wall portion of the pot or it can simply form an enlarged rim which projects both inwardly and outwardly from the main side wall portion.

The depth of the trough can be varied; in particular, it can be deeper than shown in Figure 6 to increase the time interval between consecutive refillings. In fact, it is possible to have the trough extending the whole height of the pot by forming the pot side wall as a double skin throughout.

Likewise, the various embodiments of detachable trough can be substantially deeper than shown in Figures 1 to 5.

In yet a further embodiment of detachable trough (not shown in the drawings), the trough has a threaded surface for engaging a correspondingly threaded surface on the pot rim for a more secure location of the trough on the pot.

It has been found that this invention enables the humidity of the atmosphere above the trough to be raised several percentage points above the general ambient humidity in a typical centrally heated room. Dependent on ambient temperature, the preferred absorbent matting in the trough may remain moist typically for two to three days before requiring refilling

Claims

1. A method of raising the humidity of air in the region of an indoor plant planted in a plant pot, comprising (i) providing a trough on the pot adjacent the rim of the pot, the trough being shaped substantially to encircle the plant, and (ii) introducing a quantity of water into the trough for evaporation into the atmosphere around the plant.

2. A humidifier device comprising two or more trough sections shaped for fitting together on an upper portion of a plant pot so as to extend around the perimeter of the pot, each trough section comprising an outer side wall, and inner side wall, a base connecting the outer and inner side walls, and two end walls.

3. A device according to claim 2, comprising two trough sections each of semi-circular configuration.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each trough section is a moulded one piece plastics component.

5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein each trough section has a flange extending outwardly from a distal edge of the outer side wall for locating the section on the rim of a plant pot.

6. A humidifier device for plants comprising a trough having a circular or part circular outer side wall, a circular or part circular inner side wall, a base connecting the inner and outer side walls, and a water retainer comprising a quantity of water absorbent material distributed in the trough, the device being adapted for mounting on a circular plant pot on or adjacent the rim thereof, for dispensing water vapour to the atmosphere above the pot.

7. A humidifier device comprising a trough in the form of a closed loop and shaped for mounting on a plant pot on or adjacent an upper rim thereof, the trough having an outer side wall, and inner side wall, and a base integrally moulded in plastics material.

8. A device according to claim 7, further comprising a water retainer including a quantity of water absorbent material located in a distributed manner in the trough.

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the outer side wall is provided with outwardly extending flange means for engaging a plant pot rim.

1 0. A device according to claim 9, wherein the flange means comprise a continuous flange extending around the complete perimeter edge of the outer side wall and form an integrally moulded part of the trough.

11. A device according to any of claims 2 to 1 0, wherein the water retainer comprises a mass of synthetic fibres arranged to transmit water therein by capillary action.

12. A device according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein the water retainer comprises a quantity of mineral material in granular form.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the trough or trough sections contain a quantity of water with an insecticide or fungicide.

14. A plant pot including humidifier means, the pot comprising a base part, and a side wall part joined to the base part, at least a portion of the side wall part having an inner wall and an outer wall defining a space for containing a quantity of water for evaporation.

1 5. A pot according to claim 14 which is a onepiece component moulded from plastics material.

1 6. A pot according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the space is a trough of annular crosssection.

17. A pot according to any of claims 14 to 1 6, wherein the inner and outer walls define respectively inner and outer rims of the side wall part, and wherein the inner and outer walls are joined together at a level closer to the rims than to the base part, the side wall part having a single lower wall below the said level.

18. A pot according to any of claims 14 to 17, including a water retainer comprising a quantity of water absorbent material housed in the space.

19. A pot according to claim 18, wherein the water retainer comprises a mass of synthetic fibres for transmitting water therein by capillary action.

20. A pot according to claim 18, wherein the water retainer comprises a quantity of mineral material in granular form.

21. A humidifier device constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings.

22. A plant pot constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.