GB2139064A

GB2139064A - Apparatus for supplying water to plants

Info

Publication number: GB2139064A
Application number: GB08312179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Leslie Clifford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-04
Filing date: 1983-05-04
Publication date: 1984-11-07
Also published as: GB2139064B; GB8312179D0

Abstract

Apparatus for supplying water to a plant (28) growing in a pot (25) comprises a container with a flat base (11) and an upstanding peripheral wall (12). The interior of the container is divided by a division (13) which projects upwardly from the base and divides the lower part into an inner reservoir (14) and outer reservoir (15). External filler (17) communicates with reservoir (15) and external filler (16) communicates with inner reservoir (14). The outer reservoir almost completely surrounds the inner reservoir. The inner reservoir provides water to soil in the pot. The outer reservoir provides humidifying water for the atmosphere around the plant independent of the water supplied to the pot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for supplying water to plants The invention relates to apparatus for supplying water to plants growing in pots and is particularly concerned with the provision of water for feeding to the root system of a plant and water for providing local humidification of the atmosphere.

It is well established that pot plants of many kinds do not thrive in the warm, low humidity atmospheres found in many centrally heated buildings. In order to overcome this deficiency, it is established practice to stand pot plants in a shallow tray which is filled with water and which evaporates to provide locally high humidity. It is also well established procedure to place a plant pot within a larger outer container and to fill the remainder of the container with peat or like material which is maintained in a damp condition by regular application of water.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supplying water to plants growing in pots which provides for supply of water to the plant roots and for humidification in a convenient manner.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for supplying water to plants growing in pots comprising a container for a pot, the container having a base surrounded by a side wall and a division extending up from the base dividing the container into an inner reservoir for supplying water to the roots and an outer reservoir for supplying water by evaporation to air surrounding the plant to provide humidity for the foliage of the plant. By this means, separate control of water to the roots and water for humidity is provided. It also allows nutrient to be provided in the water for the roots while pure water can be used for evaporation.

Preferably a passage extends from the inner reservoir to a filler arranged externally of the side wall. Preferably the outer reservoir also has a passage which extends externally of the side wall.

By this means, the two reservoirs can be replenished without disturbing the plant and without pouring water directly over the plant.

Preferably the fillers are at the same general level as the reservoirs so that water level in the fillers is indicative of water level in the reservoirs. Each filler may have a graduated or stepped wall to facilitate filling to a desired level and inspecting the level of water.

The side wall may have a height equal to or only slightly greater than the height of the division. This provides a system analogeous to a saucer and can be employed with an attractive design of plant pot or for plants which have a low growing habit and tend to hang over the side of the plant pot. More typically the height of the side wall will be much greater than that of the division and may correspond approximately with the height of a plant pot.

Each filler may be localised at one position on the periphery of the side wall. The fillers may be adjacent each other to form in effect a single siamesed filler or may be on opposite sides of the container. Alternatively, the filler for the outer reservoir may extend around most of the periphery of the side wall and thereby provide additional water surface for generation of humidity by evaporation. In such a case the filler for the inner reservoir may occupy the remainder of the periphery of the side wall.

It may be arranged that the plant pot stands on the base within the inner reservoir but preferably it is supported above the base. This support may be by means of ribs having a depth equal to or not substantially less than the depth of the division or may be by means of a grill supported on the division.

The base may be provided with downward projections to act as a stand and hold the base above the level of a surface on which it is positioned.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa plan view of an apparatus according to the invention; and Figure2 is a sectional elevation on line ll-ll of Figure 1 also showing a plant pot in conjunction with the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a containerforthe plant pot and this container incorporates a fiat horizontal base 11 with an upstanding peripheral wall 12. In this example the base and wall are circular but any shape may be employed. The interior of the container is divided by a division 13 which projects upwardly from the base 11 and divides the lower part of the container into an inner reservoir 14 and an outer reservoir 15. A suitable height for the division may be 10-20 mm. The peripheral wall 12 should have a height at least equal to that of the division but in many cases a substantially higher wall would be appropriate as illustrated.

The container is provided with two external fillers 16 and 17 which in this example are on opposite sides of the container. Each filler is in effect a small local reservoir. Filler 17 is intended for the outer reservoir 15 and communicates with that reservoir through a feed aperture 18 in the base of side wall 12 which coincides with the level of the base 11. The base of filler 17 is at the same level as the base 11 of the container so that there is no lip or step between the filler and reservoir through the aperture 18. Filler 16 also communicates with the interior of the container, through an aperture 19 set at the same level as base 11 and the base of the filler. Aperture 19 communicates with the inner reservoir 14 by virtue of two parallel extensions 21 of the divider which form a communication channel from the filler 16 to the inner reservoir 14.

Both fillers 16 and 17 are equipped with means to help a user to judge and control the level of water applied to these fillers and hence the level in the reservoirs. Filler 17 has an outwardly inclined wall incorporating a rib 22 which serves as a water level marker. For example, if the rib 22 is under water, the water level in te outer reservoir is at a sufficiently high level. Filler 16 incorporates both a step 23 and a ridge 24 as level guides and indicators. In this example, filler 16 is deeper than filler 17 because it is considered desirable to supply a greater depth of water to the inner reservoir than the outer reservoir.

A plant pot 25 in which a plant 26 is growing in soil, stands within the boundaries of the inner reservoir 14. The container may be such that the plant pot stands immersed in water directly on the base 11. However, it is preferred that the plant pot should be supported above the base and in this example the base is provided with vertical ribs 27 extending the whole of the depth of the divider 13.

The plant pot is provided with a wick 28 or similar capilliary action water collecting device to enable it to draw water from the inner reservoir 14 even when the water level is below the plant pot base.

The base 11 may be arranged to stand directly on a table top or similar surface but in this example a lower rib 29 supports the base 11 above the surface on which it should stand.

The container may be manufactured as a single piece plastics moulding or it may be constructed in any other suitable way from any suitable material.

In use, water or water containing a liquid nutrient is poured into the filler 16 until a desired level, for example the level of the ridge 24, is reached. This liquid feeds through the aperture 19 and assumes the same level within the inner reservoir 14. This liquid is drawn up into the plant pot over a period of time to supply water to the roots of the plant and can be replenished without disturbing the plant or plant pot.

Water is also poured into the filler 17 until a desired level is reached and this water passes through aperture 18 into the outer reservoir 15. As time passes, this water tends to evaporate so that air of high humidity develops in the region of the plant 26. If high humidity is not required for the plant, watering into filler 17 may be omitted. This water also can be supplied without disturbing the plant and without pouring water through the plant into the outer reservoir.

The separate reservoirs allow separate watering for the roots and for maintaining humidity which can be an advantage in some plants which require their roots to dry out from time to time.

Many alternative constructions are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, filler 17 may be extended around the whole of the periphery of the container apart from the filler 16. The filler itself on the outside of the container wall would then add significantly to the increasing humidity around the plant. Another possibility is to place the two fillers 16 and 17 side by side or to make them in the form of a divided single filler.

The container may also be used for hydrophonic growth of plants. In such a case, the plant is supported in a pot by means such as pebbles and roots are allowed to grow down into the inner reservoir where they absorb water and nutrient. The outer reservoir is again filled with water to provide a high humidity.

In an alternative construction, a container intended for two or more plant pots has a corresponding number of inner reservoirs and is also provided with appropriate fillers. In this case an elongated rectangular container might be appropriate.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supplying water to plants growing in pots comprising acontainerfora pot, the container having a base surrounded by a side wall and a division extending up from the base dividing the container into an inner reservoir for supplying water to the roots and an outer reservoir for supplying water by evaporation to air surrounding the plantto provide humidityforthefoliageofthe plant.

2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a passage extends from the inner reservoir to a filler arranged externally of the side wall.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer reservoir also has a passage which extends externally of the side wall.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each filler is at the same general level as the associated reservoir so that water level in each filler is indicative of water level in the associated reservoir.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each filler has a graduated or stepped wall to facilitate filling to a desired level and inspecting the level of water.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side wall has a height equal to or only slightly greater than the height of the division.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the height of the side wall is substantially greater than that of the division.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each filler is localised at one position on the periphery of the side wall.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fillers are adjacent each other to form in effect a single siamesed filler.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the fillers are on opposite sides of the container.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the filler for the outer reservoir extends around most of the periphery of the side wall and thereby provides additional water surface for generation of humidity by evaporation.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including means to support a plant pot above the base.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim provided with downward projections to act as a stand and hold the base above the level of a surface on which it is to be positioned.

14. Apparatus for supplying water to plants growing in pots substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.