GB2171986A - Aqueous rooting gel - Google Patents
Aqueous rooting gel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2171986A GB2171986A GB08604630A GB8604630A GB2171986A GB 2171986 A GB2171986 A GB 2171986A GB 08604630 A GB08604630 A GB 08604630A GB 8604630 A GB8604630 A GB 8604630A GB 2171986 A GB2171986 A GB 2171986A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- gel
- rooting
- hectorite
- weight
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
- A01G24/30—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds
- A01G24/35—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds containing water-absorbing polymers
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Abstract
There is described an aqueous rooting gel which comprises a thixotropic gel of hectorite in water containing at least 60 ppm, and preferably not more than 200 ppm calcium ions. There is also provided a transparent container including such a rooting gel. The gels are useful for rooting a wide variety of soft wood cuttings, eg fuchsia and geranium.
Description
SPECIFICATION
Aqueous rooting gel
This invention relates to an aqueous rooting gel, which is preferably translucent.
Plants are frequently propagated by taking cuttings and placing them in a growth medium such as soil or a peat based compost. These conventional growth media suffer from the disadvantage that the growth medium has to be kept moist. Furthermore, the composition of naturally occurring materials such as peat or soil varies and consistently repro
ducible agronomic results from a number of sam
ples are difficult to obtain.
Thixotropic gels, of various types including gels
prepared from silica, clays and organic materials
have been proposed in European Patent Application 0 006 299 as propagating media for cuttings. However, we have found the gels prepared in accordance with European Patent Application 0006299 are unsatisfactory in a number of respects and in particular
do no comprise a reliable medium for the rooting of
cuttings.
We have now found that two essential elements
are required for a satisfactory cutting medium; firstly the gel has to be a hectorite gel; secondly the gel has to contain at least 60 ppm calcium ions.
According the the invention there is provided an
aqueous rooting gel which comprises a thixotropic
gel of hectorite in water containing at least 60 ppm
calcium ions.
The gel preferably contains at least 75, more
preferably at least 90 ppm calcium ions.
The gel suitably contains not more than 200 ppm
calcium ions, preferably not more than 150 ppm
calcium ions and especially not more than 130 ppm.
The gel most suitably contains between 60 and 130
ppm calcium ions, eg 100 + 10 ppm calcium ions.
The gels in accordance with the invention are
generally glear, and to ensure such clarity it is
desirable that the calcium ion concentration is less
than 130 ppm.
Gels with a calcium ion concentration of greater than 130 ppm which are sufficiently clear to enable visualisation of roots less than 0.2 cm in length on
cuttings placed in the centre of a 7 cm diameter transparent pot may be prepared by adding a
calcium ion complexing agent, eg sodium hexametaphosphate, to the gel. The quantity of complexing
agent to be added to obtain a sufficiently clear gel
will depend on the nature of the complexing agent
and on the quantity of calcium ions to be complexed.
However we have found that it is possible to prepare
clear gels with a total calcium ion concentration of
150 ppm by adding 315 mg/litre of sodium hexametaphosphate. A clear gel having a calcium ion
concentration of 200 ppm may be prepared by
adding 840 mg/litre sodium hexametaphosphate to the gel.
By the term hectorite is meant a trioctahedral clay which is a member of the saponite sub-group of
smectites. The term hectorite has been ascribed to the natural trioctahedral smectites found at Hector,
California, USA. Hectorites can be represented by the general or idealised formula:
(My + nH2O) (Mg3-,Li,)Si4010(OH)2 where M is an exchangeable cation, preferably sodium and where y is a number which is generally less than 1.0.
The hectorite may be of natural origin, but more usually is synthetic.
The hectorite preferably comprises from 58 to 63 parts by weight SiO2, 25 to 30 parts by weight MgO, 2.2 to 2.8 parts by weight Na2O, 0.65 to 0.90 parts by weight Li2O and from 0.15 to 0.40 parts by weight sulphate. It is preferably fluoride free.
The particle size of the hectorite used in the preparation of the gel is preferably such that at least 98% passes through a 0.25 mm sieve.
The calcium ion concentration is preferably obtained by the addition of a calcium salt the water used to prepare the gel, but other methods of incorporation may also be used, such as addition during formation of the gel. The calcium salt should be of sufficient solubilityto dissolve in the aqueous medium, and may be calcium sulphate, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate or monocalcium phosphate.
It is preferred to use calcium sulphate dihydrate.
The concentration of hectorite in the aqueous phase should be sufficient to yield a thixotropic gel which comprises the rooting gel of the invention. It is preferred that the concentration of hectorite is in the range 1 to 10%, preferably 2 to 6%, more preferably 2 to 4% w/v.
It has also been found that the structural integrity of the gel over a period of time may be dependent on the type of container in which it is placed. For example in containers made of transparent polystyrene, polyethlene, or polyvinyl chloride, we have found that the gel tends to fissure. We have identified that this is due to loss of water through the walls of the container.
It has been found that by using containers made of transparent material with very low water transmission rates, this problem is overcome.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a transparent container including the rooting gel as hereinbefore described.
The container is preferably made from a transparent material with a low water transmission rate.
Suitable materials include, for example, polypropylene, in particular homopolymer polypropylene.
The wall thickness of the container is preferably in the range 0.3 to 0.7, e.g. 0.5mm.
The open end of the container should be covered before and during use, e.g. using a metal foil, in order that water loss from container is minimised.
Prior to use, for example, a metal foil closure can be sealed to the rim of the container.
The rooting gel according to the invention may be prepared by any conventional method for the manufacture of a thixotropic gel. The hectorite is dispersed in water, preferably demineralised water, which contains the required amount of the calcium salt, and the rooting gell is obtained, which is filled into the appropriate containers. In a typical procedure the required amount of hectorite is dispersed in water having the preferred calcium ion content, preferably at a temperature between 25 and 35"C, more preferably between 28 and 32"C, with the aid of a high energy mixer.
Providing the calcium content is restricted to below 130 ppm and other additives are avoided, the gelwill be translucent, thus permitting rootformation to be observed.
The invention is illustrated by the following example.
Example
A thixotropic gel was prepared from 309 of a fluoride free synthetic sodium lithium magnesium silicate hectorite comprising 60 to 61% by weight SiO2, 27 to 28% by weight MgO, 2.4 to 2.6% by weight Na2O, 0.72 to 0.82% by weight Li2O, 0.21 to 0.29% by weight sulphate, a moisture content of from 6 to 8% by weight, and a weight loss on ignition of 8.8 to 9.1% is dispersed in demineralised water (1 litre) containing 1 O0ppm calcium ions at 30"C using a high energy stirrer. The gel (ca 150ml) was poured into polypropylene pots of 170ml capacity. A polypropylene-aluminium foil laminate lid was applied to the rim of each pot and heat sealed in place. The gel produced was clear and remained clear for at least 18 months when stored at ambient temperatures, without forming fissures or deteriorating.
In use, the foil cap was punctured to produce small holes and soft wood cuttings were inserted through the holes into the gel to a depth of 2-4cm. Cuttings were taken according the normal horticultural practice. Where desired, the cuttings were first dipped into rooting hormone.
Roots developed on the cuttings, e.g. fuchsia, hedera, geranium, which could be readily seen. In addition, very little fissuring of the gels occurred during the initial rooting period.
Claims (15)
1. An aqueous rooting gel which comprises a thixotropic gel of hectorite in water containing at least 60 ppm calcium ions.
2. A rooting gel according to Claim 1,which contains not more than 200 ppm calcium ions.
3. A rooting gel according to either Claim or
Claim 2, which contains from 60 to 130 ppm calcium ions.
4. A rooting gel according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the hectorite is synthetic.
5. Atranslucent aqueous rooting gel which comprises a thixotropic gell of hectorite in water containing from 60 to 130 ppm calcium ions.
6. A rooting gel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hectorite comprises from 58 to 63 parts by weight SiO2, 25 to 30 parts by weight
MgO, 2.2 to 2.8 parts by weight Na2O, 0.65 to 0.90 parts by weight Li20 and from 0.15 to 0.40 parts by weight sulphate.
7. A rooting gel according to ay one of the preceding claims, wherein the gel comprises from 1 to 10% weight/volume hectorite.
8. A transparent container including rooting gel according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.
9. A container according to Claim 8, wherein the container is made from a transparent material with a low water transmission rate.
10. A container according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the container is made from polypropylene.
11. A container according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, having a wall thickness of from 0.3 to 0.7mm.
12. A container according to any one of Claims 8 to 11 including a cover.
13. A container according to Claim 12, wherein the cover is metal foil.
14. A rooting gel as hereinbefore described.
15. A rooting gel as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the Example.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08604630A GB2171986B (en) | 1985-03-09 | 1986-02-25 | Aqueous rooting gel |
CY1596A CY1596A (en) | 1985-03-09 | 1992-04-03 | Aqueous rooting gel |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB858506153A GB8506153D0 (en) | 1985-03-09 | 1985-03-09 | Growing media |
GB08604630A GB2171986B (en) | 1985-03-09 | 1986-02-25 | Aqueous rooting gel |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8604630D0 GB8604630D0 (en) | 1986-04-03 |
GB2171986A true GB2171986A (en) | 1986-09-10 |
GB2171986B GB2171986B (en) | 1988-07-20 |
Family
ID=26288950
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08604630A Expired GB2171986B (en) | 1985-03-09 | 1986-02-25 | Aqueous rooting gel |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CY (1) | CY1596A (en) |
GB (1) | GB2171986B (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2188044A (en) * | 1986-03-11 | 1987-09-23 | Fisons Plc | Aqueous rooting gel |
GB2194124A (en) * | 1986-07-26 | 1988-03-02 | Fisons Plc | Propagating trays |
WO2004066717A1 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2004-08-12 | Supaplants Limited | Dispenser |
WO2006114615A1 (en) | 2005-04-27 | 2006-11-02 | Supaplants Limited | Plant growth module |
-
1986
- 1986-02-25 GB GB08604630A patent/GB2171986B/en not_active Expired
-
1992
- 1992-04-03 CY CY1596A patent/CY1596A/en unknown
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2188044A (en) * | 1986-03-11 | 1987-09-23 | Fisons Plc | Aqueous rooting gel |
GB2188044B (en) * | 1986-03-11 | 1990-08-22 | Fisons Plc | Rooting gel |
GB2194124A (en) * | 1986-07-26 | 1988-03-02 | Fisons Plc | Propagating trays |
GB2194124B (en) * | 1986-07-26 | 1990-11-07 | Fisons Plc | Horticultural device |
WO2004066717A1 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2004-08-12 | Supaplants Limited | Dispenser |
WO2004066718A1 (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2004-08-12 | Supaplants Limited | Plant display container |
GB2412051A (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2005-09-21 | Supaplants Ltd | Dispenser |
GB2412051B (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2006-04-05 | Supaplants Ltd | Dispenser |
WO2006114615A1 (en) | 2005-04-27 | 2006-11-02 | Supaplants Limited | Plant growth module |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CY1596A (en) | 1992-04-03 |
GB2171986B (en) | 1988-07-20 |
GB8604630D0 (en) | 1986-04-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4793095A (en) | Aqueous rooting gel | |
US1988307A (en) | Plant activating device | |
US4803803A (en) | Growing medium for plants | |
GB2425530A (en) | Plant growth module | |
GB2171986A (en) | Aqueous rooting gel | |
EP0006299A1 (en) | A method for growing plants, a plant growth propagating medium and plants growing therein | |
GB2194124A (en) | Propagating trays | |
US4786487A (en) | Preparation of crystalline silicoaluminophosphates | |
GB2188044A (en) | Aqueous rooting gel | |
US5099605A (en) | Growing medium for plants | |
US4959926A (en) | Growing medium for plants | |
Woods | Tomato production in peat-filled troughs | |
Sabry et al. | Mineralogy of Compacted Clay‐Lime Mixtures | |
KR100461021B1 (en) | An aromatic with a crystal form | |
Shigley et al. | Lithiophilite formation in granitic pegmatites; a reconnaissance experimental study of phosphate crystallization from hydrous aluminosilicate melts | |
GB2068204A (en) | Plant growing systems for use in aquaria | |
Knight | Excavated window glass: a neglected resource? | |
JPH1156095A (en) | Artificial soil containing coconut husk | |
Durrani | Refrigeration of lunar samples destined for thermoluminescence studies | |
Hendry | Silica and calcium carbonate replacement of plant roots in tropical dune sands, SE India | |
Moradian | A contribution to the genesis of analcite after leucite in potassic volcanic rocks of the Nadik area, Kerman, Iran | |
JPS5998931A (en) | Greens-planting work for protection of slope by reflecting, heat-insulating porous container | |
Javid et al. | Assessment of the effect of time and temperature on the availability of residual phosphate in a glasshouse study of four soils using the Olsen method | |
JP2000139203A (en) | Nursery medium and raising of seedling | |
Foster | The Movement and Fixation of Fertilizing Salts in Soil |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Effective date: 20060224 |