GB2258795A

GB2258795A - Plant container.

Info

Publication number: GB2258795A
Application number: GB9114285A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marjorie Dorothy Guy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-02
Filing date: 1991-07-02
Publication date: 1993-02-24
Also published as: GB9114285D0

Abstract

A container, principally for plant propagation, has a main compartment (1) to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be grown, and a plurality of smaller auxiliary compartments (3) arranged peripherally of the main compartment to receive one or more cuttings from the parent plant, the auxiliary compartments preferably being of less depth and/or small cross-sectional area than the main compartment. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to a container, primary for use in horticulture.

The propagation of plants by growing cuttings thereof is usually carried out by planting the cuttings in small individual pots in which they take root and grow. The identification and care of such individual cuttings can be onerous, particularly when large numbers of individual pots are involved, possibly containing several different plant types.

According to the present invention, a container comprises a main compartment to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be grown, and at least one auxiliary compartment of less depth than the latter to receive one or more cuttings from the parent plant.

According to another aspect of the invention, a container comprises a main compartment to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be grown and a plurality of smaller auxiliary compartments arranged generally peripherally of the main compartment to receive one or more cuttings from the parent plant.

From another aspect of the invention, a container comprises a main compartment to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be grown, and a plurality of smaller auxiliary compartments of less depth than the main compartment arranged generally peripherally of the latter to receive one or more cuttings from the parent plant.

Preferably, at least some of the auxiliary compartments are in fluid communication with the main compartment, conveniently through an opening formed in a common wall between each such compartment and the main compartment. This allows drainage of the auxiliary compartments to take place into the main compartment which is itself typically provided with a drainage hole in the region of its base.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the container of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, along the line A-A, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a plant extractor for use with the container of Figures 1 to 3.

The container illustrated in Figure 1 is made preferably as a unitary plastics moulding and includes a main generally rectangular compartment 1 intended to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be taken, the plant being contained within a plant pot 2, as illustrated in Figure 1, or planted directly into growing medium placed in the main compartment. A plurality of auxiliary compartments are arranged around the periphery of the main compartment 1, four of the auxiliary compartments, designated 3, being arranged so as partially to embrace the respective corners of the main compartment. Four further auxiliary compartments 4 are located between the compartments 3 and form a generally symmetrical arrangement around the main compartment 1.

As can be seen more clearly from Figures 2 and 3, the depth of the auxiliary compartments 3 and 4 is approximately half that of the main compartment 1, the laterally outermost walls of the compartments 3 and 4 forming continuous upper side wall portions 5 of the container and being slightly upwardly outwardly inclined.

The wall portions 1A of the main compartment which extend over the depth of the auxiliary compartments are generally parallel with one another, whereas the wall portions 1B of the main compartment extending below the auxiliary compartments are inwardly inclined downwardly at approximately the same angle as the sides 5 of the auxiliary compartments. The base 6 of the main compartment is provided with a plurality of drain holes 7 and the underside of the base 6 has integral feet 8 upon which the container can rest on a support surface with its base 6 spaced from that surface to permit the drainage of water through the holes 7.Each of the auxiliary compartments 3, 4 is provided, in the wall 1A which it shares with the main compartment, with at least one drain hole 9, enabling the auxiliary compartments to drain into the main compartment and thence through the holes 7 of the main compartment.

In use, a parent plant from which cuttings are to be taken, is placed within the main compartment 1 and cuttings from this plant may be placed in compost or similar medium in some or all of the auxiliary compartments 3, 4. It can readily be seen that the cuttings are conveniently collected together in association with the parent plant and are unlikely to be mixed up with others from other plants. They may, moreover, be easily fed and watered and transport of a plurality of cuttings from one location to another is facilitated, as compared with conventional plant pot arrangements.

It will be understood that although a preferred arrangement of the container of the invention is described as illustrated, the container may take many alternative forms. For example, the shapes of the compartments may be varied, as may the numbers of auxiliary compartments which may not necessarily be arranged symmetrically. Although it is preferred that the depth of the main compartment should be greater than that of the auxiliary compartments because of the larger route ball to be contained therein, it would be possible for the auxiliary compartments to be the same depth as the main compartment. In a further alternative, the auxiliary compartments may extend linearly from one or two opposed sides of the main container, instead of being arranged around the entire periphery thereof as illustrated. Various drainage holes and/or channels may be provided as required.

Removal of plants from the auxiliary compartments, after rooting, is facilitated if, prior to filling the compartments with growing medium, a generally U-shaped extractor, such as that designated 10 in Figure 4, is placed in the compartment with its base 11 on the bottom of the compartment and its arms 12 extending upwardly to project above the top of the compost. A plant may then be removed, when required, by gripping the arms 11 and lifting, thereby causing minimum disturbance to the delicate plant.

Claims

1. A container comprising a main compartment to receive a parent plant from which cuttings are to be grown, and a plurality of smaller auxiliary compartments arranged peripherally of the main compartment to receive one or more cuttings from the parent plant.

2. A container according to Claim 1, wherein the auxiliary compartments are of less depth and/or smaller cross-sectional area than the main compartment.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the auxiliary compartments are in fluid communication with the main compartment.

4. A container according to Claim 3, wherein the fluid communication is through openings formed in a common wall between each auxiliary and the main compartments.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each corner of the main compartment is embraced by a respective auxiliary compartment.

6. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one drain hole is provided through the base of each auxiliary compartment.

7. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.