GB2292662A - A self-watering system for grow bags - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-watering system for grow bags comprises a container 10 including a water reservoir 17, 18, 19 and a plurality of wick elements 21. The container 10 may be rectangular and in the bottom of which a moulded plastics insert 11 provides a plurality of upstanding spaced parallel ridges 15, 16. The spaces 17, 18, 19 between the ridges provide a reservoir for water, and the upper surfaces of the ridges provide support for a grow bag 20. The tops of the ridges may be spaced below the top of the container so that the grow bag resting on the ridges lies at least partly within the container. Self-supporting wick elements 21 of compressed fibrous material extend upwardly from the reservoir and into the interior of the grow bag so as to provide a constant transfer of water to the growing medium in the bag by capillary action. <IMAGE>

Description

"A self-watering svstem for grow bags" As is well known, the commercially available products commonly known as "grow bags" provide a convenient means for the domestic growing of a range of vegetable crops. The grow bag usually comprises a sealed plastics bag filled with compost which is particularly suitable for the type of crop to be grown. In use, the bag is laid flat with one side uppermost; an aperture is then cut in the upper plastics cover of the bag to reveal an area of compost into which the seeds are sown. This system is often used for growing tomatoes and may also be used for other crops such as cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, strawberries and herbs.

There are two main disadvantages to the conventional simple grow bag system.

The bags themselves, when in use, are not particularly attractive, which may make them unsuitable for use in the more visually appealing areas of a domestic garden.

Furthermore, the compost in the bags needs frequent watering, and watering may be necessary twice a day in hot weather. The present invention sets out to provide a system which may overcome both these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a self-watering system for grow bags, comprising a container including a reservoir for liquid, means for supporting a filled grow bag above the reservoir, and a plurality of wick elements adapted, in use, to extend upwardly from the interior of the reservoir and into the grow bag, so as to convey liquid from the reservoir to the growing medium within the grow bag by capillary action.

The reservoir may then contain a quantity of water which is much greater than can be applied to the grow bag in a single watering, and the wick elements operate to keep the growing medium within the bag moist over a comparatively long period. The reservoir then merely needs to be refilled at comparatively infrequent intervals.

Also, the container may be designed to form a visually attractive support for the grow bag and, in a preferred design, the grow bag is at least partly contained within the container so as to reduce its visual intrusiveness.

Thus, the container may be open-topped, said means for supporting the grow bag comprising support surfaces disposed above the bottom of the container, whereby the liquid reservoir comprises the part of the container below said support surfaces.

The support surfaces may comprise the upper surfaces of spaced formations extending upwardly from the bottom of the container. Preferably, said upper support surfaces are spaced below the top of the container, whereby in use the grow bag is disposed at least partly within the side walls of the container when resting on the support surfaces.

Said spaced formations may comprise a plurality of upstanding spaced parallel ridges, the spaces between the ridges defining the liquid reservoir. Preferably the spaces between the ridges are interconnected.

The said supporting formations may be formed on a structure which is separately formed from the container. Said structure may comprise an insert for location within the container, and having side walls and a bottom wall to define said reservoir. Preferably the insert fits within the container, and the bottom of the container may then be formed with formations which match and engage the corresponding formations on the insert.

The insert may be moulded from plastics material. For example it may be vacuum formed from sheet plastics material. The container itself may be formed from foamed plastics, such as foamed polystyrene.

The container, and the insert where such is provided, may be of oblong, generally rectangular configuration overall.

The aforesaid wick elements may comprise self-supporting sticks of compressed fibrous material.

The following is a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a self-watering growing system according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the system, in use with a grow bag, along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The growing system comprises an oblong generally rectangular tray 10 which is preferably moulded from foamed polystyrene material but which may also be formed from any other suitable material. The container has a bottom wall 9 and side and end walls which slope inwardly slightly as they extend downwardly.

The bottom wall 9 of the container 10 is integrally formed with two upstanding longitudinal ridges 15 and 16 which extend from opposite end walls of the insert, each stopping short of the other end wall so as to divide the interior of the container 10 into three parallel inter-connected channels 17, 18, 19 which together make up a reservoir.

The side walls of the container 10 are formed with an internal peripheral ledge 8 at the same level as the tops of the ridges 15 and 16.

The upper surfaces of the ridges 15 and 16 are spaced below the open top of the container 10.

Fitted within the lower part of the container 10 is a plastics insert 11 which may be vacuum formed from suitable sheet plastics material, such as 500 micron rigid PVC.

The insert is shaped to fit closely over the ridges 15 and 16 and the bottom of the container, and has a peripheral outwardly turned flange 14 which rests on the ledge 8.

In use, three small cuts are made in the underside of the grow bag 20, the cuts being spaced apart along the centreline of the underside of the bag. Wick sticks 21 are pushed upwardly through these cuts and into the growing medium within the grow bag and the grow bag is then lowered into the open top of the container 10 so as to rest on the ridges 15 and 16 and the peripheral flange 14 and ledge 8. The lower ends of the wick sticks 21, projecting downwardly from the grow bag, project into the central stretch 18 of the reservoir, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The wick sticks 21 may be formed from cellulose acetate fibres bonded with triacetin, or any other suitable material which will provide the necessary capillary action.

In well known manner, an aperture is formed in the exposed upper surface of the grow bag 20 and the seeds are planted in the growing medium in the bag. The reservoir provided by the channels 17, 18, 19 is filled with water and the wick sticks 21 convey the water upwardly into the grow bag by capillary action. The water in the reservoir may be simply replenished by lifting a corner of the grow bag and pouring fresh water into one ofthe channels. A liquid feeding medium may readily be included in the liquid in the reservoir.

Since the grow bag 20 is mostly received within the top of the container 10 its side edges are concealed by the upper parts of the side walls of the container, which renders the whole system more visually attractive than the bare grow bag. This makes the system also suitable for bedding plants and plants which grow a good spread of foliage, since the foliage will soon cover the top surface of the grow bag as well, making the whole assembly visually attractive so that it may be placed anywhere in a domestic garden.

The exterior of the container 10 may be of any visually attractive style. For example it may be formed to simulate stone.

Typically, the container 10 may have a length of 1000mm, a width of 385mm and the height of the unit, including the grow bag, may be 160mm. With these dimensions the integral reservoir may hold about nine litres of water.

Forming the container 10 from foamed polystyrene provides extra insulation to help maintain root temperatures which allows plants to establish more quickly.

The provision of the reservoir and wicks ensures consistency of watering to overcome the problems of over- or under-watering often encountered with grow bags.

In addition there is the convenience of only having to replenish the reservoir at intervals which are infrequent when compared with the frequency of watering a grow bag alone.

Claims (16)

1. A self-watering system for grow bags, comprising a container including a reservoir for liquid, means for supporting a filled grow bag above the reservoir, and a plurality of wick elements adapted, in use, to extend upwardly from the interior of the reservoir and into the grow bag, so as to convey liquid from the reservoir to the growing medium within the grow bag by capillary action.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the container is open-topped, said means for supporting the grow bag comprising support surfaces disposed above the bottom of the container, whereby the liquid reservoir comprises the part of the container below said support surfaces.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said support surfaces are spaced below the top ofthe container, whereby in use the grow bag is disposed at least partly within the side walls of the container when resting on the support surfaces.

4. A system according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the support surfaces comprise the upper surfaces of spaced formations extending upwardly from the bottom of the container.

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein said spaced formations comprise a plurality of upstanding spaced parallel ridges, the spaces between the ridges defining the liquid reservoir.

6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein the spaces between the ridges are interconnected.

7. A system according to any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the said supporting formations are formed on a structure which is separately formed from the container.

8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein said structure comprises an insert for location within the container, and having side walls and a bottom wall to define said reservoir.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the insert fits within the container.

10. A system according to Claim 9, wherein the bottom of the container is formed with formations which match and engage the corresponding formations on the insert.

11 A system according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the insert is moulded from plastics material.

12. A system according to Claim 11, wherein the insert is vacuum formed from sheet plastics material.

13. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed from foamed plastics.

14. A system according to any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the container, and the insert where such is provided, are of oblong, generally rectangular configuration overall.

15. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aforesaid wick elements comprise self-supporting sticks of compressed fibrous material.

16. A self-watering system for grow bags, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.