GB2311712A - Watering system for plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A watering system comprises in combination a supply of growing medium 5 enveloped or partially enveloped within a sheet or sheets of plastics material 4 and an open-topped water containing vessel 1 for receiving a supply of water. The vessel has a body which includes sides and a base with one or more apertures 6 formed in the body sides towards the lower ends thereof. The vessel has an annular lip 3 (or an annular array of lips) which, in use, locates immediately below the sides of an opening formed in the plastics sheet to space the apertures from the growing medium present in the plastics envelope.

Description

WATERING SYSTEM FOR PLANTS This invention relates to watering systems for plants and more especially, but not exclusively, to such systems for watering plants in hanging baskets, and other containers in which the growing medium is contained within an envelope of, for example, a plastics sheet material.

One problem associated with growing plants in hanging baskets is ensuring that water is conveyed effectively to the plants' root structures.

Another problem concerns unsightly quantities of water and growing medium which can occur when a hanging basket or the like is over-watered and when the hanging basket is positioned above a balcony, patio or the like.

The present invention seeks to provide a watering system which overcomes these disadvantages.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a watering system which comprises an open-topped vessel having a body including sides and a base, the sides of the vessel including one or more openings positioned towards the vessel base through which water present in the vessel can leave.

The vessel may include a perforated cover separable from the vessel body and may be produced from a plastics material. An annular lip (or an annular array of such lips) may be present on the body sides and above the openings. The body may be generally circular in cross-section.

In another aspect, the present invention provides in combination a supply of growing medium enveloped or partially enveloped within a sheet or sheets of plastics material and an open-topped water containing vessel for receiving a supply of water, the vessel having a body including sides and a base with one or more apertures formed in the body sides towards the lower ends thereof, and an annular lip or an annular array of lips which, in use, locate immediately below the sides of an opening formed in the plastics sheet to space the apertures from the growing medium present in the plastics envelope.

In a preferred construction, a plurality of apertures are provided, these being equi-spaced about the circumference of the vessel body.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which the sole Figure is a section taken through a watering system in accordance with the invention.

As will be seen from the drawing, the water system comprises a water-containing vessel comprising a body 1 of generally circular section and a base 2. The top of the vessel may be covered by a perforated cover; the perforations may take the form of an open grid. An annular lip 3 protrudes outwardly from the sides of the vessel and locates below the upper sheet 4 of a plastics envelope 7 in which is retained a quantity of growing medium 5. A series of apertures 6 are formed in the vessel sides for the outflow of water to the growing medium. Water admitted to the vessel leaves the vessel through the apertures 6 to water plants planted in the envelope 7.

The vessel may be produced from a relatively rigid plastics material.

In practice, the enveloped growing medium will be retained within a hanging basket or other container. Water is supplied to the growing medium through the open top of the vessel. The illustrated device ensures that the growing medium is thoroughly watered and that no unsightly overflow occurs when watering. This is because the growing medium is effectively enveloped within the plastics sheeting, plants being planted through discrete holes made in the upper surface of the plastics envelope.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of watering systems in accordance with the invention and that modification can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A watering system which comprises an open-topped vessel having a body including sides and a base, the sides of the vessel including one or more openings positioned towards the vessel base through which water present in the vessel can leave.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vessel includes a perforated cover separable from the vessel body.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein an annular lip is present on each body side and above the openings.

4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body is generally circular in cross-section.

5. A system comprising a supply of growing medium enveloped or partially enveloped within a sheet or sheets of plastics material and an open-topped water containing vessel for receiving a supply of water, the vessel having a body including sides and a base with one or more apertures formed in the body sides towards the lower ends thereof, and an annular lip or an annular array of lips which1 in use, locate immediately below the sides of an opening formed in the plastics sheet to space the apertures from the growing medium present in the plastics envelope.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein a plurality of apertures are provided, these being equi-spaced about the circumference of the vessel body.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the vessel body is produced from a plastics material.

8. A watering system substantially as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.