GB2335130A

GB2335130A - Slug deterrant plant pot

Info

Publication number: GB2335130A
Application number: GB9805312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-13
Filing date: 1998-03-13
Publication date: 1999-09-15
Also published as: GB9805312D0

Abstract

A mollusc repellant for a plant pot may be a device 20 with a re-entrant curved lip, the device being for insertion into the top of any standard pot 35, or may be a disc 27 inserted into the bottom of an open-bottomed pot 18. Either device may have a copper coating 29 as a further mollusc deterrent/irritant. The disc 28 may have a reservoir portion (28, fig 5) for water or slow release fertilisers, etc. The disc 28 may be secured to the open-bottomed pot by rods 15 which can also anchor the pot to the ground (see fig 4). The disc 28 may be arranged with the copper coating 29 on the outside of the disc to deter molluscs which are outside of the pot, or the disc 28 may be reversible so that the copper coating 29 of the disc 28, when inside the pot, may help root formation avoiding a congested rootball.

Description

1 2335130 This invention relates to means of improvements to a mollusc

barrier system for extending both the range and efficiency of plant protection, terrestrial molluscs cause considerable damage to horticultural plants in gardens and also plants grown in containers.

Accordingly the present invention provides means of protecting plants emerging from the ground at the commencement of the growing season and plants grown in containers and avoids the disadvantages associated with toxic pelleted products and the need for repeated re-applications required during rainy weather conditions which would also apply to products using aluminium sulphate in powder or crystal form.

Thus according to one aspect the invention provides a barrier device to convert standard type plant containers into mollusc protected containers using an insert section fitted into or onto the top area of containers, the insert sections may be permanently bonded to the top section by means of suitable adhesives.

The insert will have a re-entrant portion curved to define a concave downwardly facing wall portion away from the upright wall section the inner curved section and top will be copper coated. In another aspect the invention uses the circular barrier section to form a bottomless pot the central opening will protect plants emerging from the ground prone to mollusc attack and wind damage.

The bottom open end of the pot will be modified to receive a disc. Location holes in each side of the pot will retain support rods below the disc. It will now be apparent with the disc inserted and supported by the retaining rods the pot may be used as normal for growing plants.

2 The disc is covered on one side with a copper coating, the other side may have a raised centre section incorporating a water reservoir surplus water will drain from the clearance between the disc edge and inner pot side wall. Molluscs will not have access into the bottom pot area because of the limited clearance the copper coating will also act as a mollusc repellent.

Alternatively the bottom disc may be inverted with the copper side upright, recent tests have shown some fast growing plants will develop a much improved root formation after root contact with copper and this will avoid a congested rootball. Although the invention has been described with particular reference to cylindrical containers, rectangular and square containers can be converted using a re-entrant portion angled away from the upright wall.

Preferably the bottom disc or end cover will be supported by rods inserted through the container or pot side walls. Alternatively the bottom disc or cover could be secured by internal lugs or clips or the like. Rods would be the preferred option and will have an additional use and anchor the pot directly into the ground.

The devices can be made from any suitable materials such as terracotta, stoneware, plastics, metal and/or a combination of materials, resins, plasters, aggregates, acrylic, fibreglass.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 Figure 1: Is a cutaway perspective view of an insert section 20 with a reduced area 25 to assist alignment into a plant container 35. The insert will have a copper coating 29 under and over the curved area. Figure 2: Is a cutaway perspective view of an insert fitted into the top section of a cylindrical plant container 35. Figure 3: Is a cutaway perspective view of a pot 18 with a removable disc 27. 'Me bottom end is cutaway showing the disc in position supported by two retaining rods 15 passing through location holes in the pot side walls. The pot 18 and disc 27 have a copper coating 29. Figure 4: Is the perspective view of a bottomless pot 18, the top section copper coated 29, the disc 27 removed the support rods 15 with the angled ends now inserted into the location holes each side of the pot 18 to anchor the pot at ground level. Figure 5: Is a perspective view of a disc 27, the bottom surface with a copper coating 29 showing a raised hollowed centre 28 in the form of a water reservoir or for retaining controlled release fertiliser cranules or water storing cranules.

4

Claims

1.

A barrier device for the conversion of standard type plant pots and containers into protected pots and containers by means of an insert section.

2. A barrier device formed to create a re-entrant wall portion on one side curved to define a concave downwardly facing portion and/or angled away from the upright wall.

A barrier device the top section curved or angled facing outward from the upright wall in the form of an insert fitted onto or into a pot or plant container.

4.

X5 Kk-s) A barrier device as claimed in 1, 2, 3, wherein the insert section 13 ermanently bonded to a plant pot or containers W 5. A barrier device to fit into or onto any cylindrical, rectangular, square, pots or containers.

8.

6. A means is claimed wherein the barrier device is in the form of a cylindrical bottomless pot modified to except a removable bottom disc retained by support rods, internal lugs or clips.

A means is claimed wherein the curved or angled barrier device has a copper coating under and over the curved or angled surface.

A means is claimed wherein the removable disc on one side incorporates a raised area in the form of water reservoir or container to store fertiliser or water storing granules.

9. A means is claimed wherein one side of the disc is copper coated and may alternatively be inverted upright into the pot to control plant root formation.

10.

12.

13.

A means is claimed wherein a bottom disc or plate or cover has one surface copper coated fitted in a downwardly facing position to act as a mollusc repellent.

A means is claimed wherein the barrier devices are made from terracotta, stoneware, aggregates, plastics, fibreglass, metal or combinations, acrylics, resins, plasters.

A barrier device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the barrier is in the form of a conversion andlor modifications to plant pots or containers incorporating a mollusc repellent in the form of a copper coating.

A means is claimed wherein a bottomless pot as in Fig. 4 is anchored at ground level by the disc retaining rods.

14. A barrier device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples as shown on the accompanying drawings.