GB2354150A

GB2354150A - Plant holder with moat

Info

Publication number: GB2354150A
Application number: GB9922030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Terence Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-18
Filing date: 1999-09-18
Publication date: 2001-03-21
Also published as: GB9922030D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant holder (1) with a moat (22) to protect plants (9) from attack by insects or other pests. The plant holder (1) comprises a base (2), a turret (4) rising from the base (2), a surround (20) to the base capable of retaining a moat of water (22) around the turret (4), and above the moat (22) and turret (4) a stand (6) on which one or more growing containers (8) may be placed, in which the turret (4) supports the stand (6) and has an overhang (10,11) over the moat (22) to prevent pests from crossing the moat (22) to the stand (6).

Description

2354150 Plant Holder with Moat The present invention relates to a plant

holder with a moat to protect plants from attack by insects or other pests.

Gardeners, plant growers and farmers often need to grow or propagate plants in a protected environment, such as a greenhouse. The plants are planted in growing pots or other containers, watered regularly, and left to grow. Such young plants are often subject to attack by crawling insects and other pests such as slugs, snails and rodents. Even if the pots are placed on a raised surface, such pests can often find a way of climbing to reach the growing plants. Some pests such as snails and earwigs can even keep a hold on an inverted surface whilst getting to the plants. A plant grower may find in the morning that many of his plants have been damaged with no sign of the offending pests.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant holder for growing one or more plants that provides better protection for growing plants.

Accordingly, the invention provides a plant holder for growing plants, comprising a base, a turret rising from the base, a surround to the base capable of retaining a moat of water around the turret, and above the moat and turret a stand on which one or more growing containers may be placed, in which the turret supports the stand and has an overhang over the moat to prevent pests from crossing the moat to the stand.

The stand may be filled with a growing medium so that plants may be grown directly an the stand. Alternatively a number of individual plant pots or containers may be placed on the stand. Often the stand will have a retaining rim to retain the pots, excess water or spilt growing medium.

The stand may include any convenient supporting surface, such as a continuous sheet. The stand may also extend laterally over an area greater than the turret, providing that the supporting turret and base provide a stable support. For example, if the turret is fixed to the base, then the stand may extend over an area comparable with the size of the base.

The shield(s) may be secured or supported or aligned to the base by means of a post that extends upwards from the base. Preferably the overhang is at least one shield which tapers away from a post inside the shield.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are at least two shields, with a outer shield tapering outwards beneath an adjacent and similarly tapering inner shield. The provision of more than one overhanging surface can be used to increase the effectiveness of protection from pests. For example, the space between the adjacent outer and inner shields may define a volume for an inner moat of water. So that this moat does not. have to be f illed separately f rom the main moat around the turret, the volume for the inner moat of water may be in communication with the moat retained by the surround to the base. In this way, both moats can be filled at the same time. The communication between the moats can be via one or more apertures in the outer shield. Both moats will then naturally be filled to the same level., The inventor has discovered that some pests, such as snails and slugs are capable of crawling along the bottom of the moat if they fall into the moat. Therefore, an additional level of underwater protection may be provided by an upwardly and outwardly tapering barrier extending around the overhang beneath the level of the moat. This underwater barrier may have a lip that depends downwardly from an upper portion of the barrier.

If the overhang does not extend fully to the base of the plant holder, the moat is preferably filled to a depth sufficient that the overhang extends downwards beneath the surface level of the moat. Therefore, any pest on the surface of the water will be confronted with an overhanging surface, which will help prevent the pest from getting a grip on such a surface.

To increase the effectiveness of the protective plant holder, the overhang is preferably formed in a smooth, durable and scratch resistant material, for example an injection moulded plastic such as PVC or polypropylene.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view in outline of a plant holder according to the invention, with a square plan 30 and two shields with surfaces in the shape of inverted truncated pyramids; Figure 2 is a cross- sectional detailed view through the plant holder of Figure 1; and 35 Figure 3 is a perspective view in outline of an alternative pair of shields for a plant holder according to the invention with a circular plan.

The drawings show a plant holder 1 comprising a square base 2, a turret 4 rising from the base 2 and a square stand 6 supported by the turret 4. A number of plant pots 8 with seedlings 9 are supported by the stand 6. In Figure 1, the stand 6 is shown in phantom outline for clarity, so that the turret 4 can be seen more clearly. The turret 4 comprises a pair of inverted pyramid-shaped shields 10, 11 with truncated apexes, the central axes of which are coincident with a central vertical axis 12 of the plant holder 1.

The shields 10, 11 have similar dimensions with one shield 10 being directly beneath the other shield 11. The upper shield 11 extends downwards from a lower surface 15 of the stand 6 towards a central square cross-section post 16 which extends upwards from an inner base surface 14 of the base 2. The upper shield 11 is integral with a sleeve 17 that has a hollow square cross-section matching the square post 16 in a close sliding fit. The upper shield 11 and the sleeve 17 thereby form a supporting stem for the stand 6.

The lower shield 10 tapers downwards and inwards to a square crosssection sleeve 18 which is dimensioned to sit in a close sliding fit over the outside of the sleeve 17 f or the upper shield 11. The central post 16 therefore supports and aligns both the lower shield 10 and the upper shield 11.

The base 2 has square perimeter walls 20 so that the base 2 can contain a water-filled moat 22. The lower shield 10 extends f rom beneath the level 24 of' the water 22 so that the lower shield 10 overhangs the water 22. The lower shield 10 has a number of holes 25 so that when water is introduced into the base 2 around the lower shield 10, water can flow into a volume 26 between the lower shield 5 10 and upper shield 11.

The upper shield 11 is illustrated as beginning above the water level 24. The upper shield 11 could, however, begin beneath the water level 24. In either case, the upper shield 11 extends over the water level 24.

If a land-attack pest reaches the rim 28 of the base 2 then even if the pest can swim across the surface 24 of the water 22, or traverse the lower inner surface 14 of the base 2, then this pest will not be able to climb the overhanging inverted surface 30 of the lower shield 10. If however for any reason a pest did manage to get over the lower shield 10, for example if the water level were at the level of the holes 25 in the lower shield 10, or if the pest were blown by the wind over the lower shield 10, then the pest would be stopped from reaching the plants 9 by the overhanging inverted surface 32 of the upper shield 11.

Figure 2 shows an underwater barrier 34 provided around the outside of the lower shield 10. This underwater barrier 34 will help prevent pests such as slugs which might be able to crawl across the lower inner surface 14 of the base 2 from reaching the lower shield 10. The underwater barrier 34 has a downwardly depending lip 35 as a further hindrance to any pests attempting to overcome the underwater barrier 34.

The stand 6 is in the form of a tray having a peripheral rim 36, either for retaining a growing medium or, as illustrated, a number of plant pots 8. The rims 28, 36 of both the base 2 and stand 6 have downwardly depending lips 37, 38 to reinforce the rims 28, 36 and make it easier for a person to grab hold of these if it is necessary to move the plant holder 1.

The stand 6 preferably has one or more drainage holes 40 in a lower surface 42 of the stand 6. This permits any excess water in the stand 6 to drain into an interior volume 44 of the upper shield 11. The upper shield 11 (or its sleeve 17) may then have drainage holes 46 by which any excess water may drain into the -volume 26 between the lower and upper shields 10, 11.

Although not illustrated, the volume 44 inside the upper 15 shield 11 may be used to house ancillary equipment useful in the propagation of plants, such as an electric heater, or automatic irrigation system supplying water to the plants 9.

The plant holder 1 has a square or rectangular outline so that a number of such plant holders 1 can be placed together within a given area with a minimum of wasted space between the plant holders. This is particularly convenient in greenhouses which are often long and narrow.

The plant holder 1 could, however, have any other convenient shape, in particular a circular plan which would provide the maximum growing space for plants with a minimum use of material. Figure 3 shows in outline a circular turret 34 with a pair of shields 40,41 with an inverted truncated conical shape. To provide increased rigidity, a central cylindrical extension 42 rises inside the turret 34 to provide support in a central portion of the turret 34. Such a circular plan turret 34 could be used with either circular, square or rectangular plan bases or plant stands.

The plant holder 1 can be moulded in any convenient plastics material, and then assembled with the lower and upper shields 10, 11 slotting around the central square post 16. The upper stand 6 may be screwed to the upper 5 shield 11, or an alignment feature such as a square ridge (not shown) may be provided on the lower surface 15 of the stand 6 to seat with the square outline of the upper shield 11.

The plant holder described above is very effective in preventing attack by a variety of pests, including slugs, snails, vine weevils, ants and earwigs. The plant holder is also well suited to commercial use, being relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and easy to put together with other such plant holders to cover a large area in a greenhouse. The provision of the stand 6 at an elevated level above a moat 22 is also convenient because growing plants 9 can be positioned at a height of about 0.6 to 1.0 metres above floor level. Workers tending the plants 9 therefore do not need to stoop down to tend the plants. The provision of a significant surface area of water from the moat can also help raise or maintain the relative humidity inside a greenhouse, which is often useful. The plant holder according to the invention therefore provides convenient and effective protection against land- attack pests for growing plants.

8

Claims

1 A plant holder for growing plants, comprising a base, a turret rising from the base, a surround to the base capable of retaining a moat of water around the turret., and above the moat and turret a stand on which one or more growing containers may be placed, in which the turret supports the stand and has an overhang over the moat to prevent pests from crossing the moat to the stand.

2. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 1, in which the overhang is at least one shield which tapers away from a post inside the shield.

3. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 2, in which the post rises from the base to support the shield(s).

4. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which there are at least two shields, with a outer shield tapering outwards beneath an adjacent and similarly tapering inner shield.

5. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 4, in which the volume inside the inner shield is used to house ancillary equipment useful. in the propagation of plants.

6. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which an innermost shield forms an upper portion of a supporting stem for the stand.

7. A plant holder as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6, in which the space between the adjacent outer and inner shields defines a volume for an inner moat of water.

8. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 7, in which the volume f or the inner moat of water is in communication with the moat retained by the surround to the base.

9. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 8, in which the communication between the moats is via one or more apertures in the outer shield.

10. A plant holder as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 9, in which the inner shield tapers outwards above the level of the moat.

11. A plant holder as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an upwardly and outwardly tapering barrier extending around the overhang beneath the level of the moat.

12. A plant holder as claimed in Claim 10, in which the barrier has a lip that depends downwardly from an upper portion of the barrier.

13. A plant holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the overhang extends downwards beneath the surface level of the moat.

14. A plant holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the holder has in plan view a square or rectangular form.

15. A plant holder substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.