GB2441732A - Method for enhancing plant growth - Google Patents

Method for enhancing plant growth Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2441732A
GB2441732A GB0618298A GB0618298A GB2441732A GB 2441732 A GB2441732 A GB 2441732A GB 0618298 A GB0618298 A GB 0618298A GB 0618298 A GB0618298 A GB 0618298A GB 2441732 A GB2441732 A GB 2441732A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
plant growth
sides
accordance
pot
base
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0618298A
Other versions
GB0618298D0 (en
Inventor
Danny Albert Crosbie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0618298A priority Critical patent/GB2441732A/en
Publication of GB0618298D0 publication Critical patent/GB0618298D0/en
Publication of GB2441732A publication Critical patent/GB2441732A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/02Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
    • A01G9/026Foldable pots

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

The method provides a plant pot with a multiplicity of base 1 and side units 5 arranged to permit one or more sides to be temporarily released for in-situ root and soil inspection by removal of pin 3 from hinge 2. The method also provides means for deterring climbing pest attack located on the side walls.

Description

Plant growth enhancer
2441732
Plant pots have traditionally been made in a host of materials - wood, ceramics, metal, etc. The most desirable features of a plant pot from a horticultural point of view are 5 that the material of which it is made should be durable, robust, allow free drainage, and be visually attractive and recyclable/reusable. There is often the need for it to tolerate frost. Some plant pots are made of biodegradable materials and are regarded as sacrificial. The reason for this is that the mechanical action of extracting a plant from a pot often damages delicate rootlets and plant fibres, thus harming plant growth. 10 This has occasioned pot manufacturers to design pots with a narrower, often semi-rounded base, partly to ease mature plant extraction and partly as a result of the casting or moulding process. The downside of this is that such pots tend to be less stable when housing tall plants and trees. They may also suffer from being extremely heavy to be transport and move around the garden, especially for larger plants and 15 trees.
Because pots tend to be large volume products, the economics of transport have occasioned manufacturers to cut costs by nesting different sized pots for transport inside each other but because ceramics are brittle, they often get damaged in transit. 20 Manufacturers of galvanized pots often resort to folding the top edge to gain strength but this reduces the ability to nest.
The present invention seeks to address the difficulties noted above in that it comprises a method for enhancing pot plant growth characterised in that it comprises forming a 25 plant pot with sides flexibly attached to a base wherein withdrawal of a pin allows for soil and rootlet inspection and expansion. The invention provides for a multiplicity of pots to be made up from a variety of pre-formed parts arranged to be conjoined using elongated rods inserted in piano hinges, preferably of galvanized steel. Depending on the purpose and local soil types, other materials may be judged suitable. Use aboard 30 marine vessels might indicate the use of stainless steel, for example. Further, a whole range of pre-coated materials is available for special purposes, such as providing suitably decorative sides for specific markets.
1
Each pre-cut part is furnished with arrangements for inserting piano hinges along one or more edges and may have pre-stamped apertures to allow for insertion of lifting 35 hooks and attachment of stabilising hooks, anti-slug strips, etc.
In use, a suitable base considering the likely size of the tree or plant to be grown therein is laid on the ground and suitable sides attached using hinge wires. The base may be supplied with hinge attachments located in rows inwardly displaced from the 40 outer edges to allow for subsequent relocation of the upright sides to cater for growth.
Sides may be perforated to allow ingress and egress of water and nutrients. Slots may be pre-stamped to allow for carrying handles. This is particularly apposite when wishing to transport heavy pots around the garden. Where pots may contain high 45 value plants, security considerations may dictate the removal of carrying handles. One feature of the present invention is that the invention provides for removable carrying handles and the side units are pre-stamped with apertures suitably arranged to accommodate said handles. These may be removed when the pot is in place. When erecting the pot in areas where there is the risk of unauthorised removal, it is a simple 50 matter to fix the pot to the ground using the pre-stamped holes in the base which may be reinforced and a suitable ground anchoring arrangement. Without the sides attached, access is easy, unlike tall narrow rigid pots. When the pot has been in place for some time, it is still a simple matter to let down a side to provide access to the interior of the base without unnecessarily disturbing delicate rootlets. Clearly it is 55 damaging for a plant to have rootlets damaged in the repotting exercise required at regular intervals if plant growth is to be maximised.
One of the main obstacles to successful propagation of plants is attack by slugs. It has been observed in tests that the galvanized sides of pots arranged in accordance with 60 the present invention deter slugs from climbing. The upper edge may be outwardly folded to present even more of an obstacle to slugs and snails. It is clearly better for the environment not to have to use chemical means for deterring such attacks. In particularly prone areas, the sides of the pot may be provided with decorative trim suitably adapted to provide an obstacle to climbing slugs.
65
2
The efficacy of copper bands in deterring slugs is well-documented and a wide variety of suitable copper bands and strips is commercially available. It is a simple matter in the pressing process to allow for their optional attachment to the sides. Obviously electrolysis may occur but bands of copper may be outwardly spaced using the non-70 conducting spacers provided.
Some slug treatments depend on ferric phosphate and this mechanism may account for the observed reluctance of slugs to climb the sides of the galvanised pots according to the present invention.
75
Bonsai trees, etc., are well known in the art and constitute a major industry. One significant problem with Bonsai trees is that it is required for the roots to be pruned to stress the plant and prevent excessive growth. Traditional Bonsai plants have to be removed from their pots every few months for root pruning. This is itself a risky 80 process and with heavy plants, also dangerous from a health and safety aspect. With the present invention, one or more sides can be easily let down to provide access to the roots for inspection and pruning, without disturbing what may be a highly valuable tree. The sides can then be easily reaffixed.
85 The present invention will now be described for illustration purposes only with reference to the attached annotated drawings. In use and in its simplest form (Fig 1), a base plate (1) is provided with a piano hinge arrangement (2) along each side, so designed as to allow sides (5) to be attached thereto using an elongated pin (3). It has been found that it is best if the diameter of such brass, galvanised steel rod or plastics 90 pins should be substantially less that the diameter of the hinge slots in the base (1) or sides (5) to allow for ease of assembly or reassembly when some slight deformation may have occurred; approx. half has been found to be ideal. The kit may include shaped pieces (Fig 2) such as half or triangular sections (8) which may be used to cater for special applications, as in Fig (3).
95
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the base plate (1) is provided with hinge attachments located in rows (4) inwardly displaced from the outer edges to allow for subsequent relocation of the upright sides to cater for growth or for re-use when a different size of pot may be required. Similarly, an arrangement such as Fig 3
3
100 allows for the exigencies of individual taste and to allow the centre of gravity to be reduced, for example when growing tall plants or trees, especially in a windy environment. This also concentrates soil and nutrients at the base where they are most needed by plants. The upper narrow aperture (9) so afforded may be provided with slots (10) for accommodating stabilizing straps to prevent the plant from moving too
105 much and thus causing damage. Since the rods for connecting through the piano hinges are flexible, the kit allows for round pots as in Fig.4 which may be more aesthetically pleasing for certain purposes. Embossing designs on the sides in the stamping process also serves to provide reinforcing.
110 The sides (5) may be provided ab initio with pre-stamped holes or other apertures to accommodate insertion of a removable carrying handle (7) which may also be used to provide anchorage if it is desired to restrict movement of the pot. The base (1) further may have stamped holes to accommodate ground anchors for security.
115 Some plants prefer to grow in very freely draining soil and gravel is often used. This is heavy and may places extra strain on the sides of the pot, which may accordingly for example have pressed into them a cross shape (6) to provide greater rigidity, or be so arranged that internal transverse stays (11) may be attached into pre-stamped slots (12) if required (Fig 5).
120
When growing, the roots of trees for example can exert tremendous hydrostatic pressure which could deform the pot. Rootlets tend to seek areas of least resistance and the sides (5) may include pre-scored sacrificial panels (12) (Fig 3) to allow egress of roots. It has been found most expedient to arrange these so that when withdrawing
125 the hinge pin, the sacrificed panel can then fall free.
A key feature of plant pots according to the present invention is that they can be flat packed to allow for ease of transport and storage and to avoid the potential for damage resident in nesting.
130
There are many species of plant where plant roots require periodic separation. Many plants need to brought inside during the winter for protection against frost. Pots
4
according to the present invention are ideal for this since they are so easy to carry, disassemble and reassemble, possibly in a different configuration.
135
5

Claims (1)

  1. Claims
    1
    A method for enhancing pot plant growth characterised in that it comprises forming a plant pot with sides flexibly attached to a base and sides wherein withdrawal of a pin 140 allows for soil and rootlet inspection and expansion.
    2
    A method in accordance with Claim 2 providing for a multiplicity of plant pots consisting of a variety of pre-formed base and side sections arranged to be conjoined 145 using elongated rods inserted in piano hinges, together with associated fittings for providing stability and lifting purposes and pest control.
    3
    A method for promoting plant growth in accordance with Claims 1 or 2 characterised 150 in that it includes one or more base plates so arranged as to allow for side panels to be affixed in a multiplicity of positions.
    4
    A method for promoting plant growth in accordance with claims 1-3 characterised in 155 that the preformed parts are made of galvanised steel.
    5
    A method for promoting plant growth in accordance with any preceding claims in which the sides are shaped to provide physical obstacles to ingress by climbing pests.
    160
    6
    A method for promoting plant growth in accordance with any preceding claim characterised in that it allows for the centre of gravity of the pot to be reduced by reducing the upper aperture.
    165
    7
    A method for promoting plant growth in accordance with any preceding claim characterised in that it allows for the sides to be let down while still attached at the base, top or adjacent side for root or soil inspection or pruning.
    6
GB0618298A 2006-09-16 2006-09-16 Method for enhancing plant growth Withdrawn GB2441732A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618298A GB2441732A (en) 2006-09-16 2006-09-16 Method for enhancing plant growth

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618298A GB2441732A (en) 2006-09-16 2006-09-16 Method for enhancing plant growth

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0618298D0 GB0618298D0 (en) 2006-10-25
GB2441732A true GB2441732A (en) 2008-03-19

Family

ID=37310081

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0618298A Withdrawn GB2441732A (en) 2006-09-16 2006-09-16 Method for enhancing plant growth

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2441732A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108182927A (en) * 2017-12-29 2018-06-19 深圳市翠园科技有限公司 System and its implementation with the remote interaction of plant is realized based on mobile terminal

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1031713A (en) * 1911-08-05 1912-07-09 Charles Kreiling Transplanting-pot.
GB671683A (en) * 1949-08-03 1952-05-07 Arthur William Dare Improvements in or relating to plant pots and the like
GB2230928A (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-11-07 Newmark Keith Ltd Boundary structure; plant containers
WO2001035722A1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-05-25 Trentcom Australia Pty Ltd Fabricated from cuspated sheet plant growth container

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1031713A (en) * 1911-08-05 1912-07-09 Charles Kreiling Transplanting-pot.
GB671683A (en) * 1949-08-03 1952-05-07 Arthur William Dare Improvements in or relating to plant pots and the like
GB2230928A (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-11-07 Newmark Keith Ltd Boundary structure; plant containers
WO2001035722A1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-05-25 Trentcom Australia Pty Ltd Fabricated from cuspated sheet plant growth container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0618298D0 (en) 2006-10-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6964126B1 (en) Tree stabilizing assembly
JP4399093B2 (en) Support structure of cultivation shelf of vine plant
US5542210A (en) Apparatus for supporting plantlife growing in a ground area
KR200448214Y1 (en) A supporting frame for fruit tree
US20040098912A1 (en) High density planter
US5970653A (en) Collapsable plant shelter
US8132367B2 (en) Container for growing plants
US9307702B1 (en) Planting pots with wire mesh and biodegradable material
US20160135386A1 (en) Plant growth support pot
KR20150095155A (en) A memorial support
US20110219682A1 (en) Plant protector cage
US7941967B2 (en) Method of producing ornamental tree using vine plants
US6772558B2 (en) Unitary tree and shrub stabilizing device
US9717187B2 (en) Sectional planter with tongue and groove interlocking device
GB2441732A (en) Method for enhancing plant growth
US20020121048A1 (en) High density planter
US5561947A (en) Crate apparatus for plants, hedges and trees, and method of transplanting same
EP2042030A1 (en) Plant pot
US6516561B1 (en) Unitary tree and shrub stabilizing device
JP4687213B2 (en) Slope greening structure
EP2792233A1 (en) Transplantation cone for nurseries
EP2468089A1 (en) Support post assembly, particularly for agricultural applications
US20040200143A1 (en) Plant collar and support system
JP3382539B2 (en) Planting pot fixing device
US20060150508A1 (en) Nursery pot stabilization system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)