GB2488357A - Modular air-pruning plant cells and holding tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a cell for growing plants in, having legs 1 to hold the cell above the ground and an air-hole (3) at the base of the cell to allow air-pruning to take effect, the cell being formed to fit into a holding tray that will hold a number of cells, the cells being individually removable. The cell has ridges and a lip 5 at the top, corresponding to indentations in the holding tray (4) allowing the tray to firmly grip the cells when inserted. The cells also benefit from vertical grooves 2 on the interior of the cell walls, assisting root direction.Figure â the figure on the first page of drawings entitled â perspective view of cellâ

Description

t V.' INTELLECTUAL ..* PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB 1103269.5 RTIVI Date:11 June 2012 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Rootrainers Intellectual Properly Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Rootrainer Plant Cell System Modular air-pruning plant cells and holding tray.

Description

Air-pruning is the technology of allowing a root system to meet the air, thus stopping further growth of that root, and causing production of many more roots, creating a strong plant.

Other systems that incorporate air-pruning technology often do not raise the pots up sufficiently to get a decent air-flow, or else they have a fixed tray of cells that is raised up, but the cells cannot be moved individually. The ability to move cells individually is valuable as it assists with the grading of the plants without having to remove them from their pots.

The present invention offers all of the requirements above, without any of the drawbacks, consisting of -A plant pot that features legs(1) to raise the cell up from the ground, allowing vigorous air-pruning, and that fits firmly into a holding tray for a number of cells, allowing the full effects of air-pruning whilst still keeping the flexibility of being able to move individual cells from tray to tray, also the cell benefits from grooves (2) on the inside walls to guide the roots downwards, and an air-hole (3) at the bottom of the cell to allow contact between the roots and the air. The legs also allow the cell to stand alone whilst being handled/moved to a different tray, and plants can be easily removed from the cell by pushing upwards through the (3) air-hole. The holding tray is indented (4) to allow the cells to sit firmly in the tray, matching the lip and ridges (5) at the top of each cell.

Claims (4)

1. Rootrainer Plant Cell System Modular air-pruning plant cells and holding tray.Claims.1 An individual cell for growing plants that has legs raising it above the ground, and a hole or holes in the base to allow air pruning to occur.
2. 2 A cell according to claim I which can be fitted securely into a holding tray with a plurality of identical cells.
3. 3 A cell according to claim 1 or claim 2, which has ridges around the upper exterior, and a lip around the top of the cell, allowing it to fit securely into a holding tray.
4. 4 The combination of a cell according to any of the preceding claims, and a holding tray as described in claim 2 and 3, with a number of slots to accept the cells, each slot having indentations which correspond with the grooves and lip specified in claim 4, allowing the tray to securely hold the cells.A cell according to claims 1, 2 and 3 which has grooves running vertically down the inner walls.