JPH1080232A - Plant raising vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant raising vessel excellent in water holding power, thus not decaying the plant even in cease of less frequent watering operations as compared to the conventional cases. SOLUTION: This vessel proper 3, which is made of a mixture of ceramic granules as aggregates and a porous matter permeable to both liquid and gas and having water-holding ability, has such scheme that a farmland holder 10 is set up inside the vessel proper 3, the outer surface of the vessel proper 3 is provided with a vegetation opening 6 on the outer surface of the vessel proper 3 so as to communicate with the farmland holder 10, and is so designed as to be allowed to stand by itself with the outer surface provided with the opening 6 and lying nearly perpendicular to the surface to be set up thereon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for cultivating a plant used for cultivating a plant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when cultivating a plant indoors or on a veranda, the plant is cultivated using a plant cultivation container generally called a flowerpot or a plant cultivation container generally called a planter. These containers for planting trees are
It is made of a material having no water permeability, for example, a synthetic resin or the like. In each case, soil is put into the vegetation opening formed on the upper surface to form a vegetation floor, and plants are grown from the vegetation opening.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional container for plant cultivation is one in which water is held by soil, but in a situation where water evaporates easily, such as in the summer, etc. There is a problem that some plants die if water is not supplied as described above, and frequent water supply work is complicated. Further, in a conventional container for plant cultivation, when touching a plant or performing a water supply operation or the like, there is a case where soil is attached to a hand, and there is an image that it is dirty or dirty when touched.

Furthermore, since plants grow upward from the vegetation openings on the upper surface, when viewing the plants, it is necessary to sufficiently look over the entire plant from the side of a plant cultivation container such as a flower pot. No, so the head must be raised above the plant growing container. That is, there is a problem in that the head must be positioned so that the line of sight points at least obliquely downward from above the plant.

In addition, when performing horticultural work, for example,
To perform seeding, flowering, leaf cutting, etc., the entire plant must be viewed from above the container for plant cultivation. No.

[0006] In recent years, as a therapy for promoting the recovery or improvement of physical and mental health by contacting plants with persons or the elderly (hereinafter referred to as "elders, etc.") having physical and mental disabilities. Horticultural therapy is gaining attention.

In such horticultural therapy, elderly people or the like perform horticultural work such as water supply and sprouts while sitting in a wheelchair, or water supply to a person who has difficulty in bending forward and backward of the trunk and arms.
One of the objectives is to perform horticultural work such as plucking and restore physical and mental health through the process of plant growth.

However, in the conventional container for plant cultivation, as described above, unless the head is positioned above the container for plant cultivation, the entire plant cannot be overlooked, and operations such as plucking can be performed. Since it must be performed from the top of the container for plant cultivation, there is a problem that it is difficult for persons who have difficulty in bending forward and backward of the trunk and arms to perform these operations. Touching may cause soil to adhere to hands.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the container itself has an excellent water retention capacity, and the plants do not die even if the number of times of water supply is smaller than that of the conventional one. An object of the present invention is to provide a container for cultivating a plant, and also provide a container for cultivating a plant that allows a plant to be overlooked and horticultural work performed without raising a head above the container for cultivating a plant.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a means for solving the problems is to provide a ceramic material which is an aggregate obtained by granulating a ceramic material. , And a mixture with a porous material through which a liquid and a gas can pass and which has a water retention property.

[0011] The container for cultivating a plant having the above-mentioned structure is composed of a mixture of a ceramic granular material and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retention property. Such a liquid is adsorbed and has a water retention function. Therefore, the water retained in the container body 3 is gradually given to the soil, so that even if the number of times of water supply is reduced, the plants are hard to wither.
If the holes become saturated, excess water will flow away from the container body 3 and no root rot due to supercharged water will occur.

[0012] Further, since gas passes through the myriad of pores of the porous material, oxygen is supplied, and in combination with the water retention function, an environment in which bacteria and the like can easily propagate is created. Therefore, the proliferation of bacteria provides nutrients necessary for vegetation by various biological effects, such as organic decomposition and nitrogen fixation. In addition, heat insulation is provided by the myriad of holes, and a rapid temperature change of the soil can be suppressed.

Further, since oxygen is supplied by passing gas through the innumerable pores of the porous material, an environment in which bacteria and the like can easily propagate is created in combination with the water retention function.
Therefore, the proliferation of bacteria provides nutrients necessary for vegetation by various biological effects, such as organic decomposition and nitrogen fixation. In addition, heat insulation is provided by the myriad of holes, and a rapid temperature change of the soil can be suppressed.

Further, the container for plant cultivation can be fired because it is composed of a ceramic granular material and a porous material. Therefore, when a plant is cultivated and then another plant is cultivated again, the container can be fired. Unnecessary bacteria proliferated by the cultivation of the plants are killed, and the roots of the plants that have entered the gaps between the ceramic granules are carbonized by firing, and also become nutrients for the plants to be cultivated next.

Further, the means according to claim 2 is a container body.
3 is formed of a mixture of a ceramic particulate material which becomes an aggregate obtained by granulating the ceramic material, and a porous material which allows liquid and gas to pass therethrough and has a water retention property. A soil storage unit 10 capable of storing soil is provided, and a vegetation opening 6 communicating with the soil storage unit 10 is provided on an outer surface of the container body 3. Place the outer surface provided with the opening 6 on the installation surface
It is formed so as to be able to stand substantially perpendicularly to 11.

According to such means, the plant can be cultivated in a state where the outer surface of the container for plant cultivation provided with the vegetation opening 6 is placed substantially perpendicular to the installation surface 11. Therefore, one surface 3a of the container body 3 provided with the vegetation opening 6 is provided on the installation surface.
It is substantially perpendicular to 11, so that the entire plant grown at a glance can be seen without having to raise the head above the container for plant cultivation in order to see the entire plant grown. Also,
The soil is covered by the container body 3 and slightly exposed from the vegetation opening 6, so that the soil does not adhere to the hands when touching the plant, etc., and when the plant grows, the vegetation opening 6 is also covered by the plant. So you can't see the land from outside.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a container for cultivating plants according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes one outer surface 3a (for convenience, “one outer surface 3a”
Is referred to as “one side 3a”), a vegetation opening 6 for plants to grow outside is formed, and the other outer surface 3b is formed from the one side 3a side.
(For convenience, the “other outer surface 3b” is referred to as the “other surface 3b”), a rectangular front container body 3 having a tubular through hole 2 communicating with the vegetation opening 6; 3 other side
5 shows a container for plant cultivation comprising a cover body 5 detachably attached to the 3b side.

The outer shape of the container body 3 is formed in a quadrangular prism shape in which four side surfaces 3c are formed between one surface 3a and the other surface 3b formed in a substantially rectangular front surface. As an example, the length H of the container body 3: the width W: the thickness D = 100 mm: 1
00 mm: 30 mm, and the vegetation opening 6 has a diameter L = 25 mm.

Therefore, the container main body 3 can be placed on its side surface 1c on a horizontal surface such as a desk to be free standing, and the other surface 3b side has a vertical surface such as a wall. It can also be hung toward the installation surface.

The material of the container body 3 is made of a mixture of a ceramic granular material and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retention property, and is formed by firing the mixture. The mixing ratio is such that the ceramic granules are about 45
% (Weight percentage, the same applies hereinafter) of the porous material is about 55%.

As the ceramic granules, ceramic granules obtained by pulverizing waste tile materials are mainly used as aggregates of the container body 3. Since such ceramic particles function as aggregates, the container body 3 has sufficient strength to be used.

Further, the above-mentioned porous material accounts for about 55% thereof,
Diatomaceous earth and Niijima feldspar are mixed and used at a ratio of about 20% and about 35%, respectively. In particular, diatomaceous earth, when fired, produces countless pores, allows liquids and gases to pass through, and is excellent in water retention. Niijima feldspar, a pumice,
Excellent as a binder for sintering ceramic particulates and porous materials. About those mixed molded products
Fired at between 900 and 1200 degrees, preferably about 1,100 degrees.

The type, number, and ratio of the ceramic granular material and the porous material may be changed. In addition, the water purification block 2 for vegetation is not limited to a block fired after molding, and may be molded after firing, or may be molded from a non-fired material.

The cover body 5 has a recess 7 formed therein by projecting a side wall 5b from the periphery of a plate-like body 5a formed in a rectangular shape. The cover body 5 has a plurality of rod-shaped fitting portions 8 protruding from the side wall portion 5b at a predetermined interval, and is fitted to a concave fitting portion 9 formed in the other surface 5b of the container body 3. It is detachably attached by being fitted, and the concave portion 7 of the cover body 5 communicates with the through hole 2 of the container body 3. In addition, the cover 5 has a small window 14
A transparent plate 15 such as an acrylic resin plate is fixed inside the cover body 5 so as to close the small window 14.

The void formed by the concave portion 7 and the through-hole 2 of the cover body 5 corresponds to the soil receiving portion 10, and the soil is received and used in the soil receiving portion 10. The cover body 5 is formed of a water-impermeable material.

An example of the use of the container 1 for cultivating a plant having the above configuration will be described below. First, the cover body 5 is detached from the container body 3, and soil is put into the concave portion 7 of the cover body 5.
As the soil, not only natural soil, but also silicate clay, charcoal, peat moss, isolite, artificial zeolite, vermiculite, organic fertilizer, or fertilizer containing bacteria, etc. Or artificial soil may be used as a substitute for natural soil.

Next, the cover body 5 is attached to the other surface 3b side of the container main body 3, and the soil is put into the through hole 2 of the container main body 3. Accordingly, the soil storage unit 10 is filled with the soil. Finally, water is given to the vegetation opening 6 by sowing or planting. After a few days, as shown in FIG. 4, the plant grows smoothly with the root lowered into the soil storage unit 10.

Although the plant can be grown as described above, the container for plant cultivation according to the present invention differs from the conventional container for plant cultivation in the following points. First, the number of times of water supply, topdressing and the like is small, and cultivation management becomes easy. That is, since the container main body 3 constituting the container for plant cultivation is made of a mixture of ceramic granules and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retention property, the number of pores inside the porous material is increased. A liquid such as moisture is adsorbed to have a water retention function.

Therefore, even when the temperature is high in summer or the like, the water is less likely to evaporate, and the water adsorbed by the porous material is given to the soil where the water content has decreased even if water is not supplied for a long period of time. Even so, the plants are hard to wither. Furthermore, if a large amount of water is supplied, excess water that is not retained in the myriad of holes will flow away from the container body 3, so that even those who are not accustomed to horticulture can cause root rot due to excessive water supply even if water is supplied. There is no.

Further, since gas passes through the myriad of pores of the porous material, oxygen is supplied, so that an environment in which bacteria and the like can easily propagate is created in combination with the water retention function. Therefore, nutrients necessary for vegetation are supplied by various biological actions, such as organic decomposition and nitrogen fixation, by the propagation of bacteria, and the number of times of topdressing can be reduced. In addition, there is an advantage that heat insulation is also provided by the myriad of holes, and a rapid temperature change of the soil can be suppressed.

Second, the side surface 3c of the container body 3 is placed on a surface to be installed having a horizontal surface such as a desk, and the plant can be grown in a state where the container for plant cultivation is self-standing. That is, since the container body 3 has a water retaining function by the myriad of holes, and the cover body 5 does not allow water to pass through, the myriad of holes of the container main body 3 are provided with a moderate amount of water that does not become saturated with water. If it does, water will not leak easily from the container body 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the side surface 3c of the container body 3 is placed on the installation surface having a horizontal surface 11a such as a desk.
Plants can be cultivated even when they are placed on the 11 and become independent, so horticulture can be easily performed indoors.

As described above, if the container body 3 is made to stand on its side surface 3c, the surface 3a of the container body 3 provided with the vegetation opening 6 is provided.
However, it becomes substantially perpendicular to the installation surface 11, and the whole cultivated plant can be seen at a glance. In other words, the vegetation opening 6 faces the front of the face in a state where the back is stretched, so that the entire plant can be viewed at a glance without moving the trunk. Therefore, for example, even when performing horticultural work in a state of being in a wheelchair, it is possible to overlook the plant and touch the whole plant simply by approaching the wheelchair. Especially for people who have difficulty bending forward or bending their arms, they can perform horticultural work without putting their head or hands above the container for plant cultivation. Container.

Of course, the container for cultivating plants according to the present invention is not only effective when used for horticultural therapy for the elderly, etc., but also may be used for horticulture at home. Needless to say, if it is made to stand on its own desk, the whole plant can be seen at a glance, and it is highly useful for ornamental use. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the same effects as described above can be obtained even when the plant cultivation container 1 'is hung on the installation surface 11 having a vertical surface 12a such as a wall surface.

Thirdly, since the soil is covered by the container body 3 and the cover body 5 and is only slightly exposed from the vegetation opening 6, the soil is not attached to the hand even if the plant is in direct contact with the plant.
In addition, the vegetation opening 6 is covered with the plant and becomes invisible from the outside, so that the viewer does not generate a dirty image or the like.

Fourth, after cultivating a plant, when cultivating another plant, the container for cultivating the plant can be easily sterilized. That is, if the container body 3 is baked by gas baking or the like, unnecessary bacteria are killed, and the roots of the plants that have entered the gaps between the ceramic granules are carbonized by the calcination and become nutrients for the plants to be cultivated next. There is an advantage.

Fifth, plants can be grown with a small amount of soil, and the size of the plant cultivation container can be reduced. That is, since the soil in the conventional container for plant cultivation had a water retention function, a large amount of soil was required, but in the container for plant cultivation according to the present invention, the container body 3 has a water retention function. The plant is not depleted even with a small amount of land. The amount of soil required is smaller than that of a conventional container for cultivating a plant, which requires as a medium.

Sixthly, since the transparent plate 15 is provided on the cover body 5, the soil storage unit 10 can be seen through from the outside, so that there is an advantage that the condition of the roots and the wetness of the soil can be observed.

In the above-described embodiment, the ceramic granules constituting the container body 3 are made of tile waste materials. However, the ceramic granules are not necessarily limited to tile waste materials. Tile waste, brick waste, pottery waste, and the like may be used. In short, it is only necessary to use a ceramic material, and it is preferable to use a waste material from the viewpoint of recycling and manufacturing costs, but it is not particularly necessary to use a waste material. In the above embodiment,
The container body 3 is composed of a ceramic particulate material and a porous material of about 45:55.
, But the mixing ratio is not necessarily limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, diatomaceous earth is exemplified as the porous material. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, porous materials such as charcoal, isolite, artificial zeolite, vermiculite, and pearlite can be used. The container body 3 may be formed from a plurality of porous materials by appropriate mixing, or may be substituted for diatomaceous earth. If a substance having an ion exchange action such as charcoal, isolite, artificial zeolite or the like is used as a porous material, the optimum P for plant growth can be obtained.
There is an advantage that H can be maintained.

Further, if the same substance as the soil is mixed with the porous material to form the container body 3, there is an advantage that the same substance as the soil oozes out of the container body 3, and the fertilizer retention property is increased. For example,
If peat moss is mixed with the soil, if peat moss is mixed with the porous material, peat moss will be supplied to the soil from the container body 3, and a synergistic effect of the soil and the container body 3 will provide a better environment for plant growth. .

Further, in the above embodiment, Niijima feldspar is mainly used as the binder, but the binder is not necessarily limited to this, and may be, for example, water glass. In short, any material having a binder function may be used. Accordingly, among the above-mentioned substances, diatomaceous earth, artificial zeolite and the like generate a binder function upon firing, and may be used together with or as a substitute for Niijima feldspar.

Further, since the container body 3 can be manufactured by mixing a material having a binder function without sintering to the temperature shown in the above embodiment, the water purification block for vegetation according to the present invention can be manufactured by sintering. Is not a mandatory requirement, and
In the case of firing, the temperature is not limited to the temperature in each of the above embodiments.

Further, in the above embodiment, the container for plant cultivation comprises the container body 3 and the cover 5, but the cover 5 is not always an essential requirement of the present invention. For example,
As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 16 communicating from the other surface 3b of the container body 3 to the vegetation opening 6 is formed as the soil storage section 10, and a transparent plate 15 is formed on the container body 3 to close the recess 16. To form a container for plant cultivation.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A container for plant cultivation is constituted by a container main body 3 formed with a concave soil receiving portion 10 having a bottom and communicating with a vegetation opening 6 provided on one surface 3a of the third surface 3a and not penetrating the other surface 3b. May be. Even in such a container for cultivating plants, since the water retention function is provided by the innumerable holes of the container body 3 in the same manner as described above, the soil can be stored in the soil storage unit 10 and the plants can be grown from the vegetation opening 6.

Further, in the above embodiment, the container body
3 is a square pole, so that the installation surface
This has the effect that the entire plant can be seen at a glance by being self-supporting substantially vertically to 11, but the container main body 3 is not necessarily limited to a square pillar shape, and may be, for example, a triangular prism shape or the like.
If the outer surface on which the vegetation opening 6 is provided is substantially perpendicular to the vegetation opening 11, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. Further, the container main body 3 may not be formed to be self-supporting, for example, may be formed in a spherical shape, or may be self-standing using a separate stand. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the side surface 3c of the container main body 3 may be formed in a tapered shape. In the case of a plant cultivation container having such a side surface 3c, the surface 3a on which the plant grows is inclined slightly upward. Can be independent.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
May be formed in an inverted truncated cone like a container for plant cultivation generally called a flower pot. Such a container for plant cultivation formed in an inverted truncated cone shape has a vegetation opening 6 formed on the upper surface thereof, so that the plant cannot be seen at a glance as described above. The advantage that the cultivation management is facilitated by the water retention function of the container body 3 made of the mixture is the same as that described in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the container body 3
Although the vegetation opening 6 provided at one place was one place, the number of vegetation openings 6 provided is not necessarily limited to one place,
Two or more places may be formed. Also, as shown in FIG.
If a plurality of vegetation openings 6 communicating with the soil storage unit 10 are provided on each of the outer surfaces 3a, 3b, 3c of the container body 3, the container for plant cultivation is covered with the grown plants, and the decorative effect is enhanced. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the vegetation opening 6 is formed small enough to protrude the stem of the plant, since the portion where the soil is exposed can be extremely reduced. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the soil storage unit 10 provided in the container body 3 is provided at one location, but may be provided at two or more locations.

Further, the container for plant cultivation is placed on a vertical surface such as a wall surface.
In order to hang on the installation surface 11 having 12a, a hook or other hooking portion may be provided on the container for plant cultivation. Further, in the above embodiment, specific dimensions of the container body 3 and the vegetation opening 6 have been exemplified, but it is needless to say that the container body 3 and the like are not limited to such dimensions.

[0049]

As described above, the container for plant cultivation according to the present invention is composed of a mixture of ceramic granules and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retention property. Liquids such as moisture are adsorbed by the myriad of pores inside the material, and have a water retention function. Therefore, since the water retained in the container body is gradually given to the soil, the number of times of water supply can be reduced.

Further, since gas passes through the myriad of pores of the porous material, oxygen is supplied, so that in combination with the water retention function, bacteria and the like are easily propagated, and such propagation causes various biological effects such as decomposition of organic matter. In addition to supplying nutrients necessary for vegetation due to nitrogen or nitrogen fixation, heat insulation is provided by the myriad of holes, and rapid temperature changes of the soil can be suppressed. Therefore, the number of times of water supply and top dressing can be reduced,
Cultivation management becomes easy.

Further, the container has a water retention function, and
Since nutrients are supplied by the propagation of bacteria, the amount of soil required is smaller than that of conventional plant cultivation containers that require a water retention function and a source of nutrients from the soil. Can be reduced in size.

Also, since it is composed of ceramic granules and a porous material, it can be fired. Therefore, when cultivating a plant and then cultivating another plant again, if the container is fired, it can be propagated by cultivation of the preceding plant. Unnecessary bacteria are killed, and
There is also an advantage that the roots of the plants that have entered the gaps between the ceramic granules are carbonized by firing and become nutrients for plants to be cultivated next.

Furthermore, if the container main body is formed so that the outer surface provided with the vegetation opening is substantially perpendicular to the installation surface and can be self-supporting, as in the means according to claim 2, plant cultivation is possible. The plant can be cultivated in a state in which the outer surface provided with the vegetation opening of the container is placed substantially perpendicular to the installation surface.

Therefore, the outer surface of the container body provided with the vegetation opening is substantially perpendicular to the installation surface, and the head does not need to be raised above the plant cultivation container, ie, without moving the trunk. At a glance, you can see the whole cultivated plant, making it ideal for horticultural therapy.

Further, the vegetation opening where the soil is exposed is covered with the grown plants, so that the soil cannot be seen from the outside, does not give a dirty image, etc., and exhibits a decorative function sufficiently indoors. Furthermore, since the soil does not adhere to the plant even if it touches it, it is possible to not only appreciate it but also have many opportunities to touch the plant, especially in horticultural therapy, being able to touch the plant at any time will help rehabilitation. It is considered to be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing one embodiment of a container for plant cultivation according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view including the same section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which a plant has grown using a container for plant cultivation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a use state of the container for cultivating a plant.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of a container for cultivating a plant.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the container for cultivating a plant in both (a) and (b).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the container for plant cultivation.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... container body, 6 ... vegetation opening, 10 ... soil storage, 11 ...
Installation surface

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plant characterized by being formed of a mixture of a ceramic particulate material as an aggregate in which a ceramic material is granulated, and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retention property. Cultivation container. 2. The container body (3) is formed of a mixture of a ceramic particulate material as an aggregate obtained by granulating a ceramic material, and a porous material capable of passing a liquid and a gas and having a water retaining property. A soil storage part (10) capable of storing soil is provided in the container body (3), and a vegetation opening communicating with the soil storage part (10) is provided on an outer surface of the container body (3). Department (6)
And the container body (3) is formed so as to be capable of standing independently with the outer surface provided with the vegetation opening (6) being substantially perpendicular to the installation surface (11). Characteristic container for plant cultivation.