JPH11332386A - Terrarium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a terrarium capable of preventing the excessive irradiation of light on an ornamental plant to well raise the plant and capable of improving the appreciative property and commercial value of the plant by disposing a photoreversible color material on the transparent portion of the wall surface of the container. SOLUTION: An ornamental plant 5 such as an Orchidaceae plant is disposed in the terrarium container 1 whose wall surface is at least partially transparent. Therein, a photoreversible color material such as a photochromic compound, e.g. a naphthooxadine compound, is disposed at least on the transparent portion of the wall surface of the container 1 preferably in an amount of 0.001-5 wt.% (based on a resin).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terrarium capable of controlling the amount of light applied to ornamental plants disposed therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Terrarium is also called a glass pot gardening tool. For example, a terrarium in which soil is placed in a transparent container made of glass or the like in the form of an apple and various kinds of houseplants and dolls are arranged. Put the soil and various moisturizers in a transparent container such as acrylic resin with a dome-shaped upper part, and arrange various flowers and other decorative items,
It is designed to allow you to enjoy flowers and leaves indoors, such as in a living room or office. In addition, the terrarium has a function of not only viewing plants but also growing them. What is needed to grow a plant is water, nutrients, and light. Water and nutrients are supplied to the plant by being included in the soil. Light is provided to the plant by illuminating the light through the transparent part of the container. By the way, water, nutrients and light are necessary for growing plants, but it is well known that excessive supply causes harm to plants. For example, excessive supply of water and nutrients will cause the plants to rot, and in the case of light, chlorophyll will be altered and the leaves will turn yellow, and further, the color will change from white to black-brown. There is a sunburn phenomenon. Further, the appropriate value of the supply amount of the plant varies depending on the type. In order to supply water and nutrients appropriately,
The terrarium administrator can adjust the supply amount while observing the appearance of the plant inside the terrarium. In addition, in order to make the supply amount of light an appropriate amount, the supply amount can be adjusted indoors by avoiding direct sunlight and outdoors by selecting and installing a shade.

[0003]

By the way, orchid plants useful as ornamental plants have low durability against light, and therefore, in ordinary cultivation, that is, cultivation in a greenhouse or cultivation outdoors, the sunshine is poor. In the case of strong weather, to prevent sunburn, wood may be laid between the plants and sunlight, or lime may be applied to the roof and side walls of the greenhouse, or the greenhouse may be covered with cold gauze (shading net). When the sunlight is weak, the light is supplied using a light-shielding tool such as a cover, and the work is performed by removing the light-shielding tool and giving light, so that an appropriate amount of light is supplied. However, since terrarium also has the purpose of admiring plants, it is not possible to use such a light-shielding device. Also, for the same purpose, it is by no means desirable that the installation location be limited. The present invention appropriately adjusts the amount of light supplied to the plant body disposed inside the container without troublesome operations such as attaching and detaching a light-shielding tool so that the object of the terrarium can be favorably observed and grown. It is an object to provide a terrarium that can be adjusted and has no limitation on an installation place.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in a terrarium in which ornamental plants are arranged in a container having at least a part of a wall surface transparent, a photoreversible coloring material is arranged on at least a transparent part of the wall surface of the container. The gist is a terrarium characterized by having been done.

The details will be described below. The container in the present invention is used for growing and ornamental ornamental plants arranged in the container. In other words, it is necessary that the plants arranged in the container satisfy the conditions that can be grown and enjoyed at the same time as covering the entire ornamental plants.
The prerequisites for growing plants are that air, water and nutrients and light are provided. In order to supply air, water, and nutrients, it is necessary that a through-hole communicating between the inside and the outside is formed in the container, and that an implantable material having a water retention property is disposed. Water and nutrients are supplied to the plant by being included in the water-retentive planting material. Further, in order to supply light, it is necessary that at least a part of the container wall surface has transparency. The fact that at least a part of the container wall surface has transparency is also necessary for appreciating ornamental plants arranged inside the container.

[0006] The container may be made of one member as long as it can cover the whole ornamental plant. However, in order to arrange the ornamental plant in the container, it is made of two members, a lid and a plate. Are preferably used. The shape is arbitrary without particular limitation, for example, a combination of a dome-shaped lid and a shallow dish, a combination of a plate-shaped lid and a deep dish, or a similar depth Can be exemplified. Further, it is more preferable to use a combination of an upper plate having a through-hole for removing excess moisture and a lower plate serving as a receiving tray. In addition,
Depending on the size of the container and the type of ornamental plants to be placed inside, it is preferable to appropriately set the size, position, number, and the like of the through holes. So that the temperature and humidity of the
More preferably, the size is variable. The material used for the container only needs to be strong enough not to be deformed, and glass, ceramics, synthetic resin and the like can be used. In addition, the container wall surface, the ornamental plants inside the container, it is necessary that at least a part has transparency to easily enjoy the light, for this, glass or transparent polyethylene,
Synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride can be used.

[0007] The planting material having a water retention function is used to supply moisture and nutrients so that the ornamental plant placed in the container does not wither, and is placed on the dish portion of the container. As the implantation material, for example, crushed rock obtained by crushing rock into a size suitable for the intended use, sand, soil, and the like are used, and similar materials include plastic, ceramic, glass, ore, metal, vermiculite, and rock wool. Are also exemplified. Preferably, plant-derived bark (pine bark), peat moss, water moss, gougling material, charcoal powder, and the like, which are the same as the ornamental plants, can be used alone or in an appropriate mixture. Regarding the shape of the implanting material, any shape such as powder, granule, or lump can be used.

[0008] If necessary, nutrients used in combination with the planting material can be obtained by appropriately diluting various commercially available fertilizers with water. In addition to the inorganic salts, vitamins, sugars, etc. necessary for the growth of some or all of the ornamental plants, plant hormones (auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, etc.), casein degradation products, yeast extracts, etc. And the like, which can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount of the fertilizer component added to the planting material can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose and method of use, such as the type and state of the ornamental plant to be used.

[0009] In the terrarium of the present invention, it is necessary that a photoreversible coloring material is disposed in a transparent portion of the container. The photoreversible coloring material used in the present invention, when irradiated with light, absorbs the light, changes the chemical structure of the substance, and develops or discolors, the amount of irradiated light is reduced. It is a substance that has a reversible change property that sometimes returns to the original state, and is a so-called photochromic material. This photoreversible coloring material, by arranging at least in the transparent portion of the container, when excessive light is irradiated on the terrarium, the transparent portion of the container develops or discolors and is irradiated on ornamental plants in the container. It is used to adjust the amount of light and reduce damage to plants such as sunburn. The photoreversible coloring material used in the present invention, in view of the purpose that the terrarium is for viewing the plant inside the container, develops a color or before discoloration, it is transparent,
Alternatively, it is necessary to have a light color, and it is preferable that the material has transparency even after coloring and discoloration. Further, it is preferable that the time required for coloring and decoloring is short. Also, in order to enjoy the plant for a long period of time, it is preferable that the durability against the reversible reaction is excellent. As the photoreversible coloring material used in the present invention, naphthoxazine-based compounds, spironaphthoxazine-based compounds, hydrazone-based compounds, spirohydrazone-based compounds, oxazone-based compounds, dihydroindoline-based compounds, stilbene-based compounds, salicylaldehyde-based compounds, Imidazole compounds, Pimantron compounds, Thioindigo compounds, Nitrated aromatic compounds, Anil compounds, Triphenylmethane compounds, Hydrazine compounds, Fluorofilm compounds, Piologen compounds, Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Azobenzene compounds Compounds, dihydropyrene-based compounds,
Examples include spiropyran-based compounds, spirothiopyran-based compounds, spirooxazine-based compounds, and fulgide-based compounds. In particular, naphthoxazine-based compounds and spironaphthoxazine-based compounds can be preferably used because of their excellent reversible reaction durability.

[0010] When the above-mentioned photoreversible coloring material is selected,
It is preferable to select according to the ornamental plant. The ornamental plant used for the terrarium of the present invention is not particularly limited, but a plant having low light resistance is suitable. Examples of the plants having low durability include orchids as described above. And, among orchids, there are species that prefer strong light such as dendrobium, cymbidium and cattleya, and species that prefer weak light such as pharenopsis, banda, miltonia, and paphiopedium. To select a photoreversible colorant.

Next, a method of arranging a photoreversible color material at least in a transparent portion of a container includes a method of forming a photoreversible color material into a paint and applying it to a wall surface, and a method of photoreversible color material. , A method of forming a container using a material containing, or a method of attaching a film containing a photoreversible coloring material to the container can be employed. As the coating material for dispersing the photoreversible coloring material, a commercially available coating material or a coating material prepared by a conventionally known composition and method may be used. What is necessary is just to select according to the purpose, such as what hardens. Specifically, acrylic, polyester,
A paint containing a resin such as an epoxy-based, urethane-based, alkyd-based, vinyl-based, phenol-based, silicon-based, or fluorine-based resin may be used. Next, the method of dispersing the photoreversible coloring material may be performed by a conventionally known method using a conventionally known stirrer or disperser such as a three-roll, ball mill, or impeller mill. The addition amount of the photoreversible coloring material in the paint, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the type of photoreversible coloring material to be used and the type of ornamental plants arranged in the container, the resin of the paint It is preferably 1 to 50% by weight based on the solid content. The method for forming a coating film includes a spray method, a brush coating method, a screen printing method in which a paint is thickened to form an ink, a pad printing method, and the like, and can be appropriately selected. In the application, the paint can be applied to the entire wall surface of the container, or can be applied only to a transparent portion of the container. In addition, it is also possible to arrange the photoreversible coloring material so that a pattern or a character is generated after the coloring, discoloration, by combining the photoreversible coloring materials having different color tones after color development and discoloration. It is also possible to enhance the appreciation of the terrarium and its commercial value.

When a container is formed using a material containing a photoreversible coloring material, the photoreversible coloring material is added to a transparent resin by a known method, and injection molding and vacuum molding are performed. (Pressure molding), rotational molding, etc. The amount of the photoreversible coloring material in the resin is preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight based on the resin.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a terrarium used in an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The structure of the terrarium according to the present invention is not limited to the following structure. The container 1 is composed of a lid 2 on a bottomless dome whose head is cut off, and a lower plate 4, and the lid 2 is
An upper plate (not shown) on which an implanting material (not shown) in which the ornamental plant 5 is implanted, which constitutes the appearance of the container 1 in combination with the lower plate 4, is arranged in the lower plate 4. Lid 2
It is formed of a transparent material. As a material, a synthetic resin such as glass, polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride can be used. In addition, lid 2
Has a cut-out head, which is provided so that the inside and outside of the container 1 can communicate with each other so that the ornamental plant 5 arranged in the container 1 can be grown. Is best if it is the best depending on the type of the ornamental plant 5 arranged in the container 1. In the terrarium of the present invention, it is necessary that a photoreversible coloring material is disposed at least on the lid 2. Examples 1 to 4 in which the photoreversible coloring material is arranged are described below. The upper plate is for placing an implanting material in which the ornamental plant 5 is implanted, and may be made of glass, porcelain, synthetic resin, or any other material, not limited to transparent or opaque. The planting material is intended to supply moisture and nutrients such as fertilizer to the ornamental plant 5 when necessary, as long as it has a water retention function, there is no limitation on the material, soil, bark, peat moss, Water moss can be used. The lower plate 4 has the upper plate disposed therein and serves as a receiving portion for the lid 2. The lower plate 4 is made of glass, ceramics, synthetic resin, or other various materials similarly to the upper plate. The material can be used without being limited to transparent or opaque. As the ornamental plant 5, any of the flowering plants and / or houseplants conventionally used in terrariums can be used without any particular limitation. However, in view of durability against light, orchids are preferably used and placed in a container. Considering the appearance and commercial value of the product,
A small-sized Phalaenopsis is preferable, and Phalaenopsis equestris and its alba, and its mutants and hybrids can be mentioned. In addition, hybrids of Phalaenopsis such as Phalaenopsis amabilis and Phalaenopsis benoosa with the above-mentioned Phalaenopsis equiestris or its alba can also be exemplified.

Example 1 In the above terrarium, as a cover 2, an injection-molded part made of a transparent styrene resin was applied to a sunny color dye # 3 yellow (a photoreversible color material of naphthoxazine type, manufactured by Recording Materials Research Laboratory Co., Ltd.). ) Was added by a spray method to a reaction-curable acrylic urethane paint (V-7 # 420S clear, manufactured by Nagashima Paint Co., Ltd.) to which 20% by weight was added based on the resin solid content, and dried at 60 ° C for 30 minutes. A terrarium was obtained using Phalaenopsis as an ornamental plant
Equestris was used.

Example 2 In the above terrarium, as a cover 2, an injection-molded part made of a transparent styrene resin was coated with a sunny color pigment blue (a photoreversible colorant of naphthoxazine type, manufactured by Koyodo Line Bertec Co., Ltd.). A reaction-curable acrylic silicone paint (Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., Beltite No. 20000), which was added at 10% by weight based on the resin solid content, was applied by a spray method and dried at 60 ° C. for 30 minutes. I got a terrarium. Phalaenopsis as an ornamental plant
Equestris was used.

Example 3 In the above terrarium, a molding material was prepared by adding a sunny color dye # 3 yellow (described above) to a styrene resin having transparency by a known method. Terrarium was obtained using a molded product of Phalaenopsis equestris was used as an ornamental plant.

Example 4 In the above terrarium, a molding material was prepared by adding a sunny color pigment blue (described above) to a styrene resin having transparency by a known method. Terrarium was obtained by using the molded product of the above method. Phalaenopsis equestris was used as an ornamental plant.

Comparative Example 1 In the above terrarium, terrarium was obtained by using an injection-molded part made of a transparent styrene resin as the lid 2. Phalaenopsis equestris was used as an ornamental plant.

The terrarium obtained in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1 was left under sunlight. Even when the leaves of Phalaenopsis equestris placed in the terrarium container of Comparative Example 1 were allowed to yellow, the leaves of Phalaenopsis equestris in the terrarium containers of Examples 1-4 did not turn yellow at all. Note that the terrarium lids of Examples 1 and 3 had high transparency before being discolored by light,
The terrarium lids of Examples 2 and 4 are white and translucent before discoloration upon exposure to light.

[0020]

As described above, in the terrarium according to the present invention, when excessive light is irradiated, the wall of the container develops or discolors, and the ornamental plant is irradiated with excessive light. When the irradiated light is weak, it is transparent and supplies the light necessary for growing the ornamental plants, so it prevents damage to the ornamental plants arranged inside the container, and Can be bred. In addition, the amount of light to be taken into the container is automatically adjusted according to the intensity of the light, so that there is no need for management and there is no limitation on the installation location. This makes it possible to install an ornamental plant having high light resistance and a weak ornamental plant at the same place, which is extremely favorable for the purpose of viewing a terrarium plant.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a terrarium according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 container 2 lid 4 lower plate 5 ornamental plant

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terrarium in which an ornamental plant is arranged in a container having at least a part of a wall surface transparent, wherein a photoreversible coloring material is arranged on at least a transparent part of the wall surface of the container. 2. The ornamental plant according to claim 1, wherein the ornamental plant is an orchid.
The described terrarium. 3. The terrarium according to claim 1, wherein the photoreversible coloring material is a photochromic compound.