NL2018354B1

NL2018354B1 - A rooting plug and a container

Info

Publication number: NL2018354B1
Application number: NL2018354A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Robert Valstar Edwin
Original assignee: Duemmen Group Bv
Priority date: 2017-02-10
Filing date: 2017-02-10
Publication date: 2018-09-04
Also published as: DE202018100737U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body having a top surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface. The plug body comprises a root chamber and a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber. Further, a substantial portion of the outer side surface in cross sectional view has a polygon shape.

Description

Octrooicentrum

Θ 2018354

(21) Aanvraagnummer: 2018354 © Aanvraag ingediend: 10 februari 2017 @ Int. CL:

A01G 31/00 (2018.01) A01G 9/10 (2017.01)

(4^ Aanvraag ingeschreven:	(73) Octrooihouder(s):
4 september 2018	Dümmen Group B.V. te De Lier.
(43) Aanvraag gepubliceerd:
-	(72) Uitvinder(s):
	Edwin Robert Valstar te Monster.
Octrooi verleend:
4 september 2018
	(74) Gemachtigde:
(45) Octrooischrift uitgegeven:	ir. C.M. Jansen c.s. te Den Haag.
6 november 2018

© A rooting plug and a container © The invention relates to a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body having a top surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface. The plug body comprises a root chamber and a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber. Further, a substantial portion of the outer side surface in cross sectional view has a polygon shape.

NL Bl 2018354

Dit octrooi is verleend ongeacht het bijgevoegde resultaat van het onderzoek naar de stand van de techniek en schriftelijke opinie. Het octrooischrift komt overeen met de oorspronkelijk ingediende stukken.

P114180NL00

Title: A rooting plug and a container

The invention relates to a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body having a top surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface, wherein the plug body comprises a root chamber for accommodating at least a part of a root structure of a plant, the plug body further comprising a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber, wherein the plug body includes a side wall surrounding the chamber, the side wall being provided with circumferential mutually facing end sections defining therebetween a slot opening extending in a longitudinal direction from the bottom surface to the top surface and in a lateral direction from the outer side surface inwardly into the root chamber and the stem passage for enabling a lateral insertion of the plant’s root structure into the root chamber, wherein the side wall end sections are movable in a circumferential direction defining an open state wherein the end sections are offset and a closed state wherein the end sections abut each other.

Such a rooting plug is e.g. known from European patent publication EP 2 572 571 in the name of the same applicant. Although the rooting plug is successful in practice, there is an ongoing need for further improvement.

It is an object of the invention to obtain an improved rooting plug according to the preamble. In particular, the invention aims at obtaining a rooting plug that is even more suitable for orchids. Thereto, according to an aspect of the invention, a substantial portion of the outer side surface in cross sectional view has a polygon shape.

By providing a polygon shaped outer contour along a substantial portion of the outer side surface, air volumes can be formed between the outer side surface of the plug on the one hand and a generally circular shaped cell wall of a tray receiving said plug on the other hand, thereby stimulating growth of aerial roots of the plant, thus improving growing conditions of orchids. Further, material and costs are saved for manufacturing rooting plugs.

Advantageously, the plug body is provided, near its top surface, with a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape of the plug body. While moving the rooting plug into a corresponding tray cell with the plug’s top surface facing away from the cell until the radially extending protrusion is pressed radially inwardly by the cavity wall of the tray the volume of the root chamber and the stem passage is reduced. Then, the stem passage encloses the stem of the plant more closer, advantageously without or with reduced air spaces thereby reducing chances that water unintentionally flows into the root chamber. By closing off the stem passage, any water flows through the plug body. Further, air the volume between the outer side surface of the plug on the one hand and the generally circular shaped cell wall of a tray is relatively large, thereby optimally stimulating the growth of aerial roots.

Further, a single rooting plug type may serve for cultivation of plants of different geometry and dimensions. The plug is flexible in use as the plug can be inserted into a tray until pressurizing forces reducing the root chamber volume are sufficiently counteracted by contact forces of the root and/or stem of the plant.

The plug then also has the advantage that it can be removed much easier from a tray since the contact area of the plug and the tray is reduced significantly. More specifically, the plug may contact the tray only at the protrusion. In addition, intermediate air spaces between plug and the tray may improve the cultivation process of the plant significantly.

Optionally, the plug is provided with feet extending downwardly away from the bottom surface of the plug body, thereby creating an air chamber below the plug body bottom surface, so as to further improve growing conditions of orchids, and reducing further material for manufacturing the plug.

The invention also relates to a container.

Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting example only, embodiments of the present inventions will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a rooting plug according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1, in an open state;

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1, in a closed state, and

Figure 4 shows a schematic bottom view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiments disclosed herein are shown as examples only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way. In this description and in the figures, the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.

It is noted that in this description a plant has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a land plant. The plant does not need to be in a particular growth phase, and may for example be a seedling or a young plant. In advantageous embodiments the plant may for instance be a orchid, a bromeliad or an anthurium.

It is further noted that in this description a root structure has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a root system, e.g. a system of roots, which root system may include at least a part of the roots and/or aerial roots of the plant. For example, the root structure may alternatively or additionally be formed by a part of a cutting, which part is rooting or is capable of rooting. Further, the root structure may for instance be formed by a further, relatively small, rooting plug of a plant already rooted in said relatively small plug. When said rooted plant is transplanted to a larger rooting plug, e.g. the rooting plug according to an aspect of the invention, the plant does not need to be removed from the relatively small rooting plug, since the relatively small rooting plug can be inserted into a root chamber of the relatively large rooting plug.

In this description words like substantially or about should be understood as meaning that a slight variation on or deviation from an orientation or dimension or other product or method related feature is possible within the scope, at least such as would be understood by the skilled person. Such variation or deviation can for example be between 0 and 20%, more specifically between 0 and 15%, such as for example between 0 and 10% of the originally disclosed value or orientation or the like. By way of example this should be understood as meaning that for a direction an angular variation would be allowable, such as when shapes are defined as being substantially cylindrically-shaped, the shape may be tapered to some extent that at least side wall deviations from a cylindrical shape of less than e.g. 18, 14, 11, 9, 7 or 5 degrees would be within the scope, whereas for perpendicular directions or parallel directions, including an angle of 180 degrees, at least similar variations would be within the scope.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rooting plug 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The rooting plug 1 is integrally formed for cultivation of a plant, and comprises a plug body 3 that is substantially cylindrical relative to a cylindrical axis 2 of the plug 1. Further, the plug body 3 has a top surface 4, an outer side surface 5 and a bottom surface 6. A substantial portion of the outer side surface 5 has a polygon shape, in a cross sectional view along the cylindrical axis 2.

As an example, the outer side surface 5 is a pentagon or a hexagon. However, also other polygon shapes may apply, such as a triangle, a square, a rectangle or an octagon, forming the outer side contour of the plug body 3. The polygon can be regular having evenly distributed corners or irregular.

Preferably, the polygon shaped portion of the outer side surface 5 extends from the bottom surface 6 upwardly towards the top surface 4. In the shown embodiment, the polygon shaped portion of the outer side surface 5 extends almost completely up to the top surface 4. In principle, the top surface 4 itself may also have a polygon contour smoothly adjoining the outer side surface 5. Generally, the polygon shaped portion of the outer side surface 5 extends along a substantial portion of the plug structure between its bottom surface 6 and top surface 4, preferably along at least half of the height between the bottom surface 6 and the top surface 4, more preferably along at least circa 70% or at least circa 80% of the height between the bottom surface 6 and the bottom surface 6.

The plug body 3 comprises a root chamber 7 for accommodating at least a part of a root structure of the plant. Preferably, the root chamber 7 is substantially cylindrically-shaped, e.g. having substantially the shape of a circular cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, a cuboid or a prism. Although the root chamber and the plug body 3 itself may preferably have a similar shape, the root chamber can have a shape differing from the outer shape of the plug 3. For example, the root chamber 7 can have the shape of a cuboid, while the root plug 3 itself has, in a cross sectional view, a polygonal outer shape. Furthermore, the root chamber 7 may have a non-cylindrical shape, such as substantially the shape of a ball, an oblate spheroid or a pyramid. The plug body 3 further has a stem passage 9 extending from the top surface 4 of the plug body 3 into the root chamber 7.

Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug 1. As shown, the plug body 3 includes a side wall 13 surrounding the chamber 7.

The side wall 13 has an outer side surface 5 oriented radially outwardly and an inner side surface 17 oriented radially inwardly towards the chamber 7. The side wall 13 of the plug is further provided with circumferential mutually facing end sections 14, 15 defining therebetween a slot opening 10. The slot opening 10 extends in a longitudinal direction 11 from the bottom surface 6 to the top surface 4 and in a lateral direction 12 from the outer side surface 5 into the root chamber 7 and the stem passage 9 so that the root structure of the plant can be inserted inwardly along said lateral direction 12 into the root chamber 7.

In Fig. 2 the rooting plug 1 is in an open state, wherein the end sections 14, 15 are offset with respect to each other. In said open state, the slot opening, also referred to as the receptive opening 10, stands agape between said end sections 14, 15. In the shown embodiment, the receptive opening 10 forms a wedge shaped volume. In the open state, the slot opening 10 forms a plant passage for enabling an insertion of the root structure 8 and/or other plant parts from exterior towards the root chamber and/or the stem passage. In the shown embodiment each of the end sections 14, 15 comprises a substantially flat end surface, having an inner edge 14a, 15a connecting the end sections 14, 15 to the inner side surface 17 of the side wall 13, and having an outer edge 14b, 15b connecting the end sections 14, 15 to the outer side surface 5 of the side wall 13. An inner edge 14a, 15a and/or an outer edge 14b , 15b can be substantially rounded off providing a smooth contour without sharp edges such that a chance that damage occurs at the root structure, when inserting the roots into the chamber 7, are minimal. However, the inner edges 14a, 15a and/or the outer edges 14b, 15b can also have another shape, e.g. the edges may include sharp corners and/or can be chamfered. The distance W between the outer edges 14b, 15b, in the open state of the plug 1, may be circa 10 mm ore more, up to circa 22mm, forming the entrance of the wedge shaped receptive opening 10. In the shown embodiment, the end sections 14, 15 are substantially flat.

Alternatively, the encl sections 14, 15 of the side wall 13 have another shape such as a convex, wavy, corrugated or another curved profile.

The side wall end sections 14, 15 are designed to be movable in a circumferential direction C to define the open state shown in Fig. 2 and a closed state wherein the end sections 14, 15 abut each other. When moving the end sections 14, 15 to each other, along the circumferential direction C, the plug is brought in the closed state. When moving the end sections 14, 15 away from each other, along the circumferential direction C, the plug is brought in the open state.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug 1 in said closed state. In the closed state, the end sections 14, 15 are close to each other, preferably such that the end sections 14, 15 are parallel to each other, thus closing off the chamber 7 in the lateral direction 12, transverse to the cylindrical direction 2. In the closed state, the pentagonal shape of the outer side surface 5 is clearly visible.

In the closed state, the root chamber 7 defines a cavity 16 extending in the longitudinal direction 11. The side wall end sections 14, 15, the plug body 3 and/or the rooting plug 1 may be at least partly resilient. Alternatively or additionally, the side wall end sections 14, 15, the plug body 3 and/or the rooting plug 1 may comprise a single or a multiple number of e.g. hinges or so-called living hinges. In an advantageous embodiment the side wall end sections 14, 15 are biased into the open state. Then, the root structure can be inserted into the root chamber 7 without the hassle of forcing the end sections 14, 15 apart from each other.

In this context, abutting of the end sections has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to the end sections being located that close to each other that they substantially close off the receptive opening 10, e.g. said receptive opening 10 closes off the plant passage and can not any longer allow through the root structure and/or the other plant parts. As an example, the end sections 14, 15 should be understood to be abutting as e.g. a protruding root 25 is jammed between said end sections.

Further, here, in the closed state, the root chamber 7 defines a cavity extending in the longitudinal direction 11. For example, a width of the chamber 7 may be e.g. about 10, 20, 35, 50 or 65% of a width of the plug. Preferably, the chamber width 23 is at least circa 10%, at least circa 20%, at least circa 35%, at least circa 50% or at least circa 65% of the plug width. It is noted that said widths are preferably measured in a cross section of the plug 1 transverse to the cylindrical axis 2 of the plug 1.

The width of the chamber is to be understood as a onedimensional spatial extension of the chamber, mainly transverse to the cylindrical axis 2 of the rooting plug 1 or mainly transverse to a central axis of the root chamber. As an example, when the chamber has a circular cross section, transverse to one of said central axes, the width of the chamber is the diameter. When the chamber has a non-circular cross section, the chamber width may not be uniquely defined. Then, the width ranges between a minimum width and a maximum width, depending on the angle of the measuring line through the central axis. The width of the plug can be defined in a similar way. The above-mentioned ratio restrictions between the chamber width and the plug width imply that, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of said restrictions is fulfilled when measuring along a particle line dimension, through and transverse to the central axis.

Similarly, the chamber can be designed to have a width exceeding a pre-defined minimum distance, e.g. greater than circa 0.5 cm, greater than circa 1 cm, greater than circa 2, cm, or greater than circa 5 cm.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the substantially cylindrical plug body 3 is tapered towards its bottom surface 6. In principle, also the root chamber 7 may be slightly tapered, e.g. downwardly to the bottom surface 6. Further, the plug body 3 and/or the root chamber 7 may be tapered towards the top surface 4 or may be tapered to a lesser extent or a lesser extent than in the shown embodiment. For example, the plug body 3 and/or the root chamber 7 may at least partly be tapered with an angle in a range from 1 to 25 degrees, e.g. 3, 5, 7, 11, 15 or 20 degrees. As a further example, although the outer side surface might be tapered downwardly, the root chamber may be upwardly tapered root chamber such that an upper part of the root chamber has smaller dimensions than a lower part of the root chamber. Advantageously, also a relatively small volume plant rooting can be accommodated inside the rooting plug. Alternatively, the plug body 3 and/or the root chamber 7 may be invariant in the cylindrical direction 2.

Preferably, the stem passage 9 has the same diameter as the root chamber 7. More generally, the stem passage 9 has a same or similar cylindrical cross sectional geometry as the root chamber 7. The stem passage 9 forms a passageway from the top surface 4 towards the root chamber 7. In the shown embodiment, the rooting plug 1 substantially forms a hollow tube being slit open in its longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the chamber is provided with a bottom wall. Further, the stem passage can have a different shape and/or size as the root chamber. For example, the stem passage may have a cross sectional geometry that substantially differing from the cross sectional geometry of the root chamber 7, e.g. being substantially smaller, wider and/or having a different shape.

In advantageous embodiments the root chamber 7 is aligned with the geometry of the plug body 3, such that a central axis of the root chamber 7 coincides with the cylindrical axis 2 of the plug 1. Alternatively, the root chamber is located eccentrically in the rooting plug. Further, the inner side surface 17, forming an outer wall of the root chamber 7, and the outer side surface 5 of the plug can be substantially parallel to each other.

By providing a root chamber having a non-trivial spatial extension, transverse to the cylindrical axis 2, a volume is available for accommodating the root structure of a plant without deforming said root structure. By providing a root chamber having a substantial volume, also in the closed state of the plug, a root structure of a plant can be accommodated without any damage, or at least without severe damage to the roots of the plant.

In a preferred embodiment, in the open state, a width of the root chamber 7 measured through and transverse to the central axis of the rooting plug 1 is larger than the offset between the end sections 14, 15 of the side wall 13.

Further, preferably, in the closed state, a width 23 of the root chamber 7 measured through and transverse to a central axis of the rooting plug 1 is at least ten times larger than a distance between the end sections 14, 15 of the side wall 13.

Here, the rooting plug 1 accommodates the plant 2 at least partly. Although, the root structure of the plant is here substantially completely accommodated in the root chamber 7, the root structure may alternatively be only partly accommodated in the chamber, e.g. a part of the root structure may protrude from e.g. a top or a bottom side of said chamber 7, and/or the substantially radially outstanding root may at least partly protrude into the receptive opening 10. Generally, the plant has a sticking out of the chamber through the stem passage 9. However, the plant does not need to comprise a stem 20. Alternatively or additionally, one or a multiple number of other plant parts, such as leafs, may pass through the stem passage 9.

In the closed state, the side wall 13 can be arranged for securing the root structure 8 in the root chamber 7. Thereto, the side wall 13 may form a claw which may clench the root structure. Further, the inner side surface 17 of the plug, e.g. a surface defining the cavity 16, may be arranged to counteract that a root structure inserted into the chamber 7 can slide down in the chamber. Thereto, the inner side surface 17 may be tapered, may at least partly be rough and/or may be provided with elements for counteracting shifting of the root structure, such as protrusions.

In an advantageous embodiment, the rooting plug 1 is provided with feet extending downwardly away from the bottom surface 6.

Figure 4 shows a schematic bottom view of the rooting plug 1. In the shown embodiment, the rooting plug 1 has feet 41, 42 including annular segments 41, 42 extending in the circumferential direction C, preferably symmetric relative to a plane of symmetry 40 of the plug 1 extending through and parallel to the slot opening 10, thereby providing a stable structure. The number of feet may be two, three, four, five or more. Further, also a single foot can be provided extending in the circumferential direction C. Highly preferably, the feet 41, 42 are integrally formed with the plug body 3. In principle, the rooting plug 1 may be provided without feet. Then, the bottom surface 6 or another structure forms the lower part of the plug 1.

Further, the plug body 3 is provided, near its top surface 4 with a protrusion 30 extending radially outwardly from the cylindrically shaped plug body 3. Upon moving the rooting plug 3 into a cell of a tray the radially extending protrusion 30 is pressed radially inwardly by the tray structure thereby moving the side wall end surfaces 14, 15 towards each other. Preferably, the protrusion 30 is implemented as an annular shaped flange extending in the circumferential direction C, forming 1 rim 31 of the top surface 4. In the shown embodiment, the protrusion 30 and the top surface 4 form a circular formed upper portion of the plug body 3. In principle, the protrusion 30 can be implemented in another way, e.g. having a rectangular outer contour or such that a multiple number of rib portions are formed on the outer side wall 5. It is noted that, optionally, the plug body 3 is not provided with a radially outwardly extending protrusion 30.

Further, the plug 1 can comprise fixation means for substantially fixating the plug 1 in the closed state. The fixation means include a separate fixation means for attachment to the rooting plug, e.g. during the process of insertion the root structure into the rooting plug. For example, the fixation means can comprise a fixation strap, tape and/or rubber band. Preferably, the fixation means are made of a non-toxic and/or organic material, more preferably a biodegradable material. Additionally or alternatively, at least a part of the fixation means may form an integral part of the rooting plug. As an example, the fixation means can comprise a protrusion, e.g. located at a first one of the end sections and a hole in the second one of the end sections, which protrusion and hole can cooperate to form a clickable connection.

The outer surface 5 of the side wall 13 may be provided with a groove 19 extending in the circumferential direction for at least partly receiving the fixation strap and/or tape. The groove may be for receiving at least a part of the fixation means. For example, a fixation strap may be sunk into the groove, such that the fixation strap for instance does not hinder a placement of the rooting plug into a container such as a pot or a cup of a tray for accommodating rooting plugs.

The rooting plug can be produced with any suitable manufacturing process, such as and is preferably formed as an integral part.

It is noted that the rooting plug 1 is preferably made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of plants. More specifically, the plug body can be made from a substrate including material for cultivation of plants. Advantageously, the plug body is formed as an integral part. The substrate may be formed as a composition. More preferably, the composition and/or material is spongy and/or penetrable to growing roots. Such and other suitable substrate materials and/or compositions are known in the art. For example, the substrate material or composition may comprise organic fibres, e.g. coconut fibre, peat and/or bark. Here, the plug 1 comprises for instance a substrate composition including particles joined by a bind agent, such as a non-toxic and/or organic glue. The joined particles may e.g. comprise organic fibres and/or soil particles.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a container such as a tray, comprising at least one rooting plug as described above. The tray can be any tray capable of carrying one or a multiple number of rooting plugs, and may for instance comprise one or multiple number sockets, cells or cups for receiving rooting plugs. As an alternative, the container is implemented as a single cell for carrying a single rooting plug.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

As an example, the rooting plug can in an advantageous embodiment be provided with a, preferably resilient, bottom part for closing of the bottom side of the root chamber.

In this respect it is noted that the protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape of the plug body can only be applied to plug bodies that are provided with a rooting chamber and a stem passage, but also to other rooting plugs, without rooting chamber and/or stem passage. As an example, the plug body can be homogeneous, without interior chamber. In a specific embodiment, the plug body does not include a slot opening or cutting. In a further specific embodiment, the plug body can be provided with a cutting extending from the top surface downwardly so that the plug body may deform from a closed state wherein cutting surface abut each other, towards an open state wherein a left-hand side body section has swivelled away from a right-hand side body section around a hinge part at the bottom surface of the plug body. Optionally, the left-hand side body section and/or the right-hand body section may include a cavity at their mutually facing surfaces. In use, the plug can be partially put into a tray cavity or tray cell. Then, the growing material can be put on said facingsurfaces of the left-hand side body section and the right-hand side body section. As a next step, the plug can be advanced further into the tray cell, thereby clamping and securing the growing material between both body sections.

Further, it is noted that the dimensions of the rooting plug may vary from the shown embodiments. For example, the ratio between the height and the width of the plug may vary and can for instance be about 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.7, 2.5, or 5, wherein the outer width of the rooting plug can for instance be about 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 cm.

These and other variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as formulated by the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Claims

Conclusions

A root plug for cultivating a plant made of a substrate containing organic and / or non-organic material, comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body provided with an upper surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface, the plug body comprising a root chamber for attaining housing at least a part of a root structure of a plant, the plug body further comprising a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber, the plug body comprising a side wall surrounding the chamber and the side wall being provided with circumferentially facing end sections, defining therebetween a slot opening extending longitudinally from the bottom surface to the top surface and in a lateral direction from the outer side surface inwardly to the root chamber and the stem passage to allow lateral insertion of the root structure into the root chamber , where The end sections of the side wall can be moved in a circumferential direction defining an open state with the end sections spaced apart and a closed state with the end sections abutting against each other, and wherein a substantial part of the cross-section of the outer side surface has a polygon shape.

The root plug of claim 1, wherein the polygon-shaped portion of the outer side surface extends upwardly from the bottom surface to the top surface.

The root plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plug body tapers to the bottom surface.

Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the polygon shape is a pentagon or hexagon.

Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug body is provided in the vicinity of the upper surface with a protrusion extending radially outwards from the substantially cylindrically shaped plug body.

The root plug of claim 5, wherein the protrusion includes an annular rim that extends in the circumferential direction.

The root plug of claim 5 or 6, wherein the protrusion and the top surface form a rounded upper portion of the plug body.

The root plug of claim 1, wherein the plug is provided with feet extending downwardly away from the bottom surface of the plug body.

The root plug of claim 8, wherein the feet contain annular segments that extend in the circumferential direction.

Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion and / or the feet are integrally formed with the plug body.

11. Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the closed state, the root chamber defines a cavity that extends in the longitudinal direction.

The root plug of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the end sections of the side face comprises a substantially flat or curved end surface.

The root plug of claim 12, wherein an inner edge connects an end section of the side wall to an inner side surface of the side wall, and wherein an outer edge connects an end section of the side wall to an outer side surface of the side wall, wherein the inner edge and / or the outer edge is in essential is completed.

The root plug of any one of the preceding claims 11-13, wherein the plug body is at least partially resilient, and wherein the end sections of the side wall are biased toward the open state.

Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, at least one

5 part of a plant, preferably an orchid or a bromeliad, housing.

16. Container, comprising at least one root plug according to one of the preceding claims.

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