NL2023552B1 - A method and system for growing plants having one or more moisture levelling elements. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for growing plants (8) comprises the steps of providing an assembly of growing containers (1) that each have an insertion opening, inserting volumes of substrate (5) via the insertion openings into the growing containers (1), growing of plants (8) in the volumes of substrate (5), and watering and/or feeding the plants (8). The method further comprises the steps of providing one or more moisture levelling elements (4) to extend with connection portions between respective ones of the volumes of substrate (5), and levelling out moisture differences between the volumes of substrate (5) by means of the one or more moisture levelling elements (4) after each watering and/or feeding during the growing of the plants (8).

Description

P34117NLO0/RR Title: A method and system for growing plants having one or more moisture levelling elements.

The invention relates to a method for growing plants and to a plant growing system that make use of an assembly of growing containers, in particular an assembly of growing containers that together form a tray, with volumes of substrate inside them and plants growing therein.

In traditional open nursery boxes large numbers of seedlings, cuttings or the like are grown in a same large volume of substrate. Nowadays growers are however making more and more use of separate small volumes of substrate, like pre-shaped plugs, for each seedling to individually grow in. For that it is known to make use of compartmented trays that each comprise a plurality of growing containers that each delimit a growing space, one for each plant to grow in its own volume of substrate. This has shown to have several advantages. For instance, plants are more easy to singulate at the end of a growing phase without damaging roots of the plants. Furthermore, the planting, growing and singulating processes can be automated easier. Watering and feeding of the plants during their growing phase can for example be done by distributing water from above over the plants by using a spraying system, or by water being supplied from underneath by using ebb and flood watering systems.

However, when using compartmented trays, this may have the disadvantage that differences in moisture in adjacent volumes of substrate may occur due to something that is called the ‘umbrella effect’. This effect particularly starts to occur when plants have developed large enough leaves that cover a significant portion of their own volume of substrate below. The plant leaves then often also get to extend beyond the perimeter of their own volume of substrate and end above adjacent volumes of substrate. A same ‘umbrella effect’ may also occur for plants that are grown in distinctive growing containers. There also differences in moisture level may occur because of different sizes, shapes and ending positions of plant leaves above the volumes of substrate.

Due to this ‘umbrella effect’, during watering from above, water may directly arrive on top of the substrate material, some of the water however shall also arrive on the surfaces of the leaves themselves. This water shall slide down along the leaves and thus find its way to the substrate material below. For open nursery boxes this shall not lead to moisture differences between the plants, because there the plants share the one large volume of substrate and the plant roots have the ability to grow way further than only directly underneath their own plant

22. position. For compartmented trays or distinctive growing containers, some of the volumes of substrate then however are prone to be undersupplied with water, while others are prone to be oversupplied with water. Further it is noted that water which resides in the substrate material shall be gradually absorbed by the plants, but also shall start to evaporate due to heat that radiates from sunlight and/or artificial lighting on top of the substrate material. Due to the ‘umbrella effect’, then local evaporation speed may differ because of the plant leaves shading of portions of the substrate material. For open nursery boxes this again shall not directly lead to moisture differences between the plants, because there the plants share the one large volume of substrate. For compartmented trays or distinctive growing containers, this may lead to strongly differing rates of evaporation between the respective volumes of substrate. Some of the volumes of substrate that are more covered by leaves then may stay relatively wet, whereas others that are less covered by leaves run a bigger risk of getting too dry too quickly.

Furthermore it is noted that differences in moisture between volumes of substrate in a tray or likewise between volumes of substrate in distinctive growing containers, may also arise because of differences in airflow and local temperatures for the plants. For example, evaporation rates at edge sections of plant beds may be higher than at centre sections thereof. This may cause volumes of substrate at such edge sections to become too dry too quickly compared to ones at such edge sections.

Too dry or wet volumes of substrate may have an immediate negative effect on the plant's health and growing speed. It also may cause suboptimal microclimates to occur underneath the plant leaves. Another consequence of having too dry or wet volumes of substrate is that this makes it impossible to feed the plants with just the right amount of nutrients.

Thus, the use of separate volumes of substrate in trays but also in distinctive growing containers, has brought along its own set of challenges. This particularly goes for the growing of tropical plants with air roots such as Phaleanopsis and Anthurium. Being epiphytes, a species of plant that grows on other plants, both breeds prefer to be grown in an environment wherein air may flow around their roots and leaves. Epiphytes are therefore preferably grown in coarse substrate material that allows the ingress of air, such as pieces of bark, coconut shell or perlite. For their initial growing phase as seedling or cutting, however use is frequently made of small distinctive pre-shaped plugs.

For epiphytes a too moist volume of substrate is particularly disadvantageous because it may well cause the growth of its roots to stop, and could furthermore cause rotting or outbreaks of bacteria, fungi and/or insects.

Currently, plants growing in a greenhouse are frequently manually and visually inspected, such that when reaching the end of their growing period they can all be sold and

-3- delivered with a high and uniform quality. When during such inspection any defects are noticed, for example because of shortage or excess of moisture, this is truly difficult to fix for a grower during a remainder of the growing period, and thus may lead to some of the plants with their volumes of substrate ending up in a waste container.

Similar problems with non-uniform plant quality caused by moisture imbalance can also be seen at garden centres or garden departments of building stores, and other places where plants are for sale. In particular for smaller young plants in compartmented trays, like bedding material, there often are big differences in quality between such plants, even when a grower has delivered them with high uniform quality. This can for example be caused by personnel often merely globally and/or hastily watering the plants from above with a hose or sprinkling can. Partly due to the umbrella effect, and partly due to sometimes missing some plants altogether, the water requirements of some of the plants then are not always met, whereas others may become way too wet. After a short while, such plants can quickly start to weaken leading to clearly visible lesser quality. Those plants then have a negative impact on the quality image of the concerned store and growers. Further those plants are likely to stay behind, and sales are missed.

The present invention aims to at least partly overcome those disadvantages or to provide a usable alternative. In particular the invention aims to provide an affordable, reliable and user friendly method for growing plants.

According to the invention this aim is achieved by means of the method for growing plants according to claim 1. This method comprises a step of providing an assembly of growing containers that each have their own insertion opening, a step of inserting volumes of substrate via the insertion openings into the growing containers, a step of growing of plants in the volumes of substrate, and a step of watering and/or feeding the plants. According to the inventive thought the method further comprises a step of providing one or more moisture levelling elements to extend with connection portions between respective ones of the volumes of substrate, and a step of levelling out moisture differences between the volumes of substrate by means of the one or more moisture levelling elements after each watering and/or feeding during the growing of the plants.

The assembly of growing containers, the volumes of substrate inserted therein, the plants growing therein, and the moisture levelling elements then form a plant growing system that is designed to automatically level out any moisture differences between the volumes of substrate after each watering and/or feeding during the growing of the plants.

Advantageously, the provision and use of the moisture levelling elements between the distinctive volumes of substrate, has proven to yield superb uniform plant quality at ends of growing periods for large amounts of plants that each have been grown in their own

-4- distinctive dedicated volume of substrate. Healthy and strong plants can now be obtained by growers at reduced costs, and healthy and strong plants can now be maintained by sellers at higher profits. The one or more moisture levelling elements automatically level out any differences in moisture between the respective volumes of substrate, in particular by making them out of capillary material such that they form capillary connections. This way, moisture from volumes of substrate that are relatively moist, can and shall automatically be transported though the capillary moisture levelling elements to volumes of substrate that are relatively dry. The transport of moisture through such capillary connections takes place based upon capillary action, that is to say a too dry volume of substrate is able to automatically take in any excess water from too wet surrounding volumes of substrate. The water then shall automatically start to flow along the moisture levelling elements that connect those respective volumes of substrate without needing any assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity. This occurs because of cohesion forces between the water molecules, and adhesion forces between the water molecules and the capillary material out of which the moisture levelling elements are made of. With this a moisture levelling capacity/speed between respective plants can advantageously be accurately controlled by varying amounts and dimensions of the moisture levelling elements, but also by choosing suitable capillary material properties.

Owing to the moisture levelling elements, a risk of having volumes of substrate undersupplied or oversupplied with water can be strongly reduced, possibly even close to zero, and reliability and success rate for all growing plants to remain fit and healthy can substantially be improved. The ‘umbrella effect’ no longer directly negatively influence this. Another important advantage of the invention is that it has now also become possible to have each of the plants receive and be fed with just the right amount of nutrients.

Yet another advantage is that by employing the method according to the invention, the plants no longer need corrective watering. The one or more moisture levelling elements do their moisture levelling work fully automatically, which is time- and cost-saving for growers and sellers.

Also the invention makes it possible to make use of small distinctive pre-shaped plugs as volumes of substrate in which the plants are grown, without those plants then having to suffer from the ‘umbrella effect’. Particularly for vulnerable young plants, like seedlings and cuttings, this has appeared a big improvement.

The invention particularly is advantageous for the growing of epiphytes such as Phaleanopsis and Anthurium, because particularly there growers and sellers have to deal with negative effects of the ‘umbrella effect’ because of the specific shaping and dimensioning of the epiphytes plant leaves, that is to say elongate gutter-like shapes that are likely to grow past borders of their own small volumes of substrate, and because of the vulnerable air roots

-5- that such epiphyte plants are characterized by. Thus, owing to the invention, this is no longer any problem at all because any moisture differences after watering between adjacent volumes of substrate, get immediately and automatically corrected and thus no longer are able to damage the vulnerable air roots and thus result in different epiphyte plant qualities to arise. The moisture levelling elements thus particularly for that type of plants can advantageously be used to help to prevent some of the volumes of substrate to remain too wet too long, and thus help to refrain the vulnerable air roots from rotting, to keep the air roots well ventilated within their growing containers, and keep the epiphyte plants free from diseases and plagues.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of providing the moisture levelling elements and the step of levelling out the moisture differences takes place between one or more centrally positioned ones of the volumes of substrate in the assembly and multiple surrounding and/or adjacent ones thereof, in particular between one or more centrally positioned ones of the volumes of substrate in the assembly and at least four surrounding and/or adjacent ones thereof. Thus both central ones and edge zone ones of the plants in the assembly, are well able to profit from water surpluses and shortages in the respective volumes of substrate. Also it makes it possible to have each of the plants profit from large numbers of surrounding adjacent ones of the volumes of substrate, both in terms of moisture levelling as well as in terms of nutrient levelling. Also this may help to increase the rate at which the moisture levelling takes place. In practical tests, it turned out that by thus connecting each of the respective volumes of substrate with a plurality of their surrounding and/or adjacent ones, the moisture levelling leads to substantially uniform plants in the entire assembly.

In another preferred embodiment, the step of providing the moisture levelling elements may comprise a sub-step of pre-positioning the moisture levelling elements with their connection portions extending between the respective ones of the growing containers, and with insertion portions thereof extending over at least part of the insertion openings of the growing containers. By subsequently having the step of inserting the volumes of substrate into their respective growing containers take place, that is to say after the sub-step of pre- positioning the moisture levelling elements, the inserting of the volumes of substrate shall automatically force the insertion portions of the moisture levelling elements into the growing containers. Thus it can be guaranteed that all moisture levelling elements truly come to lie in contact with their respective inserted volumes of substrate. Another advantage of this is that the moisture levelling elements are also forced to conform themselves to outer shapes of the volumes of substrate. While the volumes of substrate get inserted into the growing containers, the moisture elements can get pushed/pulled along with them. It can thus be ensured that

-6- both not only absolutely come to lie in contact with one another, but also over a relative large contact surface area. This improves the reliability of the levelling out of any moisture differences between the volumes of substrate. Another advantage of providing the moisture levelling elements prior to inserting the volumes of substrate in the growing containers is that there is no chance of having an afterwards positioning of the moisture levelling elements being able to agitate and/or damage the plant. This has a positive effect on product quality.

In a first embodiment, the moisture levelling elements may comprise strings of capillary material that are pre-positioned with string-like connection portions extending in between the growing containers, and that are pre-positioned with string-like insertion portions extending above the insertion openings of the growing containers and/or already partly inside the growing containers. An advantage of using strings is that they allow for easy, quick and flexible positioning of the moisture levelling elements. Strings can easily be applied in all kinds of configurations, for instance in rows, columns, or zigzagging over the assembly of growing containers, and therefore may add to user-friendliness of the invention. Another advantage of using strings is that they can be stored and supplied efficiently using rolls, and cut to the appropriate dimensions during the step of pre-positioning them onto and/or through the assembly of growing containers. This allows efficient automation.

In a second embodiment, the moisture levelling elements may comprise sheets of capillary material that are pre-positioned with sheet-like connection portions extending in between the growing containers and that are pre-positioned with sheet-like insertion portions extending above the insertion openings of the growing containers and/or already partly inside the growing containers. An advantage of using sheets of capillary material is that they have relatively large surface areas. This improves the chance of moisture that is supplied from above and that falls onto and between the volumes of substrate to be absorbed and still be supplied to the volumes of substrate. Another advantage is that it makes applying the moisture levelling elements to the assembly of growing containers really easy. The sheets can simply be lied on top of the assemblies, after which the volumes of substrate can be simply be inserted through the sheet into their growing containers. This allows for efficient automation and adds to user friendliness of the invention. Furthermore, sheets are relatively easy and economical to manufacture in large quantities, and allow for efficient storing and transport through stacking.

In addition thereto, the sheets may comprise weakenings at aimed insertion positions for each of the volumes of substrate. An advantage of having such weakenings is that it makes the insertion process light and easy, while at a same time decreasing the chance of damaging the moisture levelling sheets during insertion of the volumes of substrate there through.

-7- In another preferred embodiment, the step of providing the moisture levelling elements may comprises a sub-step of pre-connecting or pre-manufacturing the connection portions of the moisture levelling elements with outer wall parts of the growing containers that delimit the insertion openings and that extend in between the respective growing containers, as well as pre-connecting or pre-manufacturing insertion portions of the moisture levelling elements with inner wall parts of the growing containers against which the volumes of substrate come to lie. The step of inserting the volumes of substrate then takes place after the sub-step of pre- connecting or pre-manufacturing the moisture levelling elements. With this the moisture levelling elements can for example be locally adhered upon specific inner and outer wall portions of the growing containers by means of an adhesive, or be locally printed upon specific inner and outer wall portions by means of a 3D-printing technique or the like, or be locally coated upon specific inner and outer wall portions by means of a coating technique. All this advantageously makes it possible to already fixedly apply the moisture levelling elements to the assembly of growing containers prior to setting up the plant growing system. This pre- applying of the moisture levelling elements may benefit the efficiency of the setup process by reducing the need to handle the trays and moisture levelling elements. Another advantage hereof is that the specific aimed positions for the moisture levelling elements cannot be disturbed during the inserting of the volumes of substrate.

In another preferred embodiment, the step of providing the moisture levelling elements may also take place after the step of inserting the volumes of substrate into the growing containers, in particular by inserting insertion portions of the moisture levelling elements into the respective ones of the volumes of substrate or in between and against inner wall parts of the growing containers and the volumes of substrate. The insertion portions, that for example can be formed by free ends of string-like moisture levelling elements, can then be inserted, for example by means of a piercing element, into volumes of substrate themselves or in between such volumes of substrate and inner container walls. This advantageously even can be done at any desired moment in time during a growing period. Also it can be a useful option when the assembly comprises distinctive growing containers that are placed interspaced from each other without being structurally connected with each other. The lengths of the connection portions then can easily be varied depending on the spacing between the containers.

In another preferred embodiment, the moisture levelling elements may merely extend with their insertion portions over and or inside upper parts of the growing containers. Thus the moisture levelling elements cannot get directly in contact with a support surface on top of

-8- which the assembly of growing containers is placed and which surface may well be somewhat soiled with dust or organic material. Thus the moisture levelling elements do not get prematurely blocked and are well able to keep on performing their aimed levelling function.

In another preferred embodiment, the one or more moisture levelling elements may form a matrix that has its connection portions extending in two or more horizontal directions. This particularly goes for the string variant in which distinctive strings can be positioned crossing each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the connection portions of the moisture levelling elements may extend over outer wall parts of the growing containers that delimit the insertion openings and that extend in between the respective growing containers. An advantage of this is that it allows water that is supplied from above and that falls onto those connection portions of the moisture levelling elements to also be absorbed. Water that would otherwise would get to fall in between the respective volumes of substrate and thus not be supplied to the plants can now advantageously also be accumulated and then transported via the moisture levelling elements towards the volumes of substrate with the plants. Another advantage of this is that the moisture levelling elements then may be visible from above, which increases the chance of detecting anomalies such as wrongful placement, or a need for replacement, repair, maintenance or the like. Another advantage hereof is that it makes it possible to freely (pre- )position the moisture levelling elements on top of the assembly of growing containers. This simplifies the process of preparing the plant growing system, and therefore adds to the user friendliness of the method.

In a variant the moisture levelling elements may also be shielded from direct irradiation from sunlight or artificial light from above. This may help to prevent them from drying out and/or reduce evaporation of moisture directly out of those connection portions of the moisture levelling elements themselves. The shielding can for example be obtained by having the moisture levelling elements extend through wall portions of the growing containers into them. The connection portions then can be partly or entirely covered by outer wall parts of the growing containers that delimit the insertion openings and that extend in between the respective growing containers.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention is used in combination with a periodic watering of the plant growing systems with their moisture levelling elements periodically from above. It is however also possible for the invention to be combined with an ebb and flood watering system, a dripping system, or the like.

-9- Preferably, the moisture levelling elements and/or the volumes of substrate do not get permanently connected to a water reservoir. An advantage of this is that the moisture levelling elements then only get used for levelling out any moisture differences between the volumes of substrate. In this way, at maximum only a predefined quantity of water that has been given to the plants during watering has to be levelled between the volumes of substrate. The moisture levelling elements can thus be dimensioned relative thin, compact and cheap, because relatively small amounts of water have to be transported over relatively small distances. Furthermore, this not having the moisture levelling elements be connected to a water reservoir, is important because otherwise volumes of substrate that would lie closest to such a water reservoir would inevitably get to be relatively wet for long periods of time, whereas ones that would lie furthest away from such a water reservoir could quickly become too dry. Finally, the lack of needing a water reservoir reduces space requirements and costs for the plant growing system, as well as the risk of having the water reservoir contaminated with algae, fungi and/or bacteria.

The volumes of substrate can for example be formed by pre-shaped plugs, possibly with seedlings or cuttings already held therein. It is however also possible to fill the growing containers with loose substrate material.

The growing containers are preferably made from a plastic material that is non-capillary of itself. It can however also be made from other materials that are unable to perform the function of levelling out moisture differences themselves.

The invention preferably is used in combination with assemblies of growing containers that together form a unit, like a tray. For that loose growing containers can be placed in a holder that keeps them neatly apart. The growing containers may also have flanges/rims that delimit/circumvent upper insertion openings of the containers. Those flanges/rims then even may merge with each other for having the assembly of growing containers form one integrally made compartmented tray.

Further preferred embodiments are stated in the dependent sub-claims.

The invention also relates to a plant growing system as well as to a pre-manufactured assembly of growing containers, that comprises one or more moisture levelling elements that are pre-positioned with connection portions extending between the respective growing

-10 - containers and with insertion portions extending over at least part of insertion openings of the growing containers and/or into the growing containers.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - fig. 1a shows a schematic perspective partial view of a first embodiment of the invention, wherein string-like moisture levelling elements are pre-positioned to extend over upper openings of and into growing containers that together form a compartmented tray; - fig. 1b shows a schematic cross sectional view of fig. 1a, and furthermore shows the step of inserting volumes of substrate into the respective growing containers; - fig. 2a shows the view of fig. 1b during watering and depicting moisture differences between the volumes of substrate caused by the umbrella effect; - fig. 2b shows the view of fig. 2a during levelling out of the moisture differences between the volumes of substrate; 16 - fig. 3a, b show the views of fig. 1a, 1b for a second embodiment wherein the string-like moisture levelling elements are pre-positioned to extend through upper wall portions of the growing containers; - fig. 4a shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment wherein a matrix of growing containers that are formed by separate plant pots placed within a holder and that are connected by multiple string-like moisture levelling elements; - fig. 4b shows a schematic partial cross sectional view of fig. 4a; - fig. 5a shows a schematic perspective partial view of a fourth embodiment wherein a sheet- like moisture levelling element is positioned to extend over upper insertion openings of growing containers that together form a compartmented tray, and furthermore shows a volume of substrate already positioned above a corner one of the growing containers; - fig. 5b shows a schematic cross sectional view of fig. 5a, and furthermore shows the step of inserting volumes of substrate into the respective growing containers; - fig. 6a shows a schematic perspective view of a fifth embodiment wherein moisture levelling elements have been fixedly pre-connected to the growing containers, and -fig. 6b shows a schematic cross sectional view of fig. 6a.

Figures 1 — 6 show different views and details of several embodiments of the invention. Different embodiments of the same genus have been given the same reference numerals.

Before the start of a grow cycle, a grower starts by providing an assembly of growing containers 1 which open out upwardly, that is to say have insertion openings at their upper ends. In figure 1a, a first embodiment is shown of an assembly of growing containers 1 that

-11 - together form an integral plant tray, for example an injection moulded plastic plant tray, of which only some of the growing containers are depicted. Each of the growing containers here is frustoconical shaped. The tray is provided with gutters 2 that extend in between the containers at the upper ends of circumferential walls 3 thereof at 90 degree intervals.

In a next step, moisture levelling elements 4 are provided for levelling out moisture differences between volumes of substrate 5 in the growing containers. The moisture levelling elements 4 are typically made of a material that enables moisture levelling between the volumes of substrate 5, that is to say a capillary material such as paper or cotton.

In the first embodiment shown in figure 1, the assembly of growing containers 1 is provided with capillary strings, also referred to as water wicks, as moisture levelling elements 4 that are positioned to extend with so-called connection portions partially through the gutters 2, and with so-called insertion portions partially hanging as loops over edges wall parts that delimit upper insertion openings and down into the growing containers. Figure 1a furthermore depicts that distinctive strings have been pre-positioned to extend over each row and column of the assembly. Thus the strings also extend between all centrally positioned ones 6 of the growing containers in the assembly and its multiple surrounding adjacent ones 7. In this case, the strings each time extend between all centrally positioned ones of the growing containers 6 and four surrounding adjacent ones 7. In a next step, the volumes of substrate 5 with plants already growing therein are inserted into each of the growing containers (see figure 1b). The volumes of substrate 5 are embodied here by pre-formed frustoconical plugs, for example glued amounts of substrate material or clods of soil. Figure 1b shows an embodiment wherein the insertion portions of the strings are pre-positioned to extend as free hanging loops into each growing container substantially along inner sides of the circumferential walls 3 and along base walls 11 thereof. Subsequently the volumes of substrate 5 can be inserted into the growing containers. This can be done one at a time, but also can be done per row or multiple rows simultaneously. The insertion causes forces to be exerted by the volumes of substrate 5 on the pre-positioned strings, thereby partially forcing the strings somewhat further into the growing containers. This causes each string to come to lie tight in between the respective volumes of substrate 5 and the circumferential walls 3 of the growing containers. Owing to this it can be guaranteed that the loop insertion portions of the strings come to lie in close contact with the volumes of substrate 5 by having them tightly pulled downward by their inserted volumes of substrate 5, and thus each getting to extend along their respective circumferential wall 3 on a first side 9, continue to extend along their respective base wall 11, and from there continue to extend along their respective circumferential wall 3 at a second side 10 opposite the first side 9. In between neighbouring growing containers, the connection portions of the strings extend through the gutters 2. This gives them well defined and somewhat protected positions

-12 - on the tray. When seen from above, the strings form a matrix extending cross-wise between the volumes of substrate 5 in the assembly of growing containers 1. In a next step, the plants are periodically watered, here from above. In figure 2a droplets of water 12 are depicted as coming from above, resembling water supplied by a sprinkler system. As the water 12 descends onto the leaves of the plant 8, specific local arrangement of those leaves may cause the water to follow a trajectory 13 that ends into a volume of substrate 5 of an adjacent plant 8. As indicated by the hatched areas 14a, 14b, this aspect of the ‘umbrella effect’ may cause differences in moisture to emerge between the volumes of substrate 5.

When such moisture differences have arisen during watering, those moisture differences shall automatically get levelled out between the volumes of substrate 5 in the growing containers by means of the strings. As indicated by arrow 15 in figure 2b, moisture from a relatively moist volume of substrate 5a shall automatically start to flow through those strings that have their insertion portions lying against it, and then via the connection portions of the strings towards an adjacent relative dry volume of substrate 5b. In the planting tray as depicted in figure 1a, this levelling automatically takes place between each of the volumes of substrate 5 in the assembly and two to four surrounding adjacent ones 6, 7 thereof. Over time, the moisture differences between all of the volumes of substrate 5 can thus automatically be levelled out quickly without anything additional needing to be done by a grower or the like, and each volume of substrate gets to become substantially equally moist. This leads to substantially equally healthy and strong plants in the entire tray.

Figure 3a depicts a second embodiment of the invention wherein the moisture levelling elements 4 still are formed by capillary strings, but which strings now extend partially through the circumferential walls 3. With this the crossing strings are pre-positioned by being laced through holes 16 that are provided in upper portions 3’ of the circumferential walls 3 of each of the growing containers at 90 degree intervals.

In figure 3b it can be seen that the insertion portions of the strings are now pre- positioned as smaller loops that hang less deep into the growing containers. This causes the strings to be pulled along during the insertion of the volumes of substrate 5 over longer insertion heights. This makes it even necessary for new portions of the strings to get pulled into the growing containers, which thus may lead to even more tightly pulled insertion portions around the volumes of substrate 5. This further may improve the reliability of having good moisture transferring contact between the volumes of substrate and the strings. Furthermore itis noted that the connection portions of the strings now lie in shielded positions underneath integral flange parts of the tray that extend in between its growing containers.

-13 - Figure 4a depicts a third embodiment of the invention wherein free end portions of relative short capillary strings have been inserted as insertion portions of moisture levelling elements 4 directly into two adjacent volumes of substrate 5, while extending with intermediate connection portions freely over upper edges of the growing containers in between such adjacent volumes of substrate 5. In this embodiment, the free end portions can advantageously get pressed into the volumes of substrate 5 after those have already been inserted into the growing containers.

The assembly of growing containers 1 is formed here by a plurality of distinctive plant pots that are held together by a plate with holes for each of the plant pots to be placed in.

Figure 5a depicts a fourth embodiment of the invention wherein a capillary sheet is used as moisture levelling element 4. Here, the sheet has length and width dimensions that are complementary with ones of a compartmented plant tray 20. A pattern of insertion weakenings 17 is provided in the sheet, which pattern corresponds with aimed insertion positions for the volumes of substrate 5 into the growing containers of the plant tray 20. The insertion weakenings 17 here are in the form of crossed cut lines. As is shown in figure 5a and 5b, four quart-circular flaps 18 make up the sheet material between the insertion weakenings 17. During inserting of the volumes of substrate 5 through the sheet, the insertion weakenings 17 shall be forced to get torn, and the flaps 18 are automatically pushed into the respective growing containers.

The sheet is furthermore provided with singulation weakenings 21 extending midway the rows and columns of aimed insertion positions. These singulation weakenings 21 may aid a singulating of the plants with their roots growing inside their respective volumes of substrate 5 at the end of a growing period. The distinctive plants then can easily be removed from their respective growing containers without running a risk of the sheet standing in the way of that. In a similar manner such singulation weakenings can also be provided inside the connection portions of the strings in the first, second or third embodiments.

Figure 6a shows a fifth embodiment of the invention wherein short moisture levelling elements are fixedly connected to upper wall portions of adjacent growing containers that together form a compartmented tray. This can be done by using an adhesive and/or printing techniques.

In figure 6b it can be seen that the moisture levelling elements 4 here are formed by relative thick-walled elongate capillary strips that extend between the growing containers on upper flanges/rims, and partly into two adjacent growing containers along upper parts of their circumferential walls 3.

-14 - It should be noted that in each of the five embodiments depicted, the capillary strings, sheet and strips are not and do not get permanently connected to a dedicated water reservoir. This is undesirable because it would stand in the way of the volumes of substrate getting automatically levelled out for possible moisture differences after being watered.

Further it should be noted that the growing containers can be provided with all kinds of profiled circumferential side walls and/or base walls, and that the base walls can be provided with one or more water inlet/outlet openings via which excess water during watering can quickly drain a way again, for example when use is made of ebb and flood watering systems.

Besides the embodiments shown numerous variants are possible. For example the dimensions and shapes of the various parts can be altered. Also it is possible to make combinations between advantageous aspects of the shown embodiments. All kinds of materials can be used for making the growing containers and the moisture levelling elements. Preferably those materials are biodegradable and/or recyclable. The moisture levelling elements preferably are made out of a flexible material, but may also be rigid. The moisture levelling elements may also comprise a gradually nutrient-releasing substance. Like what is already shown for the sheet embodiment, the string type moisture levelling elements may also extend between larger numbers of surrounding and/or adjacent volumes of substrate. Pre-shaped substrate plugs are preferably used as volumes of substrate because they can be inserted as one into the growing spaces. The substrate may however also be loose soil, bark, hydro beads, etc. The plant growing system according to the invention may also be used to level out moisture differences of other types of fluids than pure water. Rather than extending through holes at the upper ends of the growing containers, the string-like elements may also extend through holes that are positioned at bottom ends or any other height along the circumferential walls. The string-like elements may also comprise branches allowing them to connect even larger numbers of growing containers. Furthermore, the free ends of the strings can be provided with pointed and/or weighted ends that are designed to have them penetrate into a volume of substrate more easily. The weakenings may be provided as intermittently cut tearing edges or half-through cut lines.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and therefore will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

-15 - Thus according to the invention, a user-friendly plant growing method and system are provided that make it possible to grow plants, in particular young epiphytes, of improved uniform quality, at reduced costs, and with increased reliability.

Claims (15)

CONCLUSIONS Method for growing plants (8), comprising the steps of: - providing an assembly of growth containers (1), each of which has an insertion opening; - introducing volumes of substrate (5) through the insertion openings in the growth containers; - growing plants (8) in the volumes of substrate (5); and - watering and / or feeding the plants (8); characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: - providing one or more moisture leveling elements (4) to extend with connecting parts between respective one of the volumes of substrates (5); and - leveling moisture differences between the volumes of substrates (5) by means of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) after each watering and / or feeding during the cultivation of the plants (8). A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing one or more moisture leveling elements (4) and the step of leveling moisture differences takes place between one or more centrally positioned volumes (6) of the volumes of substrates (5). ) in the assembly and a plurality of surrounding and / or adjacent volumes (7) thereof, in particular between one or more centrally positioned volumes (8) of the volumes of substrates (5) in the assembly and at least four surrounding and / or adjacent volumes (7) thereof. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of providing the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprises a sub-step of: - pre-positioning the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) with the connecting parts extending between the respective growth containers and with insertion parts extending over at least a portion of the insertion openings of the growth containers, the step of introducing the volumes of substrates (5) taking place after the sub-step of pre-positioning the one or more moisture leveling elements so that the volumes of substrates (5) press the insertion parts of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) into the growth containers. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprise one or more cords of capillary material which are pre-positioned with cord-like connecting members extending between the growth containers and those pre-primed. are positioned with cord-like insertion parts extending above the insertion openings of the growth containers and / or already partially inside the growth containers. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprise one or more sheets of capillary material that are pre-positioned with sheet-like connecting members extending between the growth containers and that are pre-positioned with sheet-like material. like insertion parts extending above the insertion openings of the growth containers, in particular with weakenings provided in the sheet-like insertion parts at provided insertion positions for the respective volumes of substrates (5). A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of providing the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprises a sub-step of: - pre-bonding or pre-manufacturing the connecting parts of the one or more moisture leveling elements elements (4) having outer wall portions of the growth containers defining the insertion openings and extending between the respective growth containers, as well as pre-bonding or prefabrication of insertion portions of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) with inner wall portions of the growth containers against which the volumes of substrates (5) come to lie, the step of introducing the volumes of substrates (5) taking place after the sub-step of pre-bonding or pre-fabrication of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4). Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of providing the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) takes place after the step of introducing the volumes of substrates (5) into the growth containers, in particular by introducing of insertion parts of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) into the respective volumes of substrates (5) or between and against inner wall portions of the growth containers and the volume substrates (5). Plant growth system for use in the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: - an assembly of growth containers (1) each having an insertion opening; - volumes of substrates (5) inside the growth containers; and - plants (8) growing in the volumes of substrates (5), characterized in that the system further comprises: - one or more moisture leveling elements (4) extending with connecting parts between respective volumes of substrates (5 ) for leveling the moisture difference Between volumes of substrates (5) after each watering and / or feeding during the cultivation of the plants (8). Plant growth system according to claim (8), wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) extend with the connecting parts between one or more centrally positioned volumes (6) of the volumes of substrates (5) in the assembly and a plurality of surrounding and / or adjacent volumes (7) thereof, in particular between one or more centrally positioned volumes (8) of the volumes of substrates (5) in the assembly and at least four surrounding and / or nearby located volumes (7) thereof. Plant growth system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprise one or more cords of capillary material extending with cord-like connecting parts between the growth containers (1) and extending with cord-like insertion parts in the respective volumes of substrates (5) or between and against inner wall parts of growth containers and the volumes of substrates (5), in particular with cord-like loop-shaped insertion parts extending between two connecting parts. Plant growth system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) comprise one or more sheets of capillary material extending with sheet-like connecting parts between the growth containers and extending with sheet like insertion parts between and against inner wall parts of growth containers and the volumes of substrates (5). Plant growth system according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) form a matrix having its connecting parts extending in two or more horizontal directions. Plant growth system according to any one of the preceding claims 8-12, wherein the connecting parts of the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) extend over outer wall parts of the growth containers defining and extending the insertion openings. extend between the respective growth containers. Plant growth system according to any one of the preceding claims 8-14, wherein the one or more moisture leveling elements (4) and / or the volumes of substrates (5) are non-permanently connected to a water reservoir. 15. A prefabricated assembly of growing containers (1}, in particular a combined compartmentalized tray, comprising one or more moisture leveling elements (4) that are pre-positioned with connecting parts extending between the respective growth containers and with insertion parts extending over at least a portion of insertion openings of the growth containers and / or in the growth containers, for use in the method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-7 and in the system according to any of the preceding claims 8-14.