NL2023613B1

NL2023613B1 - Packaged plant, method for maintaining freshness to plants, method for packaging plants, plant package and device for packaging plants

Info

Publication number: NL2023613B1
Application number: NL2023613A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Kurt Andersen Jørgen
Original assignee: Gartneriet Thoruplund As Fraugde
Priority date: 2019-08-06
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2021-02-16

Abstract

Described is a living plant package, comprising a plant, at least comprising one or more stems and one or more flowers and/or leaves grown from the said stem, the said plant being packaged in a closed plastic foil, defining a closed inner space accommodating the plant, the foil comprising micro-perforations of 1 — 200 um, allowing exchange of at least oxygen and carbon dioxide through the said perforations between the inner space and the environment, as well as a method for packaging a living plant into such a living plant package, package material for the preparation of such a living plant package, a method for maintaining freshness to a living plant, and a device for the preparation of such living plant packages.

Description

Packaged plant, method for maintaining freshness to plants, method for packaging plants, plant package and device for packaging plants The invention relates to a living plant package, comprising a plant, at least comprising a stem and one or more flowers and/or leaves grown from the said stem, to a method for packaging a living plant into such a living plant package, to package material for the preparation of such a living plant package, to a method for maintaining freshness to a living plant, and to a device for the preparation of such living plant packages.

In the art, plants are often being wrapped in a plastic foil when being shipped from the plant grower to the florists or when being sold by the florist to the end user. The foil protects the plants from being damaged during transportation and also defines the separate plant units, allowing compact arrangement of the plant without becoming intertangled with one another.

Such plant packages are known e.g. for single cut flowers, for flower bouquets and for potted plants. Therefore, the term ‘plant’ herein is used for a plant that comprises one or more stems and one or more flowers and/or leaves grown from the said stem. Accordingly, a single rose as cut flower, or a bouquet of cut flowers are defined as plant herein. The term ‘plant’ also encompasses a plant, comprising one or more stems, one or more leaves and roots grown from the said stem or stems, such as a plant that is viable when potted in potting soil. Such plant may or may not have flowers when being wrapped in the foil.

In the art, plant packages comprising plastic foil are known, wherein the plants as defined above are packaged in cylindrically or conically shaped sleeves of plastic foil, such as polypropylene. The upper part, and often also the lower part of the said package is open in order to allow the plant to breathe. However, while being packed in the plant package, the plant itself tends to dry out as the amount of water present in the package is limited, and the water can easily evaporate out of the package. Further, the plants are vulnerable to environmental effects, e.g. the presence of harmful compounds, that may be present in the air, such as ethylene, in particular when such plant packages are kept in the vicinity of fruits. For larger supermarkets having a florist section, it is up to now difficult, or impossible to offer flowers at a location close to the section where vegetables and fruits are displayed, although from a marketing point of view, the presentation of flowers close to the vegetable and fruit section is desired.

A plant package where the plastic foil is closed around the plant has hitherto not been an option, as this would block the free gas and damp exchange between the plant and the environment. The plant would simply suffocate with the hermetically sealed package.

So an improved plant package is desired.

The invention now provides a living plant package, comprising a living plant, the said plant at least comprising one or more stems and one or more flowers and/or leaves grown from the said stem or stems, the said plant being packaged in a closed plastic foil, defining a closed inner space accommodating the plant, the foil comprising micro-perforations of 1 — 200 um, allowing exchange of at least oxygen and carbon dioxide through the said perforations between the inner space and the environment.

By confining the plant in a closed inner space, Gas and damp exchange between the environment and the closed inner space is limited, so that the plant package will lose less water by evaporation, resulting in a longer shelf life of the living plant. Gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the inner space and the environment is still possible, allowing the plant to breathe. Further, the closed inner space protects the plant against negative effects of ethylene molecules that may be present in the environment. The package also protects the living plant from microbial attack.

Polymeric foils having the above-described perforations are as such known in the art since the late nineties of the 20!" century for packaging fruits and vegetables, see e.g. Hussein, Food Packaging and Shelf Life 6 (2015) 7 — 20. However, such packaging materials have never been suggested for living plants.

In an attractive embodiment, the living plant of the plant package is comprises roots grown from the stem. Such plants can be readily potted in potting soil by the florist or the end customer. However, single cut flowers or bouquets of cut flowers can be confined in the living plant package as well. The plant package may comprise means envisaged to provide liquid growth medium to the plant, such as water, a water supplemented with one or more nutrients or other functional additives. Such means can e.g. comprise a gel or a superabsorber, or a combination thereof, capable of absorbing a significant amount of liquid medium and capable of releasing the said medium therefrom upon demand of the plant. In case of cut flowers, the cut stems are preferably put in the said gel/absorber, in case of rooted plants, the roots are preferably in contact with the said means in order to withdraw liquid medium from the gel/absorber. Suitable absorbers are known in the art, such as e.g. Luquasorb, BASF, Germany, or Geohumus, Geohumus, Germany.

In a particular embodiment, the living plant, packaged in the living plant package has been rooted and grown in a substrate before being packaged, the inner space of the package comprising the plant and at least a portion of the said substrate. Such a living plant has extended freshness and longevity as compared to known plant packages. In particular, the inner space of the package comprises a pot accommodating the substrate of the plant grown therein, therewith providing a ready- to-use plant for the end customer. Such plants can be any ornamental plant offered for sale by the florist, but can also be a herb, such as basil, parsley, chives, etcetera. In particular these herbs are offered for sale in supermarkets at the fruit and vegetable section, and are therewith exposed to the ethylene produced by the ripening and ripe fruits of that section.

In an attractive embodiment, the plant of the living plant package is an ornamental plant. Ornamental plants should be displayed to the end customer in an optimal aesthetic shape, having the highest ornamental value possible. The plant package provides optimal conditions to arrive at such conditions.

The killed person will be aware of suitable polymeric materials to be used as plastic foil in the plant package of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the foil of the living plant package of the invention comprises one or more layers being chosen from cellulose, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, ethyl vinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polylactic acid. The polymeric foil preferably comprises polyethylene, such as casted polypropylene, more preferably oriented polypropylene, even more preferred biaxially oriented polypropylene, such as Rincel MXM-AF from Casfil, Portugal. The foil can also be a laminate, e.g. comprising an anti-fog layer and/or a heat seal layer, or a layer suitable for printing. The foil can e.g. optionally be treated with an anti-dew treatment if desired.

In an attractive embodiment, the foil is biodegradable, such as a cellulose film, e.g. NatureFlex NVS from Futamura, Japan.

The polymeric film is preferably transparent, so that the customer can see the living plant inside the package. However, it can be advantageous to use opaque films,

such as black polyethylene, when light should not or to a very limited extend enter the inner space. The micro-perforations of the plastic foil of the living plant package of the invention preferably have a diameter of 20 — 180 um, more preferably of 50 — 150 um, more preferably of 80 — 120 um. At such diameters, gas exchange between the inner space of the living plant package and the environment is possible, whereas evaporation of the water within the package is highly limited. Very attractively, the plastic foil comprises 10 — 5000 perforations per m?, more preferably 25 — 1000 perforations per m?, even more preferably 30 — 500 perforations per m2, therewith allowing optimal gas exchange between the inner space of the living plant package and the environment. The number of perforations per m? will have a direct effect on the permeability of the foil for gas exchange. A higher number of perforations can be attractive for packaging plants that need a high level of gas exchange, whereas other plants may need less perforations.

Advantageously, the perforations in the foil are arranged in a linear fashion to provide one or more perforation lines. The foil preferably comprises multiple perforation lines, arranged in parallel to one another, the multiple perforation lines preferably being spaced way from one another by a regular spacing distance. Although alternative arrangements of the perforations are possible, the linear arrangements as discussed are conveniently applied to the polymeric foil, and allows to provide a plastic foil with the envisaged number of perforations in an accurate manner. To this end, the perforation lines are preferably oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the plant. The ‘axis of the plant’ corresponds to the direction of the main stem extension of the plant, as will be apparent to the skilled person.

The living plant package preferably comprises two substantially parallelly extending foil portions, the two foil portions being connected to one another around the plant in a closing manner. Although it is also possible to use a continuous tube shaped foil and to close the said tube shaped foil with an upper and a lower closure, therewith defining a closed space therebetween wherein the living plant can be accommodated, it is of practical benefit to use two substantially parallelly extending foil portions, and to connect these foil portions to one another, in particular by welding. The skilled person will be aware of suitable welding techniques to provide a closed seal between the two foil portions.

In particular, the two foil portions are welded to one another by a first and second weld, both welds extending coaxially to the axis of the plant, the first and second welds being positioned on opposite sides from the axis of the plant, defining a first and a second connection between the foil segments, respectively. By these welds, 5 the inner space of the plant package is laterally closed.

In an embodiment, the first and second welds extend substantially parallel to one another, therewith defining a tube shaped inner space of the plant package. Such a design of the plant package is advantageous for packaging single cut flowers, or plants that extend substantially in axial direction, such as Sansevieria.

In another embodiment, the first and second welds extend in a rejuvenating manner along the axis of the plant towards the bottom part of the plant. This arrangement provides a plant package that has a large upper opening and a small bottom part, allowing convenient entry of the plant into the inner space of the plant package. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for bouquet of cut flowers and for plants that grow in lateral direction.

Attractively, the two foil portions are part of a single foil segment, the said foil segment being folded over a fold, the said fold dividing the foil segment in the two foil portions, and defining a folding connection between the foil portions. In this arrangement, the fold defines one of the connections between the two foil portions without the need for welding of this connection. To this end, the first and second welds preferably extend to cover the fold, therewith providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection. The fold preferably defines the bottom of the inner space of the plant package, both the first and second welds extending in a direction perpendicular to the said fold. As in this embodiment the welds extend to cover the fold, the transition between the fold and the welds are closed, and no water will leak out. It is however also possible to apply a weld between two separate foil portions instead of, or in addition to the fold.

The plant package preferably comprises a third weld, connecting the first and second welds to one another, therewith providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection. The third weld is intended to weld the first and second foil portions above the plant, and provides a continuous connection of the two foil portions between the first and second connection, starting at the first weld, via the third weld, to the second weld. This third weld closes the top portion of the inner space of the plant package. In case the bottom of the inner space of the plant package is defined by a weld instead of or in addition to a fold as explained above, said weld is defined herein as the fourth weld.

The plant package as described above can also be incorporated in a package cover, e.g. made of card board, conferring increased strength to the package, and allowing the application of printed information and/or decoration on the said cover. The present invention also relates to a method for packaging a living plant in a living plant package as defined herein, comprising the steps of: a) providing a plant as defined herein, b) providing a foil as defined herein, c) positioning the foil around the plant, d) connecting the foil together so as to provide a closed inner space accommodating the plant.

The closed inner space is obtained by connecting the foil together. This can be done e.g. by using an adhesive tape, sealing the foil connections. It is also possible to provide the foil as a tube, either as a tube shaped foil, or by connecting two opposed sides of a rectangular foil section with adhesive tape or by a weld in a sealing manner. The thus obtained tubular foil or foil section defines an inner space, wherein the plant is inserted. Both below and above the plant, the inner space can be closed e.g.by making a knot in the tube, or by welding the tube wall together, or closing it with an adhesive tape.

In a preferred embodiment however, two substantially parallelly extending foil portions are provided in step b), and in step c) the plant is positioned between the said two foil portions, and in step d) the two portions of the foil are connected to one another around the plant in a closing manner. As discussed above, the foil portion can be connected to one another in a closing manner by the use of adhesive tape or, preferably, by welding the foil portions to one another.

In an attractive embodiment, in step d) the two foil portions are welded to one another by a first and second weld, both welds extending in axial direction of the plant, the first and second welds being positioned on opposite sides from the axis of the plant, defining a first and a second connection between the foil segments, respectively. By these welds, the inner space of the plant package is laterally closed.

In one embodiment, the first and second welds extend substantially parallel to one another. Such a design of the plant package is advantageous for packaging single cut flowers, or plants that extend substantially in axial direction, such as Sansevieria.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second welds extend in a rejuvenating manner along the axis of the plant towards the bottom part of the plant. This arrangement of the first and second weld allows convenient entry of the plant into the inner space of the plant package in step c). Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for bouquet of cut flowers and for plants that grow in lateral direction.

As discussed above, in step bj, the foil is folded to provide the two substantially parallelly extending foil portions on both sides of the fold. By this measure, the fold provides a connection between the foil portions in a closed manner.

In an attractive embodiment, in step c), step plant is positioned between the two foil portions such, that the one or more leaves and or flowers are directed away from the fold, i.e. the fold defining the lower, or bottom part of the inner space of the plant package. To this end, both first and second welds extend to cover the fold, providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection, i.e. the first and second welds.

AS discussed above, in step d) the two foil portions are preferably welded to one another by a third weld, connecting the first and second welds to one another opposite from the fold, therewith providing the inner space.

The invention also relates to package material for the preparation of a living plant package as described above, comprising two substantially parallelly extending foil portions, the two foil portions being connected to one another in a closed fashion at a bottom portion, the foil on opposite sides being welded towards the bottom portion, so as to provide an inner space between both foil portions, the said inner space being open on the side opposite of the bottom portion, allowing a plant to be brought in the inner space and to allow the foil to be welded in a closed fashion by welding the two foil portions above the top of the plant between the opposite welds. In an attractive embodiment, the opposite welds extend substantially parallel to one another towards the bottom portion, and in another embodiment, the opposite welds extend in a rejuvenating manner towards the bottom portion. In a particularly attractive embodiment, the bottom portion is defined by a fold between two substantially parallelly extending foil portions.

The invention also relates to a method for maintaining freshness to a living plant, at least comprising a stem and one or more flowers and/or leaves grown from the said stem, the method comprising packaging the said one or more plants in a closed plastic foil, defining a closed inner space comprising the one or more plants,

the foil comprising micro-perforations of 1 — 200 um, allowing exchange of at least oxygen and carbon dioxide through the said perforations between the inner space and the environment. The foil is preferably as described above. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of living plant packages as described above, comprising: a. means for feeding two substantially parallelly longitudinally extending foil portions, the said foil portions having a top side and a bottom side, in a transport direction, the transport direction being substantially perpendicular to the bottom side en top side of the foil portions, b. means for sealing the two foil portions from the top side towards the bottom side in a closing manner by a plurality of welds spaced away from one another, two adjacent welds forming an inner space between the two foil portions, with an open top between the foil portions, c. optionally, means for welding the two foil portions at the bottom in a closing manner, d. means for providing a plant in the space between the foil portions, e. means for welding the top of the two foil portions, for welding the two foil portions above the top of the plant between the two adjacent welds in a closing manner, for closing the inner space at the top, the plant being packaged in the closed inner space, f. transport means for transporting the packaged plant in transport direction, g. cutting means for cutting the two foil portions upstream the welds made by the sealing means so as to separate the packaged plant from the remaining foil portions upstream of the cutting means.

The device of the invention can e.g. be based on existing packaging machines that are capable of welding plastic foil and filling the packages with content. It is to be understood that the living plants to be packaged need special attention and in particular the step d) of providing the plant in the space between the foil portions is a delicate one. The plants should not be harmed in any way during the process steps.

For example packaging machine Yukon PE series from Delfin, Italy may be used as basis for a device of the present invention.

The means for sealing the two foil portions from the top portion towards the bottom portion in a closing manner, are preferably arranged to provide adjacent welds in a rejuvenating manner towards the bottom portion.

The device may also comprise means for applying the micro-perforations in the foil. In this embodiment, an unperforated foil can be fed to the device. The invention is now further illustrated by way of the following figures, wherein Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a plant package of the invention. Figure 2 shows a cross section of a foil segment, usable in the device of figure

3. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a device for preparation of a plant package of figure 1. In figure 1, a living plant package of the invention is indicated by 1. The living plant package comprises a living plant 2, comprising stems 2a, flowers 2b, leaves 2c and roots 2d grown from the said stems, the axis of the main stem is depicted as a vertical dashed line. The plant 2 is packaged in a closed plastic foil 3, defining a closed inner space 4 accommodating the plant 2. Micro-perforations are present in the foil as a perforation line 303. The plant package comprises two foil portions that substantially extend parallel to one another, and both portions define the front and back side of the plant package. Therefore, only the front portion 31 is shown. The two foil portions 31 are welded to one another by a first weld 51 and a second weld 52, both welds extending coaxially to the axis of the plant 2, and defining a first and second connection between the foil segments, respectively, the first and second welds 51, 52 being positioned on opposite sides from the axis of the plant 2, defining a first and a second connection between the foil segments, respectively. The first and second welds 51, 52 extend in a rejuvenating manner along the axis of the plant towards the bottom part of the plant 2. The welds can also extend substantially parallel to one another, then defining a more or less cylindrical inner space. The bottom part of the plant package is formed by a fold 6, that divide a single foil segment in the front side and back side portions of foil 3. The perforation line 303 extends substantially parallel to the fold 6. The first and second welds 51, 52 extend to cover the fold 6, therewith providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection of the foil portions. The fold extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the plant. Instead of a fold, two separate foil portions can be welded together. The top side of the inner space is closed by a third weld 53, connecting the first and second welds to one another, therewith providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection.

Figure 2 shows the foil 3 of the plant package, with foil section 30 that comprises two substantially parallelly extending foil portions, front side portion 31 and back side portion 32, connected to one another via fold 6. So both foil portions 31 and 32, are from a single piece of folded foil.

In the figure, both foil portions are taken away from one another to generate an inner space 40, yet open at the top 41. Through this opening, a plant can be inserted in the inner space 40 (vertical arrow). Figure 3 shows device 10, comprising a roll of polymeric plastic foil 30, having a top side 301 and a bottom side 302. The foil is folded at the bottom side 302 into two halves, corresponding with the cross-section of figure 2. The foil is transported into the device by transport means in a transport direction (horizontal arrow), and the folded foil passes means 7 for sealing the two foil portions from the top side towards the bottom side in a closing manner.

Sealing means 7 apply a plurality of welds 51, 52 spaced away from one another, that form inner space 40 between the two foil portions 31, 32, with an open top 41 between the foil.

It is also possible that the foil is fed to the machine as two substantially parallelly extending foils.

In that case, sealing means are present that seal the bottom of the foils therewith connecting the first and second welds to one another, providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions, between the first and second connection at the bottom portion of the plant package.

In the device as shown, the first and second welds are applied at an angle with the transport direction, resulting in a conically shaped inner space 40. The welding means can also be positioned such, that welds are made substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, resulting in a substantially tubular or cylindrically shaped inner space The foil 30 can be perforated before the roll of foil 30 is mounted on the device.

However, the foil can also being perforated within the device.

To that end, the device can comprise a perforation device, e.g. a laser device, that perforates the foil, preferably before the plant is inserted in the inner space 40. Before the plant is inserted in the inner space 10, the inner space can be provided with a gel or absorber material that comprises liquid medium for the plant.

The device 10 comprises means 8 for inserting a plant in the space 40 between the foil portions 31 and 32 and defined by welds 51 and 52 (vertical arrow), and welding means 9 for welding the top of the two foil portions 31, 32, welding the two foil portions 31, 32 above the top of the plant 2 between the two adjacent welds 51, 52 in a closing manner, for closing the inner space 40 at the top 41, the plant 2 being packaged in the closed inner space.

Cutting means 11 for cutting the two foil portions upstream the welds made by sealing means 7 separating the packaged plant from the remaining foil portions upstream of the cutting means. A plurality of cutting means can be present to cut on desired sides of the welds 51, 52, 53. After being cut apart from the foil, the separated plant package 1 is further transported on an endless belt 12 for further processing, such as being packed in a card board box, or being labelled, printed, stored and the like. The above-described means can be housed in a single housing, but can also be arranged as separate units.

Figure 4 shows photopgraphs of a plant package of the invention, comprising Campanula portenschlagiana.

Examples Both a bi-oriented polypropylene film (Rincel MXM-AF, Casfil, Portugal) and a biodegradable cellulose based film NatureFlex NVS, Futamura, Japan), both having a thickness of 30 um. The polypropylene film comprises a heat sealable layer and a heat sealable antifog layer on opposite sides of the foil and has an oxygen transmission rate of 1210 cm? per day at 23°C. The antifog layer was used for the inside of the plant package. The cellulose based film comprises heat seal coatings on both sides of a transparent cellulose film and has an oxygen transmission rate of 5 cm? per day at 23°C.

Films of the above-described foil materials, from a roll having a height of 110 cm were folded over the length thereof, resulting in two parallelly extending foil portions of equal height of 55 cm connected to one another via the fold.

The thus folded foils were laser perforated to provide a single line of 100 um perforations through both foil portions, spaced 50 mm from one another, the perforation line extending parallelly to the fold. Such perforation results in an oxygen transmission rate of 30,000 cm? per day at 23°C in both foils.

The foils were used to pack plants by closing the foils by heat sealing to a package as depicted in figure 1 and also shown in figure 4. The perforation lines on both foil portions extend substantially parallel to the fold at the bottom of the package, about halfway the height of the package, i.e. at about 275 mm from the fold.

It was found that the plant in the plant packages of the invention remained longer fresh as compared with unpackaged plants or plants packed in similar packages, however without the micro-perforations, kept at the same conditions.

Claims

CLAIMS

Live plant package (1), wherein the package comprises a live plant {2}, wherein the plant has at least one or more stems (2a) and one or more flowers (2b) and / or leaves (2c) that are from the stem or stems growing, the plant being packed in a closed plastic film (3) defining a closed inner space (4) in which the plant is accommodated, the film comprising microperforations of 1 - 200 µm, allowing exchange of at least oxygen and carbon dioxide is possible through the perforations between the interior and the surrounding area.

The live plant pack according to claim 1, wherein the packaged plant comprises roots (2d) growing from the stem.

The live plant package of claim 2, wherein the packaged plant has rooted and grown in a substrate prior to being packaged, the interior space of the package comprising the plant and at least a portion of the substrate.

Live plant packaging according to claim 3, wherein the inner space of the packaging comprises a pot in which the substrate of the plant growing therein is received.

Live plant pack according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plant comprises an ornamental plant.

Live plant packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the film comprises one or more layers selected from cellulose, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, ethyl vinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polylactic acid.

Live plant packaging according to claim 6, wherein the polypropylene is oriented polypropylene, preferably biaxially oriented polypropylene.

Live plant packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the micro-perforations have a diameter of 20-180 µm, preferably 50-150 µm, more preferably 80-120 µm.

Live plant packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic film has 10 - 5000 perforations per m2, preferably 25 - 1000 perforations per m2.

Live plant pack according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the perforations in the film are linearly arranged to form one or more perforation lines.

Live plant packaging according to claim 10, wherein the foil comprises a plurality of perforation lines arranged parallel to each other.

Live plant pack according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of perforation lines are regularly spaced from each other.

Live plant pack according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the perforation lines are oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the plant.

Live plant packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging comprises two substantially parallel extending foil portions (31, 32), the two foil portions being tightly joined together around the plant.

Live plant pack according to claim 14, wherein the two foil portions are joined together by welding.

The living plant pack according to claim 15, wherein the two foil portions are sealed together by a first seal (51) and a second seal (52), both seals extending coaxially with the axis of the plant, the first and second seals being sealed together by a first seal (51) and a second seal (52). welds are on opposite sides to the axis of the plant, defining a first and a second connection between the film segments, respectively.

The living plant pack of claim 16, wherein the first and second seals extend substantially parallel to each other.

The live plant pack of claim 16, wherein the first and second seals extend tapered along the axis of the plant toward the bottom portion of the plant.

Live plant pack according to any of claims 14-18, wherein the two foil portions are part of a single foil segment (30), the foil segment being folded over a fold (6), the fold being the foil segment in the two foil portions (31, 31). 32), and defines a folding joint between the foil portions. conclusion 16.

The living plant pack of claim 19, wherein the first and second seals extend covering the fold, thereby providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions between the first and second joints.

Live plant pack according to any of claims 16 to 20, wherein the pack comprises a third seal (3) connecting the first and second seals together, thereby providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions between the first and second bond.

A method of packaging a live plant in a live plant package according to any of claims 1 to 21, comprising the steps of: a) providing a plant as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, b}) providing a foil as defined in any of claims 6-13, c) placing the foil around the plant, d) bonding the foil together to form a closed interior space in which the plant is contained.

A method according to claim 22, wherein in step b) two substantially parallel extending foil portions are provided; in step c) the plant is placed between the first and second foil parts; and in step d) the two parts of the film are joined together tightly around the plant.

A method according to claim 23, wherein connecting the foil parts in step d) comprises sealing the foil parts together.

A method according to claim 24, wherein in step d) the two foil portions are welded together by a first and second weld, both welds extending coaxially with respect to the axis of the plant, the first and second welds extending relative to each other. of the axis of the plant are on opposite sides, defining a first and a second connection between the film segments, respectively.

The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second welds extend substantially parallel to each other.

The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second welds extend tapered along the axis of the plant toward the bottom portion of the plant.

A method according to any of claims 23 to 27, wherein in step b) the film is folded to provide two substantially parallel extending film portions on either side of the fold.

A method according to claim 28, wherein in step c) the plant is placed between the two foil portions such that the axis of the plant is substantially perpendicular to the fold.

A method according to claim 29, wherein in step c) the plant is placed between the two foil portions such that the one or more leaves or flowers face away from the fold.

A method according to claims 25 and 28, wherein both seals extend covering the fold, thereby providing a continuous connection of the two foil portions between the first and second connection.

A method according to any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein in step d) the two foil portions are sealed together by a third seal connecting the first and second seals together on the opposite side of the fold, thereby creating an interior space. formed.

33. Packaging material for manufacturing a living plant packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 21, which packaging material comprises two substantially parallel extending film portions, the film portions being tightly joined together at a lower portion, the film being interconnected on opposite sides. the direction of the bottom part so as to provide an interior space between both foil parts, the interior space being open on the side opposite the bottom part, whereby a plant can be introduced into the interior space and the foil can be sealed tightly through the two foil parts at the top welding the top of the plant between the opposite welds.

The packaging material of claim 33, wherein the opposed seals extend substantially parallel to each other towards the bottom portion.

The packaging material of claim 33, wherein the opposed seals extend tapered toward the bottom portion.

The packaging material of any of claims 33 to 35, wherein the bottom portion is defined by a fold between two substantially parallel film portions.

37. A method of maintaining freshness for a live plant comprising at least one stem and one or more flowers and / or leaves growing from the stem, the method comprising packaging the one or more plants in a closed container. plastic film defining a closed interior space comprising the one or more plants, the film comprising perforation of 1 - 200 µm, allowing exchange of at least oxygen and carbon dioxide through the perforations between the interior space and the environment.

Apparatus (10) for producing living plant packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 21, which apparatus comprises: a) means for supplying two substantially parallel film portions (31, 32) in a conveying direction, wherein the film portions have a top side (301) and a bottom side (302), the direction of conveyance being substantially perpendicular to the bottom and top of the film portions, b)} means (7) for sealing the two film portions from the top towards the bottom. underside by multiple seals (51, 52) spaced apart, two adjacent seals forming an interior space (40) between the two foil sections, with an open top (41) between the foil sections, c) optional means for sealing the two foil sections at the underside, d) means (8) for providing a plant in the space between the foil sections, e) means ( 9) for sealing the top of the two foil sections, for sealingly sealing the two foil sections above the top of the plant between the two adjacent seals, thereby packing the plant in the closed inner space, fy means of transport for transporting of the plant in the direction of transport, g) cutting means (11) for cutting the two foil parts upstream of the welds made by the sealing means (7) to separate the packaged plant from the remaining foil parts upstream of the cutting means.

The device of claim 38, wherein the means for tightly sealing the two foil portions taper from the top portion toward the bottom portion toward the bottom portion.

Device according to claim 38 or 39, further comprising means for arranging the microperforations in the film.