WO2004054349A1

WO2004054349A1 - Combinations of ornamental plants

Info

Publication number: WO2004054349A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000581
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristian Madsen
Original assignee: Gartneriet Pkm Aps
Priority date: 2002-12-13
Filing date: 2003-09-08
Publication date: 2004-07-01
Also published as: AU2003260284A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of ornamental plants, systems of pots or containers used to provide said combination and a corresponding method of using such systems predominantly in large-scale industrial plants to provide the above combination. According to the invention a given ornamental plant is set in a suitable cultivation medium in an outer container and recesses are provided in this cultivation medium for subsequent setting of one or more other kinds of plants, thereby to create the total combination of plants in a flexible manner, well suited for a large-scale production. The said recesses can be provided by initial placement of one or more smaller containers in the cultivation medium in the outer container, which smaller containers can afterwards be removed prior to the insertion of plants with their own body of cultivation medium into the recesses. Alternatively the second plants may be inserted into cultivation medium in the containers used to form the recesses. The smaller containers can be provided with boundaries that are impermeable for liquid and roots, but they can also be provided with various patterns of openings in the wall and/or bottom of the containers to enable liquid and/or roots to penetrate from the cultivation medium of the smaller containers into the cultivation medium of the outer container and vice versa. Using the different alternatives set forth above the plants in the smaller containers can either use the large body of cultivation medium in the outer container as a liquid reservoir or the different plants in the outer and inner containers can be watered and for instance provided with fertilizer individually as desired.

Description

COMBINATIONS OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a combination of at least two ornamental plants, for instance, although not limited to Campanula and Poinsettia or Campanula and roses. The invention relates furthermore to systems of pots or containers suitable for such combinations and to a method for providing such combinations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain an aesthetic effect it is well-known to use arrangements of different ornamental plants and such arrangements are often provided manually at the gardener's plant or in the retail shop. Providing such arrangements of plants is thus a labour-intensive task and it would be beneficial in large-scale production of ornamental plants to have access to systems and methods for either partly or totally automated production of various arrangements of ornamental plants. Such systems and methods could furthermore lead to increased flexibility relating to the composition of the different end products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the above background it is thus the object of the present invention to provide methods for production of arrangements of ornamental plants, which methods can - at least partially - be automatically carried out, and which furthermore are well adapted for use in large scale industrialised gardening plants.

It is a further object of the invention to provide systems of pots or containers suitable for the above method, which pots or containers can either be used during specific steps of the production methods or as pots/containers for the finished sales ready end products. It is a further object of the invention to provide specific arrangements of ornamental plants obtained by use of the above methods and systems.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by means of the method, system and products as defined by the independent claims. Various specific embodiments hereof are defined in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention there is thus provided a system of containers for ornamental plants (the term "container" being throughout the specification and claims regarded as a broad term comprising for instance "pots" etc. used for accommodating the cultivation media of ornamental plants) basically comprising an outer container for accommodation of a body of cultivation medium suitable for a given ornamental plant or combination of plants, for instance Campanula. According to one embodiment of the system and method according to the invention, recesses are being provided in a part of said body for instance by inserting one or a plurality of smaller inner containers into said cultivation medium, where the volume and shape of said smaller inner containers correspond to the volume and shape of a body of cultivation medium, in which the other plant(s) of the arrangement of plants are situated. Prior to the placement of plants in these recesses, said inner containers, which have been used to create the corresponding recesses, are according to one embodiment of the invention removed from the corresponding recesses. As an example of a plant for placement in such recesses Poinsettia can be mentioned, but in principle any combination of two or more plants can be used in order to create the desired esthetical effect. Likewise both the shape of the outer container and of the recesses can be varied as desired.

As an alternative to creating the recesses by insertion of smaller inner containers of appropriate shape and volume into the body of cultivation medium present in the outer container the recesses could also be created by initial placement of these inner containers at the appropriate locations in the outer container and afterwards filling the remaining space of the outer container with the appropriate cultivation medium.

Throughout the specification and the claims, the term "first plant" will be used for the plants placed in the cultivation medium of the outer container and the term "second plant" will be used for plants for placement in the above mentioned recesses. In the broadest form of the invention, the terms "first plant" and "second plant" may, however, each comprise several different plants, the "first" of these plants being merely characterised in being set in the propagation medium in the outer container and the "second" of these plants being merely characterised in being set in propagation medium for placement in said recesses provided in the propagation medium in the outer container.

In a realistic large-scale production plant, the said first plant in the cultivation medium in the outer container, where said medium is provided with one or a plurality of smaller inner containers for providing said recesses herein, is grown separately under conditions that are optimal for this plant. Concurrently one or a plurality of second plants can be grown under conditions optimal for these plants in containers, the shape and volume of which correspond to said recesses. At a given time, for instance relatively shortly before the date of sales, said smaller inner containers, which have been used to create the recesses, are removed and the second plants are removed from the containers, in which they have been grown and placed in the recesses in the outer container. The respective cultivation media are now in contact with each other, whereupon a common supply of water and possibly fertiliser etc. can take place.

Alternatively, it is also possible according to the invention not to remove the second plants from their respective containers and instead place these second plants - together with their respective containers - in the recesses. Proceeding in this manner, it becomes possible to provide separate supply of water and fertiliser to the different plants in the arrangement of plants, which could prove advantageous for certain combinations of plants. On the other hand, it can be advantageous for many customers not to have to undertake separate watering of the different plants of the arrangement and it would moreover in practice often be necessary to water the second plants still contained in their respective containers more often than the plants in the outer container, due to the lesser volume of cultivation medium of the second plants and corresponding lesser ability to contain a given liquid volume. If the containers of the second plants are not present in the arrangement, the greater body of cultivation medium of the outer container will act as a reservoir for the cultivation medium of the second plants. The alternative, according to which containers for accommodating the second plants are still present in the outer container of the arrangement can also be attained by not removing the smaller inner containers initially used for creating the recesses and in these containers placing the second plants, with their respective containers removed.

In the above, it has implicitly been assumed that the inner containers accommodating the second plants have impermeable circumferential walls and/or bottom, thereby making a flow of water impossible between the propagation medium in the outer and inner containers and/or vice versa. Likewise, a penetration of roots of plants of the inner containers through the boundaries of the inner containers and into the propagation medium of the outer container and/or vice versa would be impossible. According to an alternative embodiment of the container system according to the invention, some or all of the inner containers are provided with a pattern of openings through the circumferential walls and/or bottom of the inner containers, thereby making passage of water and roots possible between the various propagation media of the combination.

The methods and systems according to the present invention offer a large number of variations relating to choice of plants and it becomes easy to implement market differentiation of different combinations. It is understood that the various combinations of plants, both in the cultivation medium of the outer container and in the various recesses provided herein mentioned in the description and the claims are only meant as illustrative examples, but are not to be considered as limitations of the scope of the invention, this scope being solely determined by the independent claims.

Different combinations of ornamental plants are, due to the well-defined size, shape and positioning of the respective recesses in the cultivation medium of the outer container, according to the invention well suited to be attained by automatic or semiautomatic production methods in a large-scale production plant, in which for instance two or more plants are automatically provided at predetermined times of the production period and automatically, by the application of suitable mechanical means, for instance by pre-programmed robotic means, placed in recesses appropriately provided in the cultivation medium of the outer container. Insertion and subsequent removal of containers for providing said recesses and for accommodation of the cultivation medium of the second plants can also be carried out automatically.

A method for industrial production of combinations of ornamental plants according to the present invention thus comprises the following basic steps:

(a) the provision of outer containers for accommodation of a body of a first cultivation medium and at least one first plant placed in this medium;

(b) creating a desired number of recesses of given shapes and volumes in said first body of cultivation medium;

(c) the provision of second plants, each of these plants being placed in a second body of cultivation medium of such a shape and volume that this body of cultivation medium can be inserted into said recesses; and

(d) insertion of the second bodies of cultivation medium mentioned under point (c) in the corresponding recesses.

Even though reference has been had to "a first" and a "second" cultivation medium, the cultivation media of the first and second plants can of course also be identical. The specific choice of cultivation medium will at any rate depend on the specific plants being used.

According to the method of the present invention, the recesses are created by providing a body of substantially the identical outer shape and volume as said second body of cultivation medium at predetermined positions in said first cultivation medium in the outer container. The body could for instance resemble a single container or an aggregate of container-shaped bodies.

One specific embodiment of the invention is furthermore characterised in that said second body of cultivation medium is accommodated within a container, which is removed prior to the insertion of said body into the recesses. An alternative embodiment of the invention is characterised in that said second body of cultivation medium is accommodated within a container, which is not removed prior to the insertion of said body into the recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a further alternative container system according to the invention comprising a pattern of passages through the circumferential wall of the inner container;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative container system according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a composite body for providing a plurality of (as shown three) recesses in the cultivation medium of the outer container;

Figure 5 shows a photo of a specific arrangement of ornamental plants according to the invention, comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red Poinsettia;

Figure 6 shows a photo of another specific arrangement of ornamental plants according to the invention, comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red rose with large flowers; and Figure 7 shows a photo of still another specific arrangement of ornamental plants according to the invention, comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red November Cactus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, a detailed description of various embodiments of the invention is given.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a container system according to the invention comprising an outer container 1 , within which there is centrally placed an inner container 2, which, when subsequently removed, leaves a central recess 2' in the cultivation medium 3 of the outer container 1. In the cultivation medium 3, an outer annular region of plants, for instance Campanula, is grown, of which only one plant 4 is shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1 is furthermore shown the container 5 corresponding to the recess 2', the container 5 containing the cultivation medium 6 for plants accommodated herein, of which one plant 7 is shown schematically.

Shortly before the sales date, at which date the respective plants have reached an advanced state of development, the plant or plants 7 with the corresponding body of cultivation medium 6 and either with or without the corresponding container 5 can be inserted into the recess 2' in the outer container 1 which is left, when the inner container 2 is removed.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a system of containers according to the invention, the outer container 1 of which corresponding to the one shown in Figure 1. Whereas the inner container 5 of Figure 1 was provided with an impermeable circumferential wall and bottom face, the inner container 5 of Figure 2 is provided with a regular pattern of elongated passages through the circumferential wall and - as an option - also with one or more passages 10 (not visible in the Figure) in the bottom face. When the inner container according to this embodiment is placed in the recess 2' - after removal of the container 2 used to create this recess 2' - water communication between the propagation media in the outer and the inner container is provided and the roots of the plant(s) of the inner container can pass through the passages and out into the propagation medium of the outer container and hence into a larger reservoir of water/fertiliser than provided by the relatively limited volume of propagation medium in the inner container.

In practice numerous relevant variations of shape and size (volume) of the outer container exist as well as of the shape, size and number of recesses provided herein and the corresponding bodies of cultivation medium with or without inner containers containing the second plants. Thus, for instance square, rectangular or oval embodiments of these containers and corresponding recesses can be used if desired. Specifically Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a system of containers according to the invention, which as in the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a frustro-conical outer container, wherein, in addition to the centrally located recess/container 2, 2', there are also provided four radially outwardly placed recesses/containers 8, 8', angularly uniformly distributed in the outer region of the container 1.

The inner container(s) and the corresponding means of providing recesses to accommodate this/these may have more complex shapes than the geometrically simple form shown thus far. Such more complex forms can for instance be provided by a combination of simple (for instance frustro-conical or cylindrical) bodies. An example is shown in Figure 4, where three frustro-conical containers are combined to create a more complex body. The combination of containers used to form said more complex body can for instance take place by attachment of a plurality of conventional containers to each other by clips or by a suitable adhesive, but more complex forms of inner containers or bodies used to form the said recesses in the cultivation medium of the outer container can of course also be provided as dedicated units or by moulding a plurality of single containers together for instance along a common collar or flange section along the upper edge portion of the containers. Such flanges or collars could optionally also be used to grip the containers at the time of removal from the cultivation medium in the outer container, for instance by means of a suitable gripping tool on a robot. Unless the inner containers actually are to be used for the accommodation of plants, these containers can also be replaced by solid bodies of the proper shape and volume and, if needed, provided with gripping means as mentioned above. Now referring to the following Figures 5 to 7, there are finally shown photos of specific examples of combinations of ornamental plants made according to the principles of the invention. Thus, Figure 5 shows a photo of an arrangement of plants comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red Poinsettia, Figure 6 shows a photo of another specific arrangement of ornamental plants comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red rose with large flowers and Figure 7 shows a photo of still another specific arrangement of ornamental plants comprising an outer annular region of white Campanula plants and a centrally located red November Cactus.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in the preceding parts of the detailed description, it is understood that a person skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A combination of ornamental plants comprising an outer container (1) accommodating a first body of cultivation medium (3), in which there is located one or a plurality of first ornamental plants (4), characterised in that one or a plurality of second ornamental plants (7) set in a second body of cultivation medium (6) is provided in one or a plurality of recesses (2') in said first body of cultivation medium (3).

2. A combination of ornamental plants according to claim 1 , characterised in that said outer container (1 ) is of a substantially inverted frustro-conical shape.

3. A combination of ornamental plants according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said combination comprises one centrally located recess (2').

4. A combination of ornamental plants according to claim 3, characterised in that said one centrally located recess (2') is of a substantially inverted frustro-conical shape.

5. A combination of ornamental plants according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second body of cultivation medium is accommodated within a second container (2).

6. A combination of ornamental plants according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first ornamental plant (4) is a Campanula plant.

7. A combination of ornamental plants according to claim 6, characterised in that said Campanula plant has white flowers.

8. A combination of ornamental plants according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second ornamental plant is a Poinsettia plant.

9. A combination of ornamental plants according to claim 8, characterised in that said Poinsettia plant has red flowers.

10. A combination of ornamental plants according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said second ornamental plant is a red rose.

1 1. A combination of ornamental plants according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said second ornamental plant is a red November Cactus.

12. A system of containers for combinations of ornamental plants comprising an outer container (1) accommodating a first body of cultivation medium (3), characterised in that one or a plurality of recesses (2') is/are provided in said cultivation medium (3).

13. A system according to claim 12, characterised in that in said recesses (2') there are provided corresponding second containers (2), which can be removed from the recesses (2').

14. A system according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that said recesses (2') comprise a single, centrally located recess.

15. A system according to claim 13, characterised in that said second container (2) has an impermeable circumferential wall and bottom.

16. A system according to claim 13, characterised in that said second container (2) has a circumferential wall and/or bottom which is/are permeable to liquid and/or roots.

17. A system according to claim 13, characterised in that said second containers (2) form an aggregate of a plurality of containers attached to each other by suitable means such as clips or an adhesive.

18. A system according to claim 13, characterised in that said second containers (2) form an aggregate of a plurality of containers initially formed as an integral body for instance by moulding.

19. A system according to claim 13, 17 or 18, characterised in that said containers or aggregate of containers are provided with a common collar or flange portion, which can serve as a gripping means for manipulating the containers or aggregate of containers.

20. A method of producing a combination of ornamental plants comprising the following steps:

(a) providing first containers (1) for accommodation of a body of cultivation medium (3) and at least one plant set in this medium (3);

(b) creation of a desired number of recesses (2') of predetermined shapes and volumes in said body of cultivation medium (3);

(c) providing second plants (7), each of these plants (7) being placed in a second body of cultivation medium (6) of such a shape and volume that this body of cultivation medium (6) can be inserted into said recesses (2'); and

(d) insertion of said second bodies of cultivation medium (6) mentioned under point (c) in the corresponding recesses (2'),

whereby said combination of ornamental plants is provided.

21. A method according to claim 20, characterised in that said recesses (2') are created by inserting a body (2) of substantially the same shape and volume as said second bodies of cultivation medium (6) at predetermined positions in said first container (1).

22. A method according to claim 21, characterised in that said second body of cultivation medium (6) for the second plants (7) is accommodated in a container (5) which is removed prior to insertion of the second body of cultivation medium (6) in the respective recesses (2').

23. A method according to claim 21, characterised in that said second body of cultivation medium (6) is accommodated in a container (5) which is not removed prior to insertion of the second body of cultivation medium (6) in the respective recesses (2').