Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MULTI-SEASONAL STORAGE OF LIVE PLANTS
This invention is in the field of silviculture and agriculture systems and
plant production, and
more specifically is in the field of live storage of plants for extended
periods of time.
Background:
Northern hemisphere countries encounter very high costs in the live indoor
storage of perennial
plants such as trees, bedding plants, perennial forms and vegetables. As a
result, most nurseries
producing plants in indoor facilities typically attempt to sell all of their
plants stock between the
start and the end of a seasonal planting. What is not sold at regular price is
discounted or
discarded. If it were possible to create a method of long term live plant
storage, costs could be
saved and waste reduced.
In certain applications, some plant nurseries transfer seedlings and other
plants into aboveground
planting pots. This conventional system often requires daily top irrigation to
each individually
potted plant, especially during hot weather.
In alternate applications, outdoor bare root production of plants cannot
typically be live stored
for multiple years without the plants over growing, which makes older bear
with plants
cumbersome for handling and shipping. In addition, most bare rooted seedlings
cannot be
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transplanted successfully during the growing season since they often
experience transplant shock
and die when transplanted in full leaf. Therefore in conventional
applications, seedlings which
are grown as bare root field plants can typically only be transplanted as bare
root plants and the
dormant seasons of early spring or fall, after photosynthesis has slowed or
stopped.
The restrictions on bare root planting and transplantation i.e. that bare root
plants once lifted
must be replanted while the plant remains dormant, present a significant
restriction. The general
advantage of a container root plant system over a bare root system is that
these plants can be
field plant at any time during the growing season, so long as adequate field
moisture conditions
exist. If a system could be devised that would easily convert bare root
seedlings to container root
seedlings, end of season surplus stock of bare roots could take on all the
advantages of container
rooted plants including the ability to be live stored and not discarded.
One of the key problems in northern regions is the weathering of plants
outdoors during the
winter if stored outdoors ¨ the same nurseries that throw out excess plant
material at the end of
one season can suffer shortages of the same varieties by the end of subsequent
seasons. In the
context of tree nurseries for example, most North American tree nurseries
which endure subzero
winters typically run out of all or most of their seedling tree and perennial
plant varieties for sale
by mid July of each year, restricting their ability to make season-long sales
if they under
produce, and causing waste if they overproduce.
There have been no successful earlier attempts at the provision of low cost
long term live storage
systems for container root seedlings. If a low-cost system for the live
storage of tree seedlings
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and other plants could be devised that would achieve many advantages for both
industry and the
public. Such a low-cost live storage system would have even more utility if it
could be designed
in a way that would require minimal irrigation or pumping equipment to be
used. Sub-irrigated
storage would be beneficial for this purpose.
If it were possible to design a low cost long term live storage system that
could survive months
of severe outdoor subzero temperatures, then excess perennial plant production
could be stored
for marketing or use in subsequent years. Nurseries would not only not have to
discard excess
plant production of the end of a planting season but could purposefully grow
vast quantities of
excess production to be placed in low-cost storage to serve the needs of their
customers later in a
growing season for summer and fall planting. Growing operations could be
undertaken more
strategically, without the need to restart with zero inventory on a myriad of
plant species each
and every year.
In many regions of the world, current practices include live storage of the
majority of plants and
trees in cumbersome containers which require immense land space, soil and
large labour
contentions to irrigate and maintain them. If a system could be devised that
used significantly
less soil and water than low-cost true supplier could catch up with demand for
timber while
lessening the environmental burden. Similarly, any type of a method for live
storage of plants
that reduce water requirements would be desirable since in many regions of the
world including
in desert climates desalinization programs are used to create fresh water
supply.
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Even in green houses, production of perennial plants and various climatic
zones including those
that do not experience freezing temperatures is limited based on the physical
capacity of the
greenhouse itself. If a system could be devised that allowed for long-term
multiyear outdoor
storage of plants with negligible maintenance and other costs this could
multiply the plant
holding capacities of many nurseries. This will result in lower cost plant
production, greater
profits and potentially lower plant costs.
A low cost long term live storage system would have a significant beneficial
commercial impact
on the logistics of plant production. If such a system could be devised that
that would also allow
for substantial water conservation savings in the production or maintenance of
plant material this
would have significant additional commercial benefit.
Summary of the Invention:
As outlined above, the invention intends to provide a method for the multi-
seasonal storage of
live plants, which will allow for the storage of live plant material through
freezing and other
weather seasons, either to allow repetitive harvesting of plant material, or
before the eventual
transplantation of those plants to their final growing locations.
The invention, a method of multi-seasonal storage of live plants comprises the
step of placing
plants for storage in the storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage
block which has a
plurality of storage apertures therein. Each plant storage aperture has a top
opening on a top
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surface of the plant storage block and a bottom opening on a bottom surface of
the plant storage
block. In a next step once the plants are placed in the storage apertures, the
multi-aperture plant
storage block is placed in a containment holding water, such that the bottom
openings of the
storage apertures are in contact with the water in the containment. The plant
storage block is
made of material providing insulation to plant stored therein such that the
root systems of the
plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
Various containments can be used in association with the method of the present
invention,
including an aboveground manufactured containment, an inground manufactured
containment, or
an inground water body. Many different types of containments or water bodies
could be used all
of which will be understood to those skilled in the art and are all
contemplated within the scope
of the present invention.
During storage of the plants, the water level within the containment is
maintained so that the
bottom of the plant storage block and bottom apertures thereon continue
contact with the water.
Harvesting of seeds, leaves or stands can occur as required within industry
norms. When it is
desired to use the stored plants for field planting, they are removed from
their respective storage
apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plant
storage block might be
buoyant, so it would float on the water in the containment. In other
embodiments it may not be
buoyant and it may simply be set on the bottom of the containment with a
shallow water layer
beneath or around it.
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In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plants
placed in the storage
apertures could be a field ready seedling, such that they could simply be
stored in the block until
ready to be used or permanently planted. In other embodiments of the method of
the present
invention, the plants placed in the storage apertures could be placed as
cuttings or micro
seedlings in order to grow to field ready condition within the storage
apertures. Finally, as in the
case of more mature bare root seedlings, they can be placed within the storage
apertures to
convert over several weeks into container root plants with all the advantages
thereof.
Plants might be stored in the storage apertures with or without soil media. If
they are stored
without soil media, the root ball of the plant could grow or expand within the
plant storage
aperture while stored in the plant storage block.
Certain embodiments of the method of the present invention might comprise the
additional step
of fertilizing the plants while in storage in the plant storage block when it
is desired for example
to hyper grow the seedlings to a greater size over a shorter period of time.
During storage of the plants in the plant storage block, the water or other
contents of the
containment might be cleaned or remediated by the presence of the plants and
their consumption
of water therein. As such the method of the present invention can be used as a
phytoremediation
method for water within a containment.
As will be understood to those skilled in the art, the method encompasses the
use of one or more
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plant storage blocks within a containment to store plants. Each plant storage
block consists of a
plurality of storage apertures and it is explicitly contemplated that the
plant storage blocks might
individually each include several dozen to several hundreds of apertures. A
large number of
these plant storage blocks can then be used within a water holding containment
to store a large
number of plants in a minimized surface area.
In certain embodiments, more than one plant could be stored within a
particular plant storage
aperture, where in other embodiments a single plant storage aperture in a
plant storage block in
accordance with the method may contain only a single plant.
In some embodiments of the method of the present invention where more than one
plant storage
block was used and the containment was a natural water body, the method of the
present
invention could incorporate anchoring of the plurality of plant storage blocks
around the edge of
the containment to provide shoreline erosion control to the natural water
body. In other
embodiments, in a large water containment holding a large number of plant
storage blocks, a
system of corral and anchor could be used to keep the plant storage blocks
organized and
reasonably stationary in a fixed location.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention, once the plants
reach a
predetermined size the plant storage blocks could be removed, rather than
removing the plants
from the storage blocks, leaving the full-sized plants in their positions to
continue growth in the
containment at an alternate location.
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In addition to the method of the present invention there is also disclosed a
multi-aperture plant
storage block for the multi-seasonal storage of live plants, which has a
plurality of storage
apertures each having a top opening on a top surface of the block and a bottom
opening on a
bottom surface of the block. The plant storage block could be placed in a
containment holding
water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact
with the water
contained therein, and the plant storage block would be made of the material
providing insulation
to plant stored therein such that the root systems of the plants can survive
extended storage in
subzero temperatures.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that many changes can be
made to the method and
the apparatus, namely the multi-aperture plant storage block, disclosed
herein, without departing
from the scope and intention of the present invention and all such
modifications are
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Description of the Drawings:
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most
significant digit or
digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element
is first introduced.
The drawings enclosed are:
Figure 1 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a first embodiment of the
method of
the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a second embodiment of the
method of
the present invention, including a fertilization step;
Figure 3 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a third embodiment of the
method of
the present invention, where the plant storage blocks are destructively
removed from the
plants when permanent planting of the plants is desired;
Figure 4 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a further embodiment of
the method of
the present invention, in which a plurality of plant storage blocks is used
for shoreline
erosion control in a natural water body;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plant storage block in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a cutaway side view of the plant storage block of Figure 5, along
line 5-5;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the system of the method of
the
present invention; and
Figure 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the system used to
practice the
method of the present invention comprising a plurality of plant storage blocks
mounted in
a shoreline erosion control configuration within a natural water body
containment; and
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Figure 9 is a schematic view of a plurality of plant storage blocks corralled
and anchored
within a large water containment.
Detailed Description of Illustrated Embodiments:
As outlined herein, the present invention comprises a method for the
streamlined long-term life
storage of plant material in subzero temperatures. The ability to store plants
in a sub-irrigated
plant storage block, through all four seasons, will be particularly beneficial
in the economics of
plant and tree nurseries in northern climates encountering harsh winters of
significant length.
Method overview:
The invention comprises a low cost long-term live storage method for plants,
resulting in the
ability to store containment root plants for up to many years in advance of
the final planting of
these plants in their final desired locations. Storage of the plants within
the plant storage blocks
and in accordance with the method of the present invention provides
significant cost savings in
economy for plant nurseries and will be found beneficial on this basis.
Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a first basic embodiment of the method of the
present invention.
The first step in the method of the present invention, shown at 1-1, is the
placement of plants or
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plant material in storage apertures within a plant storage block. As outlined
in further detail
elsewhere herein, the plant storage block comprises any block of material with
sufficient
insulation to permit for safe wintering of the root systems of plants, with a
plurality of storage
apertures each having a top opening in a bottom opening extending between a
top surface and a
bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Plants placed within the storage apertures of the plant storage block could be
placed in the
storage apertures either with soil medium or as bare root plants. Where bare
root plants are
placed into the storage apertures for life storage, the bare roots convert to
highly fibrous
containment roots after a number of weeks of growing conditions.
Following placement of the plants in the plant storage block, at 1-1, the
plant storage block is
placed in a containment which holds water. This is shown at step 1-2.
Placement of the plant
storage block in a water holding containment effectively allows for
subirrigation of the plants
contained within the storage apertures while they are stored throughout the
seasons.
Once the plant storage block is placed in a containment containing water,
storage of the plants in
the plant storage block is commenced and as outlined above the plants can be
stored in such a
fashion for up to many years. During the storage of the plant storage block
within the
containment, the water level in the containment needs to be monitored and
maintained ¨ this is
shown at step 1-3. As is outlined elsewhere herein, part of the attraction of
the method of the
present invention is that little water is required in the containment ¨ really
only trace water below
the bottom surface of the plant storage block or blocks is typically required.
During the winter
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season in northern climates, the plant filled plant storage blocks can be live-
stored outdoors as
dormant plants, with air temperatures dipping as low as -50 C in the same
locations as outdoor
summer production and summer life storage took place. During the first winter
and subsequent
winters, the plant storage blocks will in most embodiments be frozen in place
in the containment,
in the same water that they were floating or otherwise sub-irrigated in in the
summertime.
Dependent upon the insulation value of the material of manufacture of the
plant storage block,
plant storage block can also be used to live stored dormant perennial plants
out of the water of
the containment on frozen or snow-covered landscapes during winter months.
Finally, at such time as it is desired to transplant the plants from the plant
storage block into
permanent planting locations, the plants are removed from the storage
apertures in the plant
storage block for transplantation or permanent planting. The
removal/transplantation of the
plants from storage to permanent locations is shown at step 1-4.
As outlined in further detail elsewhere herein, the plant storage block is
manufactured of material
that provides sufficient insulation to the root system of plants stored
therein that they can survive
seasonal weather extremes including freezing for long periods of time. Testing
of the method of
the present invention and the placement of plants for storage in a plant
storage block such as
outlined above has been conducted and has indicated the efficacy of the plant
storage block
approach and methodology outlined herein to provide for storage ability for
the plants within the
storage apertures for up to many years.
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Plants that are grown and require only to be stored in advance of the eventual
transplantation to
permanent locations could be stored within the storage apertures of a plant
storage block as
outlined herein, or in other embodiments of the method, early-stage plants or
plant material that
require further growth could also be planted in the storage apertures of a
plant storage block in
accordance with the remainder of the present invention in anticipation of
their growth to full-size
before transplantation to permanent locations. Both such approaches are
contemplated within
the scope of the present invention.
Varying numbers or sizes of plants could be stored within individual storage
apertures in a single
plant storage block ¨ for example single plants might be placed in certain
storage apertures,
while in other cases multiple plants could be stored within the single
apertures or plants of
different sizes or levels of maturity could be stored within apertures within
the same plant
storage block. All such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art and is described elsewhere
herein, the
containment could comprise a manufactured containment in an aboveground or
inground
application, or might also constitute a natural or manufactured water body.
Any type of a
containment capable of holding at least one plant storage block in accordance
with the remainder
of the method of the present invention is understood to be within the scope of
the present
invention.
As will also be understood, a plurality of plant storage blocks could be used
in the practice of a
larger implementation of the method of the present invention ¨ that is to say
that multiple plant
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storage blocks could be used in a single water containment, to provide for a
larger set of long-
term plant storage. Any number of plant storage blocks are contemplated within
the scope of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart demonstrating the steps in a further embodiment of the
plant storage
method of the present invention, in which fertilizer or other nutrients can be
applied to plants
during the storage process. As shown in Figure 1, plants are placed in storage
apertures in the
plant storage block shown at 2-1. Following the placement of the plants and
the storage
apertures of the plant storage block, the plant storage block would be placed
in a containment
with water, shown at 2-2. During the long-term storage of the plants within
the plant storage
block, shown at 2-3, the water level within the containment would be monitored
and maintained,
to ensure the continued availability to the roots of the plants contained
within the storage
apertures, through the bottom openings thereof, of sufficient water to
maintain the growth or
survival of the plants in question. In most cases, subirrigation of the plants
contained within the
plant storage blocks can require the presence of very little water in the
containment.
As outlined elsewhere herein, in certain embodiments including the one of
Figure 2, a fertilizer
step is shown. Fertilizer or nutrients could be provided to plants stored
within the plant storage
block by direct application via the top surface of the plant storage block or
by introduction of
such fertilizer or nutrients to the water contained within the containment.
The application of
fertilizer or other nutrients is shown at 2-4. In certain cases it will be
desired to store plants
within the plant storage blocks and in accordance with the method of the
present invention in a
preferred state of having a stable size i.e. without size increase, by
practising the method without
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adding nutrients or fertilizer. If it is desired at any time during a growing
season to create rapid
growth of the plants stored within the plant storage block in accordance with
the remainder of the
present invention, the applications of nutrients can be used to do so. Another
option, in place of
introducing nutrients or fertilizer into the water within the containment, to
provide nutrients to
the plants within the plant storage block, would be to draw down the water
level within the
containment to allow the plant roots, through the bottom openings of the
storage apertures, to
come into contact with nutrients soils naturally found or placed in the bottom
of the water
containment.
Finally and as outlined above with respect to Figure 1, the plants can be
removed from the
storage apertures of the plant storage block for transplantation or permanent
plantation is
required, shown at step 2-5.
The method demonstrated in Figure 3 varies by the alteration of the permanent
location are
transplantation step at the end of the method, insofar as in this particular
method the plants 7
when desired to be permanently located could be desired to be permanently
located at the
location of the plant storage block 1, and the plant storage block 1 could be
destructively
removed from the plants 7 to allow them to be left in location where
originally stored. This is
shown at Step 3-4.
Phytoremediation:
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In certain cases the method of the present invention, namely the method of
long-term live storage
of plants, could be used in a phytoremediation context. Specifically, the
water or other contents
of the containment, along with the plant storage blocks, could benefit from
the proximity or
presence of the plants within the plant storage block either from the plants
therein cleaning the
water in the containment or otherwise. Plants stored in plant storage blocks
in accordance with
the plant storage method of the present invention could be used to remove
nutrients or other
materials from the water within the containment, such as nitrogen or
phosphorus from the water
etc. Heavy metals or other mobile elements can also be removed from the water
or the soil
below, in the context of a natural water body as the containment.
In some cases the plant storage method of the present invention might even be
practised in a
containment area in which soil or other materials containing contaminants all
such as
hydrocarbon saturated soils requiring removal or delivered to a containment of
plant storage
blocks filled with plants having phytoremediation ability similarly, plant
storage blocks
containing such plants can be delivered to a containment already containing
contaminants to be
remediated, such as municipal lagoons or factory effluent ponds. R.
Phytoremediation could be conducted where plants of any variety would remove
certain
impurities or desired materials from the containment or the water, or the
plants to be stored
within the plant storage block might also be selected based upon the materials
or impurities they
are known to absorb or remove from the containment or the water therein. Any
approach to the
use of the method of the present invention not only as a means of long-term
storage of selected
plants before their eventual transplantation to permanent planting locations,
but also during the
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storage timeframe to use those plants to remove the purities or materials of
some variety from the
containment soil or water will all be understood to those skilled in the art
and are contemplated
within the scope of the present invention. Any modifications to the general
method hereof for
the purpose of optimizing the method for use in this context are contemplated
within the scope of
the present invention.
Shoreline erosion control:
Insofar as one of the key anticipated implementations of the method of the
present invention is
the use of a large natural body of water as the containment 8 within which the
plant storage
blocks 1 would be used, it is explicitly contemplated that one of the
ancillary benefits or aspects
of the long-term live storage method of the present invention is that the
actual storage of the
plant storage blocks 1 could be used as a shoreline erosion control method.
The plant storage
blocks 1 could be anchored in place around the perimeter of the containment 8,
being a natural
water body, such that dependent upon the type of plants contained within the
plant storage blocks
1, freshwater and saltwater environments could be used to establish or store
freshwater or
saltwater trees and plants. An anchoring system which would allow for buoyant
plant storage
blocks 1 to go up and down with tides or with water levels in the containment
8 while
maintaining a reasonably stationary horizontal positions will be understood.
In some cases, once
the plants stored within the plant storage blocks 1 were properly anchored to
the floor of the
shoreline of the containment 8 with supportive root structures and strong
enough stands, the
buoyant plant storage blocks could be removed or cutaway to result in
freestanding trees or
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plants. Alternatively, the plants might be removed for transplantation to
other locations but the
presence of the plant storage blocks. One could be used as erosion control
buffers along the
shoreline of the containment 8, such that they would be barriers to wave
action that would
otherwise affect the shoreline.
Decreasing evaporation:
General evaporation from the containment 8 could also be significantly
minimized by the
placement of sufficient plant storage blocks 1 of sufficient size to cover the
majority of the
surface of the water 9 contained therein.
Aquaculture:
Where containment 8 of sufficient size was used, fish, turtles or other marine
animals or plants
could be cultured in the water 9 in the containment 8 along with the holding
of the plant storage
blocks 1.
Plant storage block:
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As will be understood from the remainder of the disclosure herein, the plant
storage block
contemplated for use in the method of present invention could take a number of
different shapes
and sizes, so long as it was constructed of material having the necessary
insulating qualities
outlined. The plant storage block would contain a plurality of storage
apertures, effectively
being in aperture extending from a top surface through to a bottom surface of
the plant storage
block. Each plant storage aperture would include a top opening, through the
top surface of the
plant storage block and through which the leaves are the upper body of a plant
in storage in the
block would extend, as well as a bottom opening through the bottom surface of
the plant storage
block through which the root system of plants stored within the aperture could
be sub-irrigated
by accessing the water below the bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Figures 5 and 6 show an example of a plant storage block 1 in accordance with
the method of the
present invention. In this case, the plant storage block 1 is a rectangular
block of buoyant
material such as polystyrene or the like, with a plurality of storage
apertures 2 extending
therethrough. The plant storage block 1 has a top surface 3 and a bottom
surface 4, and each of
the storage apertures 2 has a top opening 5 in the top surface 3 of the block
1, and bottom
opening 6 in the bottom surface 4 of the block 1. The storage apertures, in
cross-section, might
either be columnar in shape, with top and bottom openings of the same size, or
in other
embodiments of the plant storage block, the storage apertures might be tapered
from a larger top
opening to a smaller bottom opening. Any interior profile or shape of the
storage apertures
within the plant storage block is contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
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Plants 7 are inserted in the storage apertures 2 for long-term live storage in
accordance with the
method.
The number and size of the storage apertures could vary depending upon the
type or number of
plants that it was desired to store in accordance with the long-term live
storage method of the
present invention within a particular plant storage block and it will be
understood that any type
of a plant storage block having the insulating qualities outlined herein and
having a plurality of
storage apertures of sufficient size to conduct live storage of plants in
accordance with the
remainder of the present invention are contemplated within the scope hereof.
As outlined herein, certain embodiments of the plant storage block in
accordance with the
method and the remainder of the present invention could be made of a buoyant
material such that
they would float in water within the containment of the method. In other
embodiments, the plant
storage block might be manufactured of non-buoyant material such that it would
settle to the
bottom of the containment with the water in the containment therearound. Both
such approaches
is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Dependent on the size or nature of the system which was intended to be used to
practice the
method of the present invention a plurality of plant storage blocks could be
used in a single
containment, to practice the remainder of the invention and the method.
Containment:
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As outlined in more detail elsewhere herein, the containment 8 in which the
plant storage block 1
will be placed can either be a manufactured containment 8, which could either
be used above
ground or in ground, or might be a natural groundwater reservoir or water body
such as a pond,
slough, or even a man-made inground reservoir. Any containment 8 capable of
containing a
layer of water 9 which can engage the bottom surface 4 of the plant storage
blocks 1 is
contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Insofar as the method
of the present
invention is anticipated to be used for large-scale long-term live storage of
plants in an outdoor
setting through multiple seasons including through freezing in the winter, it
is contemplated that
in many cases the containment 8 might be a natural water body of significant
size such that
multiple plant storage blocks 1 could be used to store large numbers of
plants. Any type of an
aboveground report in the ground natural or manufactured containment capable
of accomplishing
the objectives of containing a water layer 9 in the base thereof as well as
one or more plant
storage blocks 1 in accordance with the remainder of the present invention is
contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show two embodiments of the system for the practice the method
of the present
invention with one or more plant storage blocks 1 placed within a containment
8, which
containment 8 contains water 9 in the base thereof. The embodiment of Figure 7
shows a single
plant storage block 1 in an aboveground manufactured containment 8, in the
embodiment of
Figure 8 shows a plurality of plant storage blocks 1 anchored in a natural
water body 8 in a
shoreline erosion control application as outlined elsewhere herein. These are
two basic
embodiments demonstrating some of the options of how the method of the present
invention can
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be practised ¨ it will be understood that there are many other physical
configurations of the
containment and the plant storage blocks that would not depart from the
intended scope of the
invention outlined herein and any such modifications as are obvious to those
skilled in the art are
intended to be within the scope of the present invention as claimed.
Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the system of the present invention in
which a plurality
of plant storage blocks 1 are corralled in the center of a containment 8.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification
the present invention
can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and application. It
will also be obvious to
those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which
to produce the
apparatus and methods of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments
are therefore not
intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the
apparatus and method
to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides
those already
described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.
The inventive
subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the
appended claims.
Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms
should be interpreted in
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the
terms "comprises"
and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components,
or steps in a non-
exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or
steps may be present,
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or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are
not expressly
referenced.
Claims:
1. A method for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said method comprising:
a. placing plants for storage in storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant
storage
block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture
having a
top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom
surface of the block;
b. placing said multi-aperture plant storage block in a containment holding
water
such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the
water;
c. maintaining the water level within the containment while the plant storage
block
is maintained therein; and
d. when it is desired to use the stored plants, removing them from their
respective
storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting elsewhere;
wherein plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to
plants stored
therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage
in all
climates including subzero temperatures.
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2. The method of Claim further comprising the harvesting of plant material
from plants
contained within the plant storage block.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage
apertures in a field-
ready condition.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage
apertures in order to
grow to field-ready condition within the storage apertures.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the containment is selected from the list of:
a. an above-ground manufactured containment;
b. an in-ground manufactured containment; or
c. an inground water body.
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6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage
apertures with soil
media.
7. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage
apertures without soil
media.
8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage
apertures with bare
roots.
9. The method of Claim8 wherein the bare roots convert over time to container
roots.
10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plant storage block is buoyant, to float
on the water
in the containment.
11. The method of Claim 1 further comprising fertilizing the plants while
stored in the plant
storage block.
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12. The method of Claim 1 wherein the during storage of the plants in the
plant storage
block, the water or other contents of the containment are remediated by the
presence of
the plants and their consumption of water therefrom.
13. The method of Claim 1 wherein more than one plant storage block is used to
store plants
within the containment.
14. The method of Claim 10 wherein the containment is a natural water body.
15. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are
corralled and
anchored in the containment by a corralling element therearound.
16. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are
anchored around
the edge of the containment to provide shoreline erosion control.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein once the plants stored therein reach a
predetermined
size the plant storage blocks are removed, leaving full-size plants to
continue growth in
the containment.
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18. A multi-aperture plant storage block for multi-seasonal storage of live
plants, said plant
storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage
aperture having a
top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom
surface
of the block;
wherein the plant storage block can be placed in a containment holding water
such that
the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
and
wherein the plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to
plants stored
therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage
in subzero
temperatures.
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