MILIEU ORGANIQUE AERE A ARROSAGE CONTINU POUR PLANTES ET GRAINES

AERATED CONTINUOUSLY WATERED PLANT AND SEED ORGANIC GROWING MEDIUM AND CONTAINER FOR SAME

Abrégé anglais

Abstract of the Disclosure
An organic growing medium for plants or seeds placed
in standing water is exposed to humid air over its substantial
outer side surface thereby making air available to plant roots.
The growing medium may be in a pot having porous sidewalls which
allows air to be admitted into the pot or air openings may be
formed in the pot sidewalls. The pot may further sit in a con-
tainer wherein an air passageway is formed between the container
and the pot to provide humid air around the growing medium.
Alternately, the growing medium may be spaced from the container
wall having air openings and an air chamber is formed between the
growing medium and the container wall. A plant or seed may be
placed in a growing medium centrally located of alternate air
chambers and growing mediums formed by pairs of spaced apart walls
having air openings therein allowing air to communicate to the
growing medium and to allow the plant roots to grow from one
growing medium into an air chamber and thence into the next grow-
ing medium.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as
follows:
1. A growing medium adapted for all seed and
plants growing together at the same time which is continu-
ously aerated and watered comprising, said growing medium
having a substantial surface freely and continuously exposed
to fresh air from an air source and sufficiently porous to
allow air to freely circulate therethrough and having properties
allowing capillary action to transmit water throughout the
growing medium, a water source in direct communication with
said growing medium freely supplying said growing medium with
as much water as it will naturally hold thereby substantially
saturating said growing medium and maintaining said growing
medium in a substantially saturated condition adapted for
providing fresh humidified air to seed or plant roots in the
growing medium.
2. The growing medium of claim 1 wherein said
growing medium is organic and includes a bottom end sub-
stantially immersed in said water source.
3. A method of improving natural growth of plants
or seeds in a continuously aerated and watered growing medium
comprising the steps of, providing a seed or a plant in a
growing medium sufficiently porous to allow air to freely
and continuously circulate therethrough and having proper-
ties allowing capillary action to transmit water throughout
to maintain said growing medium in a substantially saturated
condition, exposing a substantial surface of said growing
medium to a fresh air source for circulation of fresh

air throughout said growing medium, and maintaining said
growing medium in substantially continuous communication
with a water source freely supplying said growing medium
with as much water as it will naturally hold thereby sub-
stantially saturating said growing medium and maintaining
said growing medium in a substantially saturated condition
adapted for providing fresh humidified air to seed or plant
roots in the growing medium.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said growing
medium is organic and said step of maintaining said growing
medium in substantially continuous communication with a water
source includes positioning the substantial lower end of
said growing medium in a water source.
5. A potted growing medium adapted for all seeds
and plants growing together at the same time which is con-
tinuously aerated and watered comprising, a container having
a wall, said growing medium in said container, said growing
medium being sufficiently porous to allow air to freely
circulate therethrough and having properties allowing capillary
action to transmit water throughout the growing medium, a
water source in continuous contact with said growing medium
fully supplying said growing medium with as much water as
it will naturally hold to substantially saturate said grow-
ing medium and maintain it in a substantially saturated
condition throughout, and a fresh air source in continuous
communication with said growing medium to provide a sub-
stantially continuous supply of fresh air throughout said
growing medium with said air having been humidified by
passing through said saturated growing medium and
16

thereby supplying fresh humidified air to seed or plant
roots in the growing medium.
6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
includes openings over its substantial sidewall area to
provide communication between said fresh air source and
said growing medium.
7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said growing
medium is organic and the bottom end of said growing
medium is immersed in said water source.
8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said container
is positioned in a second container with said first and
second container sidewalls being in spaced relationship
to provide a humidity chamber in communication with said
water source and fresh air source and said growing medium.
9. The structure of claim 5 wherein said growing
medium and said container wall are spaced apart to provide
a humidity chamber around said growing medium.
10. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
includes a plurality of telescopically interconnected
sections.
11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the connection
between said sections includes said openings for admitting
air around said growing medium.
12. The structure of claim 5 wherein said growing
medium and said container wall are spaced apart to provide
a humidity chamber around said growing medium, and said
air source includes said humidity chamber being open at
the top of said container for communication with outside
air.
13. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
includes sidewalls in contact with the sides of said
growing medium.
17

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said container
sidewalls contact with said growing medium sides is
substantially coextensive.
15. The structure of claim 13 wherein said sidewalls
of said container include openings.
16. The structure of claim 13 wherein an enclosure
is provided in which said container is positioned and said
enclosure is larger than said container to provide a chamber
along at least a portion of said container to provide humid
air to said growing medium, and said chamber is in
communication with said water source.
17. The structure of claim 16 wherein said chamber
is substantially closed at the top of the walls of said
enclosure and container but sufficiently open to allow
admission of a limited amount of air.
18 The structure of claim 16 wherein said enclosure
includes a second container larger than said first container
and having coextensive sidewalls in spaced relation to
define said chamber.
19. The structure of claim 18 wherein a third con-
tainer is provided and said second container is positioned
in said third container, said third container is suffi-
ciently larger than said second container to provide a
second chamber between said second and third container and
said growing medium is provided in said second chamber and
said growing medium in said second chamber is accessible
by roots of said plants in said first container through
said openings in the sidewalls of said first and second
containers.
20. The structure of claim 19 wherein a fourth con-
tainer is provided and said third container is positioned
in said fourth container, said fourth container is suffi-
18

ciently larger than said third container to provide a
third chamber between said third and fourth containers, and
said third chamber is in communication with said water
source and the outside air, said third container sidewall
includes openings for communication of air from said third
chamber to said plant roots in said growing medium in
said second chamber.
21. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
sidewall is substantially porous to allow air to enter
said container through said sidewall over its substantial
area and expose the substantial exterior of said growing
medium.
22. The structure of claim 21 wherein said container
is made from peat material.
23. The structure of claim 21 wherein said container
sidewall has air openings over its substantial area in
communication with the outside air.
24. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
and air source are further defined as being a building and
said growing medium is in spaced relationship to the side-
walls of said building to provide an air chamber around said
growing medium and said building includes air openings for
admitting air into said chamber.
25. The structure of claim 24 wherein said growing
medium is in intimate contact along its outside surface
with a pot and said pot includes air openings over its
substantial area to supply air around the substantial
exterior of said growing medium.
26. The structure of claim 25 wherein said air
openings are further defined by said pot being made of a
substantially porous material that allows air to flow
therethrough.
19

27. The structure of claim 25 wherein said air
openings are formed in said pot sidewall over its sub-
stantial area and are larger in area than the pores of
said material.
28. The structure of claim 5 wherein said container
includes a plurality of pots in side-by-side spaced
relationship and each pot includes a portion of said
growing medium and said container and water supply include
standing water in communication with the bottom of each of
said growing medium portions through openings in the bottom
of said pots.
29. The structure of claim 28 wherein said container
further includes a plurality of side-by-side chambers in
which said pots are positioned and each of said pots is
smaller than said chamber to provide an air space between
said chamber wall and said pot wall with said air source
being in communication with said air space and said
pot wall having openings in its substantial area for
placing said growing medium portions in communication
with said air chamber whereby plant roots have access
to humid air.
30. The structure of claim 28 wherein said plurality
of pots are included in a pot enclosure having a size
smaller than said container to provide an air chamber
between said pot enclosure and said container, and a
plurality of walls extend across said pot enclosure to
form said plurality of pots, and said pot enclosure
includes air openings over its substantial area to provide
communication between said air chamber and each of said
pots.
31. The structure of claim 30 wherein said air
chamber is in communication with the outside air at
the top thereof.

32. The structure of claim 31 wherein said pot
enclosure and said container include mating peripheral top
flanges to provide a restricted air opening into said chamber.
33. The structure of claim 30 wherein said plur-
ality of walls includes pairs of spaced apart walls having
air openings to form an air chamber therebetween and said air
chamber being in communication with said air source and the
inside of said pots around said growing medium portions.
34. A growing medium adapted for all seed and plants
growing together at the same time which is continuously
aerated and watered comprising, a plant having roots in said
growing medium and said growing medium having a substantial
surface freely and continuously exposed to fresh air from
an air source and sufficiently porous to allow air to freely
circulate therethrough and having properties allowing capillary
action to transmit water throughout the growing medium, a water
source in direct communication with said growing medium freely
supplying said growing medium with as much water as it will
naturally hold thereby substantially saturating said growing
medium and maintaining said growing medium in a substantially
saturated condition adapted for providing fresh humidified
air to seed or plant roots in the growing medium.
35. A continuously aerated and watered potted plant
comprising, a container having a wall, a growing medium
in said container, said growing medium being sufficiently
porous to allow air from an air source to freely
circulate therethrough and having properties allowing
capillary action to transmit water throughout the growing
medium, a plant having roots in said growing medium,
a water source in continuous contact with said
21

growing medium fully supplying said growing medium with as
much water as it will naturally hold to substantially
saturate said growing medium and maintain it in a
substantially saturated condition throughout, and said
air source being fresh and in continuous communication with
said growing medium to provide a substantially continuous
supply of fresh air throughout said growing medium with
said air having been humidified by passing through said
saturated growing medium to provide fresh humidified air
to said plant roots in the growing medium.
36. The structure of claim 35 wherein said container
includes openings over its substantial sidewall area to
provide communication between said fresh air source and
said growing medium.
37. The structure of claim 36 wherein said growing
medium is organic and the bottom end of said growing
medium is immersed in said water source.
38. The structure of claim 37 wherein said con-
tainer is positioned in a second container with said
first and second container sidewalls being in spaced
relationship to provide a humidity chamber in communication
with said water source and fresh air source and said
growing medium.
39. A continuously aerated and watered potted plant
comprising, a pair of containers in nesting relationship
defining an annular air chamber therebetween in communica-
tion with the atmosphere, said pair of containers including
an inner container and an outer container with said inner
container having openings distributed over its substantial
sidewall to provide communication between said chamber and
the interior of said inner container, a watering tray and said
pair of containers being positioned in said watering
container with means provided in the bottom of said inner
22

and outer containers for communication between said
watering tray and the interior of said inner container,
an organic growing medium in said inner container suffi-
ciently porous to allow air to freely circulate therethrough
and having properties allowing capillary action to trans-
mit water throughout the growing medium, a plant having
roots in said growing medium, and a water source contin-
uously maintained in said watering tray with the lower end
of said growing medium being immersed therein for freely
supplying said growing medium with as much water as it will
naturally hold and thereby substantially saturating said grow-
ing medium and maintaining said growing medium in a substan-
tially saturated condition adapted for providing fresh
humidified air to plant roots in the growing medium.
40. A continuously aerated and watered seed or plant
growing medium comprising, said growing medium having a sub-
stantial surface freely and continuously exposed to air
from an air source and sufficiently porous to allow air
to freely circulate therethrough and having properties
allowing capillary action to transmit water throughout the
growing medium; said growing medium positioned in a con-
tainer having a wall, with said container including a plur-
ality of telescopically interconnected sections, and a water
source in communication with said growing medium freely
supplying said growing medium with as much water as it
will hold thereby substantially wetting said growing medium
and maintaining said growing medium in a substantially wetted
condition for providing humidified air to seed or plant
roots in the growing medium.
23

41. The structure of claim 40 wherein the connec-
tion between said sections includes said openings for ad-
mitting air around said growing medium.
42. A continuously aerated and watered seed or
plant growing medium comprising, said growing medium having
a substantial surface freely and continously exposed to
air from an air source and sufficiently porous to allow air
to freely circulate therethrough and having properties
allowing capillary action to transmit water throughout the
growing medium; said growing medium positioned in a container
having a wall, with said growing medium and said container
wall being spaced apart to provide a humidity chamber around
said growing medium, and said air source including said
humidity chamber being open at the top of said container
for communication with outside air, and a water source in
communication with said growing medium freely supplying said
growing medium with as much water as it will hold thereby
substantially wetting said growing medium and maintaining said
growing medium in a substantially wetted condition for pro-
viding humidified air to seed or plant roots in the growing
medium.
24

Description

1083817
Background o~ thc Invcn~ion
A common problem in growing plants is if they are over- ¦
watered they can be injured or killed. Furthermore, plants can
become "root bound" and stop growing until they are transplanted
into a larger container. The supplying of nutrients to the grow-
ing medium can also be a problem in terms of supplying the correct
nutrients and in the right amounts.
The invention is a discovery which occurred upon providi~g
compressed peat moss in a container having telescoping sections
which would expand upon the compressed peat moss being subjected t
moisture. The expandable telescopic container allowed air to
enter through the section connections and thus aerated the expandel 3
peat moss. It was learned through usage that this particular pot,
unlike other pots heretofore known, could maintain a growing plant
while being continuously watered by the pot being maintained in
standing water. Further study indlcated that continuous watering
was possible due to the fact that the growing medium and the
roots of the plant were receiving air that neutralized the normall
negative
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1083817
effects of over watering. A humidity chamber existed be-
tween the expanded peat moss and the sidewalls of the teles-
copic contailler sections and the roots of the plant would
grow into this humidity chamber. It became apparent that
the roots were then receiving nourishment from the nutrients
in the air since the plants generally thrived in these grow-
ing conditio~s.
SummarY of the InVention
This invention involves a method of growing plants
and containers for these plants which allows them to grow
while the growing medium is in standing water. This is
accomplished by aerating the growing medium around its ex-
terior surfaces and preferably providing humid air to the
growing medium and the plant roots. The plant will grow
successfully even if the air is dry while being maintained
in standing water but will show increased growth if the grow-
ing medium is placed in an aerated humid environment.
Specifically, air is allowed to reach the growing
medium which is preferably organic material by the pot mater-
ial being formed from very porous material such as peat whichallows air to pass through the sidewalls of the container.
Alternatively, air holes may be provided in the substantial
area of the container wall. In some instances the expanded
peat moss does not require a container to hold the growing
medium together and in that case the container is spaced from
the sides of the peat thereby forming a humid air chamber surround-
ing the peat. The air chamber gains its humidity from the moist
E

~J `I 1083817
~>C`a~ whicl~ sL:allcli.llg Wa~Cl'. 1~ I~Ulnidil~y CIIC~ Cr l~lay also I
~e ~rovided by placinJ a plan~ a con~ailler having air holcs in ¦
~urn main~aincd in a grecnhousc having a l~ulni.cl atlno;~l~crc.
Thc prO~illlity of t]lC air ~ thc (Jrowi.nJ Incdiuln alld l)lallt
roo~s dcpends on tlle porosity of thc growillg n~ccliulm a~ld the con-
tainer walls if any and thc plant bu~ in gcneral a eon~ainer may
be provided that includes altel^natcly a growing medium Wit]l the
plant in the center and rings of air ehambers and growiny mc~iums
eneireling the eentrally loeated plant with ~hc walJ.s ~or~in(J tlle
air ehambcr~ and growing medium ehall~crs beillg supplied with air
openillcJs for eommunieation of the air and for the roots to yrow
from one 3rowing medium to the next through the air ehalll~c~ ny
number oE rings of air ehambers and growiny mediums may be pro-
vided sueh that the plant would be able to grow indefini~ely with-
out being transplanted Lf the eontainer is large enough.
A number of pots may be made up by providing a plurality
of transversely extending walls in a larger pot assembly having
apertured sidewalls for eommunieation with an air ellantber. The
transversely extending walls may be in parallel spaeed apart pairs
to provide air ehan~ers along a~ least some of the sides of the .
smaller pots. Also a eontainer may have a plurality of side-by-
side ehambers whieh reeeive individual pots having apertured side- .
walls which provide eommunieation between the growing Medium and
tlle air el!an~er between the eon~ainer walls and thc a~ tured po~
walls. I
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10838~7
~acll oE thc en~odimcnts o~ this invcntion illustrate
¦tl~at plants cannot bc overwatcred i~ aeratioll o~ tllc orgallic
¦grOWinCJ mcdium is maintained ancl the plant's yrow~l~ will not l~c
¦stuntecl or terminatcd by becomillc3 "root boulld" and thus ha~e tc) bc
¦ trclnsplalltccl. The only reason for transylantinc3 woulcl ~c i~ thc
¦plant requircd a larger base to support ~he increased plant si~e.
~cscription oE thc Drawinqs
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the col~apsed contain-
er containing compressed peat moss.
¦- Figure 2 is an exploded view similar to FicJure 1 but
_ I showing the shipping cover removed.
' Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken aloncJ linc
l 3 - 3 in Figure 2. -
I ¦ Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken alongline 4 - 4 in Figure 2.
¦ Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the containcr in
¦ its eXPanded condition.
FicJure 6 is a cross scctional vicw takell a]ol~cJ linc
¦ 6 - 6 in Figure 5 and showing water being applied to t~e peat
moss alicl solu~lc wax contaillincJ ~hc sicc~ls.
Figure 7 is a cross sectional vicw taken aloncJ line
7 - 7 in l'igure 6.
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~08381~
~,~'1 i
Fi~Jure ~ is a fra~Jmenl:ary view of the containcr showing
plants that have grown from the secds. , -
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view similar to Fiyure 6but showing the plant aftcr root growtll has occured wherei2l the
roots are feeding on humid air in the humidity chamber bctwcen th~
container sidewalls and the growin~ medium.
Figure 10 is an exploded fraymcntary pcrspective view
of the container having a pot assembly with apertured sidewalls
and transversely extending walls defining individual plant pots
and air chambers.
Figure 11 is a fraymentary top plan view thereof.
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view takcn along line
~12 - 12 in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar tc
Figure 12.
, Figure 14 is a modified embodiment of that shown in
Figures 10 - 13 wherein an air chamber is provided on all sides o
the individual pots by the transversely extending walls being in~ ,
~ ~ pairs and spaced apart.
`~ Figure 15 is an alternate embodiment of this invention
~` wherein a container` includes a plurality of chambers which receiv
individual pots~having air hole9 in the sidewalls for transmissio
of air from an air chamber to the growing medium and for the root
~to grow into the air chamber.
- ~ ~ Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken along line
16 - 16 in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a furt}ler alternate en~odilllellt wherein a
plurality of concentric alternating growing medium5 and air cham-
. -6-
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- 10838~7
bers arc provi~ed for plan~c; as they grow in size such that their
roots are always in communication with humid air.
Figure 18 is a cross sectional view taken along line
18 - 18 in Figure 17.
Figure 19 is a side elevation view of a hothouse func-
tioning as a humid air chamber around an aerated potted plant.
Figure 20 is a cross sectional elevational view of a
plant in~an aerated container being continuously watered and
exposed to dry air.
Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20 but showing
the container of a naturally porous material having air trans-
mission capability.
; Description of the Preferred Embodiment
_ The flower box of Figures 1 - 8 is referred to generally
in Figure 1 by the reference numeral lo and includes a container
12 rectangular in shape open at the top except for a removable
shipping cover 14. A variable size container 16 is positioned
in the box 12 and includes a plurality of telescopically inter-
connected nesting sections 20 with the bottom section having a
bottom wall 2 The top section is substantially closed by a
. ,
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A
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~- ... . ~ .

0~3817
¦ CO\~ llaVill-J all eloll(Jatcd c~crlin~3 2G along tho ]ollgitudirlal
¦c~n~r linc of thc~ containcr 16 for ~xposiny seeds 28 ~mb~ddcd
¦in a lay~r of water solublc wax 30 on top o~ comprcsscd pcat moss
132. It is sc~en in E~igur~ 3 tllat t}~ coml~r~sscd pca~ mos~ 32
¦occupies in the collapsible containcr 16 only a portion of thc
¦total space available in the container 16 when comparcd with the
¦expanded size of the container.
¦ Each of the telescopic sections 20 include bottom peri-
¦pheral inwardly extending flanges 40 for engagement with outward-
¦ly extending peripheral flanyes 42 on the upper end of tlle next
¦lower section 20.
¦ The flower box lQ is assem~led by first placing the
¦compressed peat moss in the telescopic container 16 and applying
¦seeds 28 to the top of the peat moss followed by a hcated coating
¦of water soluble wax 30 for securing the seeds 28 to the pcat
¦moss during shipment and the like. The cover 24 is then placed
¦on the top telescopic sections 20 followed by the shipping cover
¦14. Upon arrival at the destination and in preparation for use
~¦ the shipping cover 14 is removed and discarded and as seen in
Figure 3, water 44 is applied from a faucet ar container 46 to
¦the wax 30 which in turn dissolves it and allows it to wash away
¦leaving the seeds 28 which can now germinate and begin growing in
¦the moistened and expanded-peat moss 32. The expansion of the
¦ peat moss causes the telescopic section 20 to expand to the condi-
tion of Figure 6. Future watering is accomplished by providing
water 48 in the watering tray 12. As scen in Fiyuro 8, plants 50
¦ are produccd by the seeds 2E3 and extend upwardly throucJh the
opcni g 26 in the cover 24.

33817
It is appleciated tllat the ~lowcr ~ox oE this illvcntion
involves ~ascinating, if not macJical, qualitics tha~ are appre-
ciated by tlle user whell water is a~plied to the oi~eninc3 2G in the
cover 24. The cxpandablc container 16 begins rlsing bc~ore the
user's eye for no apparent reason followed by gradual disappear-
ance of the wax 30 which as indicated leaves the seeds 28. The
drama continues days la-ter as the plants 50 beyin to appear.
In Figure 9 greater detail of the inside of the contain-
er is shown wherein a humidity chamber 52 is seen between the
expanded peat moss 32 and the sidewalls of the telescopically
interconnected nesting sections 20. In reality the compressed
peat moss when expanded by the application of water expands verti-
cally and not laterally significantly thus forming the humidity
chamber 52 since the walls flare outwardly from the base upwardly.
The arrows 54 indicate air entering the chamber 52 throuyh the
joints interconnecting the telescopic sections 20. The air in the
chamber 52 is humid due to the moist peat 32 in continuous contact
with the standing water 48. Thus the roots 56 of the plants 50
are exposed to air and moisture in the chamber 52. The air con-
tains certain nutrients upon which the plant 50 will feed.-
An alternate embodiment of this invention is shown inFigures 10 - 13 with a further modified version being shown in
Figure 14. A watering tray 60 contain~r3standing water 62 receives
a rectangular in shape container 64 which in turn receives a pot
assembly 66. Bottom wateriny holes 68 are provided in the bottom
wall 70 of the container 64 for transmission of water 62 through
the watering holes 72 in the ~ottom wall 74 of the pot assen~ly

~ 1083817
66 to t~lC orcJal-ic cJrowil~g m~clium 76 cotltai.nincJ a plal~t 78 . ~ri-c
¦extcrior sicle ancl end walls 80 and 82, resp~ctively, of the pot
¦assembly enclosure 66 include air holes 8~ throug}lout t~)eir sub-
stantial arca. Individual pots 86 are ~onned by divid~r walls 88
in parallel spaced relationship and define an air cham~er 92
therebetween. Individual pots further comprise the transversely
extending walls 94 which as seen in Figures 10 and 11 are not
apertured since air supplied from the chamber 90 on one side of
the growing medium 76 is sufficient when taken along with the air
supplied from the air chamber 100 between the pot assembly wall
and the container wall, as seen in Fiyure 12. The pot assembly is
sufficiently smaller than the container 64 to provide the air
chamber 100 on all sides of the pot assembly. Mating top outwardl
extending flanges 102 and 104 are provided on the pot assembly
enclosure 66 and the container 64, respectively. Air holes 108
: .
and 110 are provided in the flanges 102 and 104, respectively~ for
communication between the air chamber 100 and the atmosphere.
~ ' The air chamber 92 between the longitudinally extending
:~; walls 88 is maintained by the transversely extending walls 94 whic
'interlock through interlocking serrations 112 and 11~. The serra-
tions 114 are on opposite sides of any spacer element 116 position d
between the walls 88 and in the chamber 92. The walls 88 are also
provi'ded with air openings 118 for communication between the air
chamber 92 and the growing medium 76. As seen in Figure 13, the
~ lower ends of the wa'lls 88 are also received in longitudinally
: extendlng grooves 120 to maintain the lower cnds of the walls in
spaced relationship. The water 62 in the`watering tray 60 is
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83817
maintainecl ill a Lrougll 122 ~elow thc ap~rtures G8 in thc con~ailler¦
bottom wall 70 and also the watering hole 72,in the bottom wall 74
of thc pot assembly cnclosure 6G. l'o prcvcn~ a scal occuril)c~
be~twccll thc bottom wall 74 and 70, tl~e yrooves 120 fonn downwardly
extending spacer shouldcrs 126 to maintaill the two bot~om walls
in spaced relationship, as seen in Figures 12 and 13.
Further air may be prov.ided to the individual pots 86
by a pair of walls 94 being provided extending transversely to the
walls 88, as seen in Figure 14, and thercby defining an additional
chamber 130 in communication with the adja'cent growiny mcdiums 7G. :~:
It is seen that the plants 78 include roots 132 which grow outward
ly in search of air and moisture and nutrients supplied in the air
and actually grow through the openings 118 and 84 where they
thrive in the humid air chambers 92 and 130 formed'by the walls
88 and 94, respectively, along with the air chamber 100 extending
around the outside of the pots 86.
A,further alternate embodiment is illustrated in
Figures 15 and 16 and is referred to generally by the reference
numeral 140 and includes a watering tray 142 containing water 144
in communication with a plurality of chambers 146 formed by walls -
148. The chambers 146 receive individual pots 150 having sidewall ,
52 including air openings 154. The pots 150 are smaller than the
and
chambers 146/thereby form an air chamber 156 around the pots 150,
An outwardly extending peripheral flange 158 on the pots 150 rest
on the upper edges of the walls 148 to restric~ air entcring the
air chamber 156. Air openings 160 are provided for the admission
of air into the chamber 156. The chamber walls 148 are linked
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~ I 1083817
together by blidging horizolltal portioll 162, as seen in E'igurc 16.
Support and spacer legs 164 maintain the botton~of the cham~ers
146 above the bottom wall of the wa~cring tray 1~2, as scen in
Figure 16.
A plant 164 is provided in the organic growillcJ medium
166 and includes roots 168 in the growing medium which extend out-
wardly in search of the humid air in the humidity chambcr lSG, as
seen by the root in 170 in the chamber 156. Water from the tray
142 rises in the chamber 156 to the level of the water in the tray
and thus maintains the air humid. Water also enters the chamber
through bottom watering holes ~72 which are also in communication
¦with watering hole 174 in the pot bottom wall 176.
¦ In Figure 16 a cover 178 is provided over the top of the
Ipot 150 and engages the flanges 158. Through use of this top an
¦additional h~mid air chamber 180 is provided around a plant stock
¦portion 182 which-due to the optimum growing conditions produces
roots 184 above the growing medium 166. This is further proof of
¦the desirability of maintaining humid air within reach of the plant
root structure since it encourages root growth and thus plant grow 1.
¦ In Figures 17 and 18 a further embodiment is shown and it
. ~ l
:- ~ is referred to generally by the reference numeral 190 and includes
a watering tray 192 containing water 194. An outer plant container
¦196 ls provided which is generally square in shape.
'' ¦ ~ An oryanic growing medium ball 198 containing a plant
200 is positioned in the center of the container 196 in a first
~- ¦chamber 202. A seCond chamber 204 is defined by a pair o~ conccn- I
~,; ¦tric spaced apart walls 206 and this chamber functions as a llumidit!y
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10~3817
air e1~(lnl~C1~ Ne.~L, a <JLO~/illg mediulll chcl~ cr 20~3 is clcrined i~y
spaced apart walls 2~6 and 210 and con~ai21s the organic yrowing
¦medium material 19~. Again movin~J collccrl~rically outward]y,
another air chamber 212 is defined by spaced apart walls 210 and
214. Lastly, a growing medium chamber 216 is deined by the wall
214 and a wall 21~ and an air chamber 220 is provided betwccn thc
wall 218 and the walls o~ the container 1~6. ~ach oE the walls,
it is seen, include apertures 222 over their substantial area fo~
transmission of humid air as well as to allow the roots 224 to
grow freely outwardly in the growing mediums and air chambers in
the pursuit of moist air and nourishment. ~n aligned series of
openings 226 in the center of the series of wall containers trans-
mit water 194 from the tray 192 into each of the chambers to pro-
vide moist growing mediums and humid air chambers. 'Thus it is
seen that as the plant grows from a small plant, as seen by the
solid lines in Figure 18, to a large plant, as seen by the dash
lines, the root structure is always within reach of fresh moist
air. The plant 200 may ~e referred to as "leapfrogging" ~rom one
chamber to the next outwardly concentrix chamber. This structure
allows the plant to never have to be transplanted as it can be
started out as a seed or a very small plant in a very large con-
tainer and continue to grow in this container to a large size
plant. `
As previously indicated, one oE the conccpts of this
invention is that continuou5 watering of plants may be practiced
if air is made available to the growincJ mcdium and plant roots.
While the air is preferably humid air since the plant will grow
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0~38~7
~ I,J(~ ;.iv~ y 1,~ y .~ l.i.cc~ 20-
¦'l'lle cJrowilly m~clium 230 is of oryanic matcrial in a pot 232 havillcJ
¦ air o~cnillcJs 23~ sul~stantiall.~ uniLorlllly clistri~u~ -.l ovcr ~lle sid~.
walls oE thc pot. I~o l~umid ai.r c,h~lml~c.r as .sucll is ~ ovi.cl~^.d in
¦ this arranc,lclllcnt. Water 236 Erom a watcring tray 23~ is ~u~plicd
¦ throu(3h ~ottom watering holes 240 in thc pot 232. It has been
¦ found tlla~ tlle roots 242 will cJrow outwardly to tllc OpCIlillCJs 2
¦ in t]~c containcr wall but duc to thc air ~cing dry will not
¦ siyniFicantly grow throucJlI the containcr wall openings 234, ~OIl-
¦-tinuous watcring may be practiced, howcvcr.
¦ -In Fiyure 21 the same arranyelllcllt is showll but the con-
., ¦ taillcr 232~ is made oE a material such as pcat wllicll has su~stall-
¦ tial porosity to allow air, indicatcd }~y the arl-ows 24G, to pass
¦ through the walls. Other plastic mater,ials that are suEEicicntly
. ¦ porous Eor air transmission may be used.
: ¦ In Figure 19 a hothouse 250 is sllowll whicll includcs,a
, . ¦ llumid air chamber 252 surrounding a plant 254'in a pot 256 having
¦ air apertures 258 for transmission of the humid air to the yrow- .
¦ ing mcdiuM and also so allow the roots of the-plant to cJrow out
~:~ of-the pot in search of the nu~ritious and moist air. ~ con~inu-
.~ . ous watcrinc3 tray 2G0 is providccl for t]lC pot 256. 'l`l~is arran~JcA-
ment would ~e used in commerciaJ. productlon of plants. It is
i~ ' . und~rstood that theA air would transmit tllrouyh tlle cY~terior WaA11S
", ~ of the llothouse 250. ' .,. '. . ,
.~ ~ - '
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