Abstract: A plant package includes a flower pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve which may be provided with detaching elements at preselected areas. When the sleeve is positioned about the flower pot, a decorative lower portion of the sleeve contains the flower pot, and a skirt portion of the sleeve is disposed about a lower portion of the floral grouping contained within the flower pot.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for separating two or more seed fractions having different germination quality, to a method for preparing a seed fraction enriched in seed quality, and to the use of a magnetic field. The method for separating two or more seed fractions having different germination quality comprises: mixing a feed of seeds comprising seeds with at least two densities with a magnetic fluid thereby obtaining a mixture, and applying a magnetic field to the mixture such that the mixture is exposed to a magnetic gradient so as to separate two or more seed fractions with different densities.

Abstract: The present invention is a plant supporting structure that provides effective support to a fruit bearing plant. It consists of two courses of rings that are vertically spaced. The rings in the outer course form an enclosure within which the rings from the inner course may be placed. The rings are held in place by spines. Each spine ascends vertically, successively connecting the rings of the outer course, and then descends vertically, connecting the rings of the inner course. The spines are spaced around the circumference of the rings. In some embodiments, the bottom ring of the outer course has the largest diameter of all the rings. In such embodiments, the bottom ring may sit on the ground or other plant growing surface and support the entire structure. The outer bottom ring may be lower than the inner bottom ring, thus preventing the fruits from touching the ground.

Abstract: In a germination/growing apparatus having: a heat shield chamber that can be opened and closed; an illuminator for illuminating the inside of the heat shield chamber; a temperature regulator for heating and/or cooling the inside of the heat shield chamber; and a controller for controlling the temperature regulator, whereby seeds or plants are contained in the germination/growing apparatus for germinating or growing in the heat shield chamber, a breath inspirer for inspiring a human breath to the heat shield chamber is provided. With this configuration, the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the heat shield chamber can be increased, and the growth of the plant can be promoted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a mulching sheet which easy to biodegrade and can be produced at a low cost. A cotton waste sheet is prepared with randomly accumulated cotton waste and impurities selected from a group consisting of cottonseeds, stems, leaves and calyxes of cotton tree. Water is sprayed to the cotton waste sheet. Thereafter, the cotton waste sheet is passed between a pair of calender rolls each taking a form of a Japanese drum, while being heated, to press the cotton waste sheet in the thickness direction. The cotton waste is thereby closed, and the obtained mulching sheet has a high tensile strength. Furthermore, the impurities in the cotton waste sheet are crushed or flatted. The mulching sheet is a mixture of parts made of flatted impurities and parts made of cotton waste.

Abstract: A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material.

Abstract: A small and compact, easy-to-use soil moisture management device is disclosed that is economical to produce, efficient to use, has a scientific measurement system and is easy for the user to read the moisture needs of a plant in a hanging container. The device includes a housing that is attached at one end to hardware for supporting the device and a hanging basket that contains a plant in soil and moisture in varying amounts in the soil. The device also includes a moving member that is biased by a spring against the gravitational pull on the hanging basket, plant, soil and moisture. The spring and a portion of the moving member is contained in the housing. The moving member also contains visual indicators of the position of the moving member against the bias provided by the spring to indicate the amount of moisture in the soil.

Abstract: A method for applying a water soluble soil stabilizer to soil wherein the soil stabilizer is added to a solid carrier.

Abstract: A stackable planter has a generally rectangular base having a base area. A hollow leg is attached to opposite sides of the base. Each leg has an open top, the open top of each leg being adjacent opposite sides of the base. The area of the open top is less than the base area. Interconnected sidewalls extend from the base and the legs to define a cavity for planting soil. A removable cover fits over the open area of each leg. These covers also fit on the rectangular base. The base, covers and open tops of the legs are sized such that the covers may be placed on the base and not extend into the open area of the legs and each cover can be placed over the open area of a leg fully covering the open area. The sidewalls and the legs are sized and configured so that one planter body can be positioned within another planter for storage and shipment.

Abstract: A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.

Abstract: An all-natural fiber biodegradable generally planar mat for use in the germination, growth enhancement and propagation of plants and trees and the suppression of weed growth is provided. The present invention comprises a generally planer layer of at least one or a combination of natural fibers including, but not limited to, human hair, animal hair, coconut fiber, seaweed, kelp, cotton, corn silk and peat moss, and alternatively may incorporate a plurality of man-made fibers. Such mat may be constructed using needle punching, hydro-entanglement, or aero-entanglement. The generally planar mat in a wide variety of constructions is used in various methodologies of promoting seed germination, root growth, spot growth on existing plantings, landscaping under-laminate, soil additive, and as a weed control and pest deterrent in the horticultural field.

Abstract: A transplantable plant container assembly is provided for containing a growing medium for a plant that significantly promotes air root pruning. The container assembly includes a container device that includes a sidewall support and a bottom support collectively defining an interior cavity. The sidewall support is comprised of a lattice framework defining a plurality of spaced apertures that extend from an interior wall to an exterior wall thereof. A relatively thin, moisture absorbent liner material is disposed adjacent to the lattice framework. The liner material is sufficiently penetrable to enable root penetration therethrough, by the plant, at the apertures. However, the liner material must also have sufficient structural integrity, when moist, to bound the growing medium and moisture across the spaced apertures of the lattice framework when contained in the interior cavity.

Abstract: A hydraulically-applied mulch matrix comprising non-porous particles, porous particles and mixtures thereof combined with a mechanically and or chemically bonded fiber mulch mixed within a high viscosity slurry to keep the particles in suspension for dispersion onto soil surfaces with mulch spraying equipment for enhanced erosion control and higher level plant establishment.

Abstract: A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a visual attenuation composition applicable to a landscape to visually attenuate or camouflage the landscape to approximate color characteristics of the surrounding terrain. The visual attenuation composition includes a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof, and optionally includes an additive selected from the group consisting of a flocculent, a tackifier, a stabilizer, and combinations thereof. The visual attenuation composition may further include a liquid medium such as water to form a slurry suitable for spray application. The visual attenuation composition described herein can be combined with a soil treatment product to impart desirable color and colorfastness. Alternatively, the soil treatment product can be first applied to the landscape prior to the application of the visual attenuation composition.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for aeroponically growing and developing plants that comprises a reservoir for containing a liquid nutrient solution, a conical tower, a power supply, and a pump to move the liquid nutrient solution through the apparatus. The apparatus utilizes a pump to move the liquid nutrient solution from the reservoir vertically to a distribution pipe. Gravity then pulls the liquid nutrient solution downward through the distribution pipe, which is sealed at the opposite end. The pressure created within the distribution pipe creates sufficient force to disperse the liquid nutrient solution through the opening(s) in the distribution pipe onto the exposed root mass. Once the nutrient solution has been dispersed into the conical tower it is absorbed by the exposed root mass. The un-absorbed liquid nutrient solution collects the in base of the conical tower and is returned to the reservoir to be reused.

Abstract: A bird repellent apparatus having an integral base member and a plurality of prongs. The base member, by means of a plurality of tabs having holes for receiving screws or other fasteners, can be affixed to virtually any desired surface. The plurality of prongs with sharp tips presents an impossible barrier to birds that would otherwise land or perch on the surface to which the present invention is affixed. The combined base member and prongs are formed from injection molded plastic structure that also provide the tabs having holes to secure the base member to the underlying surface.

Abstract: A seed sampling system includes a seed transport configured to hold multiple individual seeds together as a group and transport the multiple individual seeds together as the group, and to allow the multiple individual seeds to be oriented, substantially simultaneously, while the multiple individual seeds are being held in the seed transport. The seed sampling system also includes a seed sampling subsystem configured to remove tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds. And, a method for removing tissue from the multiple individual seeds includes loading the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport, orienting the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport substantially simultaneously, and removing tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds.

Abstract: A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.

Abstract: A bird repellent apparatus having an integral base member and a plurality of prongs. The base member, by means of a plurality of tabs having holes for receiving screws or other fasteners, can be affixed to virtually any desired surface. The plurality of prongs with sharp tips presents an impossible barrier to birds that would otherwise land or perch on the surface to which the present invention is affixed. The combined base member and prongs are formed from injection molded plastic structure that also provide the tabs having holes to secure the base member to the underlying surface.