Abstract: A patch (10, 30, 40) or other device applied to a fruit or vegetable for releasing a gas, preferably ethylene, which accelerates maturation or which retards maturation, preferably carbon dioxide. The device attaches to a portion of the fruit or vegetable and releases the gas upon application or upon demand. Ripening or retardation is selective in a bunch of connected fruits such as bananas when applied to one finger, thereby providing selective ripening.

Abstract: A plant tender delivers light to the foliage and water and nutrients to the roots of a plant growing in a container and embedded in an anchoring medium contained in the container. The plant tender has an armature positioned adjacent to the plant and formed with a conduit for electrical power. A reservoir is provided in physical contact with the container, armature or anchoring medium. The reservoir supplies water and nutrients to the roots. An artificial light source is supported by the armature and irradiates the foliage. A controller establishes a duty cycle of the light source and controls both the duty cycle and the delivery of water and nutrients. In certain embodiments, the positions of the plants and lights can be adjusted, and fish are grown in symbiotic relation to the plants.

Abstract: A culture method of growing plants or plant seedlings on a culture medium provided on a support substrate which is comprised of an upper layer made of small stone and activated charcoal integrally solidified by synthetic resin in such a manner as to maintain water permeability therein and a lower layer in the form of a water permeable reinforcement layer integrally formed with the upper layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a cultivation medium promoting germination of plants and growth of the seedlings while precluding the plant from suffering damage from insect pests. The cultivation medium comprises a particulate, granular or fibrous rubber. Particulate, granular or fibrous pieces of plant or soil can further be incorporated into the medium. Seeds of a plant are sown on the cultivation medium or mixed with the medium for cultivating the plant.

Abstract: An improved watering device for Christmas trees which has a hollow cylindrical base and has an elevated cylindrical opening for supporting a tree and clamps for tightening the base of the tree therein. A cradle for supporting a water bottle extends upward at the outer edge of the base. Directly below the cradle is a threaded opening for receiving the nozzle of the water bottle. An alternative embodiment provides a support bracket for hanging the water bottle cradle alongside a conventional tree stand, and a modified cap for directing the water to the desired location.

Abstract: A plant protector comprising a housing of sufficient dimensions to enclose a plant and having a ventilation opening therein. A cover is provided for covering the ventilation opening and a thermal controlled actuator is coupled between the cover and housing for moving the cover between a closed position at lower temperatures where the cover is positioned over the opening and an open position at higher temperatures where the cover is not positioned over the opening. The cover may be pivotally mounted on the housing and the actuator is preferably located between the cover and housing adjacent the pivot.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agricultural product preserving device capable of preserving agricultural products for a long period of time. The agricultural product preserving device comprises an air-permeable package box; a composite bag, placed in the package box, for containing agricultural product to be preserved; and a heat-dissipating tube placed in the composite bag and having a hollowed inside for dissipating heat. Moreover, flowers can be divided into a number of small bunches and a number of separate containers packed in the composite bag are used to contain these bunches of flowers. This can prevent the heat produced due to the squeezing of a large bunch of flowers against each other from being produced, so that the preservation period of the flowers can be increased.

Abstract: The growing room includes a closed loop track suspended above the floor and extending throughout the room. A plurality of racks are movably supported on the track by a motorized mover system. The racks include a frame for supporting a plurality of growing sheets for supporting and growing the plants. The growing sheets are made of a translucent material and include a plurality of growing cells formed by affixing a plurality of lengths of membrane material to the sheet at predetermined locations. The growing cells are gas permeable, liquid impermeable, and translucent.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a water supply in a stand supporting a Christmas tree is provided. A rigid funnel body comprises integrally formed top, center, and bottom portions. The funnel has a frusto-conical cross-section that tapers from the top portion to the bottom portion. A flexible coupling is integrally formed between the portions of the funnel to hold them in a desired angular relationship. An indicating system is affixed to the top portion of the funnel. The indicating system indicates when the water supply in the stand has fallen below a desired minimum level. A water level device at the bottom portion of the funnel is coupled to the indicating device by a connecting member. The water level device actuates the indicating system.

Abstract: A micropropagation method of growing plantlets in a liquid medium inside a container under sterile conditions comprises placing a rigid capillary block inside the container, in which the support block has a support region with upper and lower sides and a plurality of narrow diameter capillary holes extending through and opening to the upper and lower sides of the block's support region. The bottom side of the support block has feet that elevate the bottom side of the support region above the bottom of the container. A liquid-absorbing plant growth sheet such as filter paper rests on the upper surface of the block support region in contact with the capillary holes.

Abstract: A process for preventing or retarding frost formation on substrates such as grass or leafy plants is disclosed. The process involves spraying the surfaces of these substrates with a frost prevention composition comprising a mixture of water, a water-soluble freezing point depressant, such as propylene glycol, and a water dispersible thickening agent for such composition, such as a crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymer. The composition is preferably applied just prior to expected frost onset and serves to lower the freezing point of dew which accumulates on such substrates which have the frost-prevention composition adhered to the substrate surfaces.

Abstract: Continuously assembled pots, configured in square or hexagonal cylinders for raising and transplanting seedlings are formed by developing non-adhered portions of a band, which is formed by adhering two sheets of film such as paper or the like. The portion of the band corresponding to a connector portion which connects the pots is folded at a given length, and has an elongated or unfolded length larger than the width of one side of a pot. The folded portion of the band is adhered to itself and to a pot with a water soluble paste, so that the continuously assembled pots are separated by water during raising and pulled out continuously from one end thereof in a line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil-less sand based root zone medium for the production of sod. The present invention is also directed to a method for the production of sod using a soil-less sand based root zone medium and a sod mat produced by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A watering wick for a potted plant comprising an upper part adapted to be forced upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the pot so that it is fully positioned in the growing media. The wick includes a lower tail part which is suspended downwardly into a water reservoir. The wick is made of a hydrophilic material which is resiliently compressible, and is inserted in the pot by a special designed insertion tool.

Abstract: A flat trapezoidal container provides a generally frustoconical single cavity for snugly sheathing a flower pot. The container is specifically dimensioned sheath a flower pot so as either (a) to leave therebeneath, a surplus of film in an transition zone which is concealable under the flower pot, or (b) form a hexagonal gusset in the bottom. The container is made from two flat panels of heat-sealable film, each shaped in the general form of a trapezium; or from a single web folded double. The lower portion of the container is ornamentally imprinted along a border extending beneath a generally lateral line above the longitudinal axis of the web; and, with a marker in the upper portion, identifies the contents, or provides instructions for their use or care. When the cavity is distended by being partially filled, the entire container, except for a transition zone, presents a smoothly arcuate surface of the frustum of a cone.

Abstract: A collar or ring is disclosed herein for protecting and encouraging the growth of plants which includes a circular sidewall defining an open-ended cavity with a flanged handle at one end and a soil penetration edge at its other end. The flanged end is reinforced by the contour of the flange construction and/or integral ribs connecting the underside of the flange with the sidewall. A hole or groove may be provided in the flange to accommodate a watering device and the sidewall may incorporate straight or tapered sides or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A planter for attachment to an object having a base and a planter member. The base and planter having matching receptacles for joining one to the other and the base having a means to receive fasteners for attachment to another object. The planter further having sides with a top edge and lip member defining alternating sculpted surfaces for strengthening and improving the appearance of said planter.

Abstract: A flower pot is provided having an upper pot section and a base reservoir section. The upper pot section is formed with an open top, a closed side wall and a slotted or perforated bottom wall. A concave depression is formed on the lower edge of the side wall and outer edge of the bottom wall tapering off upward and inward. Downwardly protruding from the slotted bottom wall of the upper pot section is a shaped footing section adapted to hold both soil and a substantial portion of the flower root system that has its own closed side walls and a bottom wall. A footing section extends down below the side wall of the base section. The downward protruding footing is perforated to allow water deposited in the base section to enter up into the roots.

Abstract: A method of treating the soil and turf of a golf course putting green that includes installing a gravel bed beneath the green and pumping air into the bed at a pressure such that the pressurized air is first distributed uniformly throughout the bed and then forced upwardly through the soil and turf of the green to treat the soil and turf.

Abstract: A device having a coiled section (13) and clip (12) attached over the rim of a pot (10) with an elongated stem (14) extending over and holding a plant in the pot. The coiled section (13) contains spring-like semi-circular loops and an outer vertical clip so that the rim of the pot fits between the loops and the clip for secure holding. An optional inward bending hook (15) may be further provided to hold the device under the bottom of the rim. Due to the spring-like expandability of the coiled section (13), the device can be easily used on plastic pots or any type of pot without modification.