Abstract: An irrigation/fertilization filter apparatus for continuously supplying liquid to plants and trees, which comprises a reservoir for containing the liquid having a single exit aperture on its bottom; a cover releasably fitted to the reservoir, which may be adapted with a hose attachment for connection to an external water source; an inlet control for regulating the amount of liquid entering the reservoir; and an outlet control for regulating the rate at which liquid exits the reservoir. The outlet control is situated within the reservoir and consists of a layer of particulate matter, a durable primary filter member, and a porous support, which sits directly on the reservoir's bottom.

Abstract: A biodegradable seed pouch having in a preferred embodiment the ability to partially penetrate the ground when delivered by a slow moving airborne system. The pouch is a small package which contains the tree seed or seeds, along with their soil and nutrients. These are contained in a biodegradable skin which is dropped from the slow flying airborne system from altitudes just high enough to avoid contact with the local terrain. The inside of the pouch skin may be coated with a mixture of ground cover seeds and nutrients immersed within a biodegradable adhesive. The pouch, spherical or conical in shape, includes a flared open end formed by constricting the skin. Additionally, contained within the pouch, in a first embodiment, is an elongated member vertically oriented therein, where the lower end is pointed to facilitate penetration of the ground. The upper end is flared essentially laterally to facilitate maintaining the member within said soil and to assist in releasing the skin at impact.

Abstract: A plant package, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having detaching elements at preselected areas, the sleeve further including a bonding material which connects the sleeve to the pot when the pot is positioned within the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned about the pot and a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, an upper portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping contained within the pot, at least a portion of the sleeve being removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which is a decorative plant cover.

Abstract: A tamper resistant container and tag assembly is defined. The container includes a slit which may be in a juncture between an outwardly extending shoulder and the side wall of the container. The tag includes a coupling member which is capable of insertion through the slit, but resists withdrawal from the slit once engaged. When the slit is located in the juncture, a group of assemblies can be readily stacked with one another because the tag hangs flush against the side wall of the container without any bending of the tag, thereby offering nominal resistance to stacking. The slit is substantially closed when not being manipulated by a user, thereby preventing egress of dirt and moisture.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.

Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a biconcave lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The biconcave lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Abstract: A root-level plant watering and feeding device has a hollow annular liquid dispersion member that circumscribes a center opening of sufficient size to completely encircle a buried root system of a plant and an elongate hollow tubular fill tube connected with the dispersion member which has an upper portion extending upwardly therefrom terminating in an open top end. A removable cap encloses the open top end. The dispersion member has an upper and lower row of longitudinally spaced perforations through its side wall that face toward the center opening. The dispersion member is positioned underground in a substantially horizontal plane with its center opening completely encircling the buried root system in radially spaced relation with the fill tube extending upwardly therefrom and its open top end disposed above the ground surface.

Abstract: A seed coating comprising gellan gum is disclosed along with a process which comprises admixing gellan gum and water under effective shear conditions to prepare an aqueous gellan gum coating composition thereof whereby the aqueous gellan gum coating composition may be applied in an adherent fashion to a seed to form a gellan gum coated seed. A gellan gum seed coating composition may indicate one or more bioactive(s) and optionally one or more colors.

Abstract: The invention consists of a sonication and imbibition process for the uptake of water and/or other beneficial substances into a seed. The seed to be treated is immersed in water or other liquids. The seed is exposed to sound energy at frequencies between 15 kHz and 30 kHz for periods between about 1 and 15 minutes. The ultrasonic energy generates cavitational forces by the adiabatic collapse of microbubbles in the liquid medium, particularly those bubbles that collapse at the surface of the seed. The ultrasonic cavitational forces impart an enhanced stable memory for the seeds to imbibe water and/or other substances beneficial to the seed and/or plant. The ultrasonically treated seed can be dried, stored, and later imbibed with a substance that enhances a growth characteristic of the seed or resultant plant. Upon germination, the plant maintains the enhanced growth characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for inducing improved seed germination in a high altitude medicinal plant, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle through hot water treatment at 40° C.-100° C. for 30-120 seconds.

Abstract: An anti-vegetation system for retarding growth around a structure extending from the ground includes a plurality of mats. A first mat includes at least one predefined scoring pattern to accommodate the shape of the structure extending from the ground. A plurality of scoring patterns can be included to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes. When a scoring pattern it utilized, and the corresponding portion optionally removed, the mat can be positioned on the ground and partially around the structure extending from the surface. A second mat is positioned adjacent to the first mat and effectively surrounds the structure extending from the ground. Additional mats can be placed adjacent to the first and the second mat to increase the size of the protected area. Adjacent edges can utilize corresponding outwardly extending lips to improve the sealing efficiency of the edge-to-edge regions.

Abstract: A seed-germination medium, or seed tape, comprising an upper layer formed from a biodegradable material which is permeable to gases but substantially impermeable to water in liquid form; a lower layer formed from a water-absorbent biodegradable material; seeds being disposed beneath the upper layer and the upper layer having a plurality of perforations therein to enable seedlings germinating from the seeds to grow therethrough.

Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a trapezoidal lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed, to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The trapezoidal lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Abstract: A sleeve comprising a lower portion preferably having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a floral grouping or plant. The sleeve may have a protective upper portion which can be detached from the lower portion of the sleeve once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve has one or a plurality of horizontally or diagonally positioned expansion elements for allowing expansion of the base portion and/or skirt portion.

Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a rounded lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The rounded lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion and skirt portion. The sleeve comprises a shrinkable element constructed of a material shrinkable by heating or other means, wherein when the shrinkable element is caused to shrink, a constricted area is formed in the sleeve to help secure the sleeve in a position about a pot, floral grouping, or growing medium disposed therein. The sleeve may have an upper portion which can surround and protect a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed, thereby allowing the skirt portion to extend from the base portion. The sleeve may have a plurality of expansion elements in the base portion, or may lack such expansion elements.

Abstract: A cover for covering a flower pot is provided. The cover includes a planar base, a sidewall extending from an outer periphery of the base, and a securing member for securing the sidewall to the flower pot. The sidewall is movable relative to the base between a substantially flattened position wherein the sidewall is in a substantially coplanar relation with respect to the base and an upright position wherein the sidewall and the base cooperate to define a pot receiving space. The sidewall has a plurality of folds formed therein so as to cause the sidewall to take a predetermined shape upon moving the sidewall from the flattened position to the upright position.

Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a rounded lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The rounded lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Abstract: A floral sleeve having an upper portion, a lower portion and a medial portion. The floral sleeve can be placed about a plant container such as a potted plant such that the lower portion contains the pot, and the upper portion surrounds the plant. When desired, the upper portion and lower portion can be detached, leaving the medial portion which can be attached to the pot forming a skirt extending from the upper end thereof.

Abstract: A system of plastic plant trays is disclosed for conveniently transporting, displaying and removing (for planting) young plants or seedlings. In the preferred embodiment, each tray comprises a plurality of cells for removably housing the plants; unique pull-out tabs for gently lifting plants atop them from individual cells; and a color-coded handle that identifies the price of the plants. By pulling up on a dangling end of a tab, a gardener can lift and later extract a plant with minimal damage to its roots or flowers.