Abstract: An organic growing medium for plants or seeds placed in standing water having substantially all the major and minor fertilizer elements 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 container 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.

Abstract: Plants are hydroponically grown on rafts that float on an aqueous nutrient medium. The rafts have arrays of openings that extend from their upper surface to their lower surface for receiving plant-containing collars that dip into the aqueous medium.To provide efficient plant thinning without plant destruction, a fraction of the openings of the array of each raft is filled directly with plant-containing collars and the remaining plant collars are placed in a grid that overlies the raft and has openings aligned with a fraction of the openings of the array.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for growing plants having a floor with a plurality of raised projections defining trough regions therebetween and being adapted to hold plant watering fluid at a level relative to the upper periphery of the projections. An insert for the pan is also provided, having a plurality of spaced, downwardly extending cells, each cell including a bottom defining an opening. The insert is shiftable between a first position and a second position. The first position is one in which the bottoms are disposed in the trough regions below the level of the watering fluid so that the fluid can enter the openings. In the second position, at least some of the bottoms rest upon the projections so that the openings are less than fully obstructed by the projections and so that fluid within the cells can drain therefrom. Another aspect of the invention is a method for germinating plant seeds.

Abstract: A support rail for use in supporting a planting tray during its initial growing period in a greenhouse. The support rail is especially suited for use with trays having a high-density matrix of small-sized soil plugs, and comprises a horizontally extending, vertically disposed web member and a pair of support members projecting from opposite sides of the web member at its lower extremity. The support members are angled downward from the horizontal so that a tray resting on support member will be supported along the tray's lower edges and not along the bottom surface. The rails are arranged in a uniformly spaced, parallel configuration, which provides stable support for a plurality of trays without providing a preferential growing environment for those soil plugs closest to the edges of the trays.

Abstract: An arrangement in boxes holding cellular compartments intended to nurse preferably forest tree seedlings until they are ready to be transplanted. The cellular compartment walls consist of paper, pasteboard or similar material coated on one side with plastics. To make it practically possible to break up the individual cellular compartments to separate the seedlings grown therein, each row of cellular compartments on the transverse or lengthwise direction of the box is provided on both sides with a strip adhering to the sides of the row of cellular compartments. Said strips form separately continuous lengths from row to row of cellular compartments. To break up each individual cellular compartment in a row to separate the seedlings the strips are pulled out and apart.

Abstract: A propagator for the cultivation of plants in a controlled environment comprising upper and lower elongate containers having a common perforated wall, a plurality of plant seeds supported in spaced relation by or adjacent the common wall, means for injecting liquid in the form of vapor or droplets into an end of each of the elongate containers and means for maintaining a pressure in the elongate containers greater than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A channel culture device for plant systems which comprises a plurality of longitudinal growing channels, for growing the primary plants, and service channels, which aid the growing channels. The channels alternate and fluids, water and air, pass laterally between the growing and service channels which enhance plant growth.

Abstract: A propagator for growing and transplanting young plants comprises a container which is for receiving a growing medium and which has walls which can be moved away from the growing medium when transplanting takes place, the whole container being placed in a prepared trough or furrow prior to the removal of the walls without disturbing the root systems of the young plants being transplanted.The container may be supported by a support stand, or it may be free standing.

Abstract: A container assembly including a plurality of cell like compartments pivotally joined together to form a chain, the compartments including spacer members extending on opposite sides of each compartment, said spacer members including joining members adapted to pivotally interconnect in a complementary way to join said compartments, said spacer members forming a gap between the cmpartments adapted to receive a tooth of the driving means for moving the container assembly from one point to another.

Abstract: A planting system including a support tray, a plurality of interconnected sleeves, and a plurality of transplant frames adapted for insertion within each sleeve. Each assembly is configured so that a plurality of assemblies are nestable and stackable without jamming relative to each other. Each individual part and subassembly is also configured to be nestable in nonjamming relationship with other like parts or subassemblies.

Abstract: 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 container wherein an air passageway is formed between the container and the pot to provide humid air around the growing medium. Alternatively, 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 growing medium.

Abstract: A planting box having a frame which consists of a plurality of vertical walls and being of polygonal cross-section is provided with vertical channels and vertical ribs. The channels and ribs are complementary in their cross-section. Ribs of one planting box fit into the recesses of another identical planting box, so that a planting arrangement can be erected which consists of a plurality of inter-connected identical boxes. In each channel of the planting boxes supporting shoulders are formed which support the ribs of a laterally adjacent planting box, so that each box is vertically offset with respect to any laterally adjacent box by half of the box height.

Abstract: A tray construction for growing plants in which the construction comprises a one-piece substantially rigid tray frame with a plurality of plant frames mounted in the tray frame to define a plurality of plant growing containers interconnected in a unitary assembly. The tray frame may be conveniently molded from a foamed thermoplastic material and essentially comprises a plurality of substantially rigid tubular members vertically aligned and integrally interconnected in a rectangular array of a plurality of adjacent rows. The open spaces between diagonally opposed tubular members permit air to pass between the upper and lower sides of the tray frame. The plant frames are preferably frictionally held within the tubular members, and each plant frame essentially comprises a base section and a plurality of ribs secured to the base section to upstand therefrom.

Abstract: A plant container for growing plants to a stage suitable for transplanting. The plant container comprises a base having an imperforate upper surface with a rib upstanding from the upper center of the base and a removable sleeve arrangement that is disposed concentrically about the rib. The lower edge of the sleeve arrangement is disposed on or adjacent to the outer upper peripheral surface of the base to provide drainage openings therebetween. The sleeve arrangement is removable to permit the base and root mass and growing medium of the plant grown in the container and disposed about the rib to be transplanted as a unit. The rib functions to hold the root mass and growing medium of the plant on the base and to permit the container, absent the sleeve, to be handled with a minimum loss of growing medium in normal handling and transplanting operations.

Abstract: A channel culture array having a plurality of V-shaped channels in side-by-side relationship. The array is placed on a base over which a contaminated water, such as seawater, flows. The underside of the array defines in part a zone. The pure moisture in the vapor phase condenses in the zone, coalesces on the underside of the array and permeates into the soil in the channels. The portion of the array contacted by the seawater is liquid impermeable.

Abstract: A high-speed planting method and machine in which a plurality of plants are provided in a plurality of webs. The webs are flexible and each web carries a plurality of plants fixed in an array of a plurality of adjacent rows and substantially perpendicular ranks. In the method and machine, each web is bent in a curve about an axis parallel to the ranks of plants, and during the bending operation each leading rank of plants is ejected from the web as a group. Concurrently with that operation, each removed rank of plants is conveyed toward the ground, and each plant in each conveyed rank is successively set into the ground in spaced relation along a line.

Abstract: An upper planter is expanded horizontally and vertically by connecting its large lower open end to an upper open end of a lower planter. A lower open end of a lower planter connects to a combination base and water tray. Screw threads attached to the planters and base cooperate to enable selective connecting and disconnecting. The shape of the continuous cavity formed within separate and connected planters provides room for the natural downward and outward extension of a growing plant root system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method wherein seedlings, raised in a paper cylinder assembly connected together by means of connecting portions having a separating line forming the separation course in each are continuously pulled out while separating the cylinder one by one and planting them in the field. In the separation of seedling cylinders, a transplanter is provided with rolls for pulling out continuous seedling cylinders and other rolls for separating the pulled out seedling cylinders into individual seedling cylinders. The latter has a faster rotating speed than that of the former and has a cone-like shape or is mounted so as to incline with respect to the former, thereby separating paper cylinders into individual pot bodies at the connecting portions, one by one, while moving the separation acting points progressively. The separating-line in each connecting portion has an unjoined separation-guiding-portion extending from one end to 20-70% of the height of the connecting portion.

Abstract: Reduced ends of an elbow-like receptacle form flanges for rigid connection to the inside surfaces proximate individual open ends of two trough-like receptacles, for connecting these trough-like receptacles together at an angle, forming a continuous planter or flower box. Provision for extending the length of a section of the planter is also included via a splicer, having a plate with a flange, for rigid connection to the inside surfaces proximate individual open ends of two trough-like receptacles, respectively, abutted together.

Abstract: A molded synthetic resin nursery box B comprises a grid member 2 dividing the box into individual compartments 3 communicating with each other through side wall apertures 23. A wavy bottom plate 12 of the box has drainage holes 13 therein, and the grid member side walls are notched at their top edges. Adjacent boxes are connected by engaging projections 4 on one box with mating slots 5 on another box. The planted boxes may be installed on a horizontal surface whereby the grid members bear the weight of a person walking thereon to prevent trampling and plant damage, or vertically by mounting the boxes in assembled, stacked frames 100 filled with soil. Alternatively, the grid members may be made separate from the bottom plate and side wall 11 bases, and snap-connected to pedestals 14 upstanding from the bottom plates after planting.

Abstract: Apparatus for growing plants by means of water culture or hydroponics is disclosed. The apparatus includes raft means formed to receive and support the plants on a nutrient solution with their root systems extending therethrough while they grow to maturity. The rafts are formed for positioning in close proximity during all stages of plant growth to maximize the plant density per unit area of the solution. The rafts are preferably constructed for seed germination as well as for growth of seedlings to mature plants. Buoyancy of the rafts is increased during plant growth by placing a small raft on a larger raft or auxiliary buoyancy means.

Abstract: An installation for continuously growing plants which includes one or more growth chambers wherein alternate periods of lightness and darkness are provided, and the environmental conditions are controlled. The plants are individually supported, and transported through the growth chambers in such a manner as to require a minimum amount of handling. A diverging track system is provided in one of the growth chambers for handling the plants in a prescribed manner and guiding them through the chamber. As the plants are moved through such chamber, increased space is automatically provided for plant growth. The installation is well suited for growing plants hydroponically.

Abstract: A plant cup element comprising a number of adjoining plant cups positioned in parallel lines. Each cup includes four planar walls each connected to two adjacent walls along foldable side edges and each cup is of a square cross-section. Two opposite walls of each cup are provided each with a folding line positioned in the middle between the side edges of the wall. Adjoining cups are connected to each other at the corner points of the walls provided with the folding lines. The walls of each cup provided with folding lines collapse in V-form when the plant cup element is pressed together in a direction perpendicular to the remaining unfoldable walls of the cups.

Abstract: A channel culture device of a type which provides multiple plant growth channels is made of a plurality of modules each having a horizontal base wall joining a pair of perforated side walls which extend upwardly and are inclined toward one another to define an interior channel of trapezoidal cross-section, having a relatively narrow opening at the top. A row of modules is placed end-to-end to define a storage channel, used primarily for moisture reserve. Placing a series of rows side-by-side in lateral abutment defines V-shaped plant growth channels between adjacent modules, and these are supplied with moisture through the perforated side walls. Various partitions may be placed within the modules to subdivide them into growth, storage, and drainage channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly arranging a plurality of distortable pots of generally frustoconical shape in a predetermined pattern and holding the pots in that pattern for filling. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of pots in a predetermined pattern with the pots inverted; the walls of the pots are distorted so that the rim of each pot engages a substantial length of the rim of each adjacent pot. An inverted flat or similar container is placed over the pots and tightly engages and confines them. The pots and flat are turned upright and then filled while still maintained in the pattern by the flat. The apparatus for performing this method includes a frame having a plurality of individual pot supporting members arranged in a predetermined pattern on the frame. The apparatus also includes a release grate having grate elements positioned between the frame and the pots positioned on the pot supporting members.

Abstract: A plastic container for planting tree seedlings in a mechanized process, and being in the shape of a projectile suitable for penetration into soil. The planting container is highly oriented in its longitudinal direction with a number of longitudinal grooves positioned on the inside, outside or both sides thereof. The grooves include slits and holes to permit drainage, egress of growing roots, and aiding in the self-destruction of the container after being injected into the ground with a seedling. The self-destruction can be further promoted by the use of stress cracking agents within the plastic material comprising the planting container.

Abstract: A two-piece tubular apparatus which when the two pieces are frictionally engaged forms a multiple cavity device for the planting and propagation of seedlings such as shrubs, trees, and the like. Each cavity is corrugated around the entire outer perimeter thereof. The lower portion of each cavity slopes inwardly terminating in an opening sufficient to allow for drainage but which is considerably smaller than the top opening. The device is freestanding and has an outwardly extending tab section near the top thereof so that said apparatus or device can rest in a container without the bottom of said device touching the floor of said container.

Abstract: An improved container, particularly useful for containing plants, seeds, or seedlings in soil for shipment, is formed of a member which when unassembled is in a generally planar configuration. A plurality of hinge lines formed in the member enable the member to be folded into a configuration having generally a U-shaped cross-section and divide the member into a plurality of predetermined compartments. The container, which can be stacked when unassembled due to the planar configuration, contains a plurality of tab members integrally formed with one of the edges of the container. The free end of the tab is formed with a protuberance for abutting the outer side of the other free edge of the container for assembling the container in the generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.