Abstract: A molded plant tray is provided in the form of a unitary molded plastic member formed of relatively light foamed plastic and having downwardly extending tapered plant cells for receiving plating medium in which individual seedlings are crown. The plastic member is provided with a plurality of parallel, U-shaped indexing rod-receiving grooves defined on the bottom surface of the plastic member by portions of the intermediate walls that define the plant cells. The indexing rod-receiving grooves are complementary in shape to a plurality of indexing rods arranged in parallel spaced relation in a drum shape rotatable about a longitudinal axis and spaced to receive the indexing rods as they rotate about the longitudinal axis. A U-shaped alignment member-receiving groove is also provided, and is defined on the bottom surface of the plastic member by portions of the intermediate walls to extend perpendicular to the central axes of the indexing rod-receiving grooves.

Abstract: An improved plant tray formed of sturdy, injection-molded plastic. The plant tray is a precision-molded grid-like structure, having a series of individual plant cells arranged in side-by-side relationship with each other and having open tops and bottoms. A solid plastic wall separates each plant cell from an adjacent plant cell. Each cell wall has a varying thickness, tapering from a relatively thick top edge to a relatively thin bottom edge, to impart a progressively increasing cross-sectional area to the individual plant cells, from top to bottom. In each cell, there are reinforcing gussets at the corner junctures of adjacent cell walls. A perforated bottom screen retains young plants in the cells and is reinforced by relatively thick plastic runners that form a grid on its lower surface. In the one embodiment, the plant tray includes 432 individual plant cells so that the plant tray is compatible with conventional plant flats having 24, 36, 48, or 72 individual plant receiving cavities.

Abstract: The method and apparatus include an insert for increasing the aesthetic value of a floral box. The insert has a bottom wall being substantially rectangular in shape, a first end wall and a second end wall. The first end wall is parallel and equal in length to the second end wall. The first end wall and the second end wall extend from the bottom wall. There is a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall is parallel and equal in length to the second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall extend from the bottom wall. The first end wall, the second end wall, the first side wall and the second side wall diverge away from the bottom wall. The insert is made from a colored plastic material. The insert is formed by placing a piece of plastic on a heated mold that has the desired shape.

Abstract: There is provided a container or tray for growing, planting and transplanting plant, having a plurality of growing compartments arranged in adjacent rows. Each growing compartment is formed by four walls. An air opening is located adjacent to each wall of each growing compartment. The walls of the growing compartments are offset at a non-right angle with respect to the major axis of the tray. Air slits are formed in the walls of the growing compartments. The bottoms of the growing compartments have openings, each with a pair of ledges adjacent thereto so that the root ball of the plants may be aerated while holding the plants within the growing compartment. The center-to-center spacing between adjacent growing compartments is the same throughout the tray.

Abstract: A self-watering tray for supporting and displaying a plurality of potted plants which can be watered from a water reservoir in the bottom of the tray, the tray comprising a plurality of wall sections which define spaced openings in the tray, each wall section being provided with a support located above the reservoir for supporting the potted plant at or above the water, and being laterally open to the adjacent wall sections below the supports to provide a continuous reservoir channel below the supports and pots, through which water can circulate for watering plants by capillary action.

Abstract: A plant growing tray comprises a plurality of strips of tray compartments and a foldable portion or pleat connecting two adjacent strips of the tray compartments. The foldable connecting portion is generally a V-groove having a folding line along the bottom of the groove. Two end members are provided optionally at both ends of the foldable V-groove portion. Each tray compartment has an opening on its bottom.

Abstract: A floral container having a water-impermeable external layer for a floral grouping comprising a holding material and having a water-impermeable external surface layer. The holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping, botanical item or propagule and supporting the botanical item, floral grouping or propagule. A sheet of material may be extended about a portion of the holding material and a crimped portion or bonded portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion or the bonded portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the holding material to provide a decorative cover. A bond or other tying device may also be used to bond the sheet of material to the flower pot.

Abstract: An air pruning plant growth system comprising an air-pruning tray having a plurality of plant growth cells with upper elliptical openings within an upper plane, lower elliptical openings with diameters larger than the diameters of the upper elliptical openings within a lower plane spaced from and parallel to the upper plane, continuous, upwardly tapering, side walls joining the upper and lower opening, and a continuous, horizontal bottom wall joining the cells; and a support tray having an air permeable floor and upwardly extending tray side walls.

Abstract: A tray for carrying a plurality of plant pots includes a base plate and a plurality of container sections. The container sections are provided in the base plate for receiving pots therein. Each of the container sections has an open top end, a peripheral wall and a bottom wall. Retainer members are disposed on the peripheral wall of each of the container sections and are operable to resiliently apply pressing forces to the side wall of a pot received within the container section so as to fixedly hold the pot in position.

Abstract: A planter having a label which may be utilized for identifying the plant or seedling present within the soil of the planter. The planter includes a container having a flange extending around the top end on which the label is positioned. The label may be either an integrally molded writable surface or an adhesive attached writable surface. A plurality of labeled positions are disclosed and an alternate embodiment of the present invention includes a moisture indicator for identifying the presence of liquid within the soil.

Abstract: A stackable culture tray for growing young plants includes pots which are moulded in parallel rows to a cover plate so as to be oriented downwardly relative to the cover plate, the bottoms of the pots including holes, the cover plate including a circumferential edge extending downwardly. A first row of pots has, instead of the two outermost pots, two supports and the last row has, instead of the two pots located second from the end, two supports which are hollow and open at the bottom and are oriented upwardly. Each of the two pots in the first row located second from the end includes a supporting ring at its bottom and each of the two outermost pots in the last row includes a supporting ring at its bottom. The upper end of each support has a centering shoulder.

Abstract: A tray assembly for containing plants is disclosed that has cells with an open top and side walls extending therefrom to a bottom floor of the cell having at least four holes, each defining an opening in the floor of 0.75 to 2.25 sq. in.

Abstract: A carrier for bulbous plants on which the bulbs are disposed mutually adjacently according to a predetermined pattern, comprising a number of individual bulb holders for each bulb which are disposed in that pattern on the carrier, in addition to a liquid reservoir which belongs to each or a number of holders and which in use lies under the holders, wherein the or each liquid reservoir is provided with an overflow edge for defining the maximum liquid level in the reservoir.In preference the bulb holders are provided with fixation means for fixing the bulb.The fixation means are usually formed by protrusions, for instance pins, onto which the bulb is fixed.It is thus possible to keep constant the distance between the underside of the bulb and the water level, and use no longer has to be made of culture material and sand.

Abstract: A tray having several hollow, frustro conical shaped portions for supporting pots having plants. Such tray has several openings near the edge of the tray to allow the tray to be carried while the pots having plants are positioned in the tray. A raised support is positioned in the bottom of each hollow, frustro conical shaped portions to allow the pot in each of such portions to be slightly elevated so that water can be contained and fed to each plant through the bottom of each pot holding a plant. The tray keeps the plants erect in the decorative container and acts as a filler and water reservoir. The tray is light in weight and may have many configurations.

Abstract: A seedling container comprises a body member which is provided with a plurality of longitudinal cavities for seedlings. Each cavity is provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending barriers spaced along the length of the cavity. Each barrier preferably comprises a V-shaped recess in the cavity surface to trap the tip of a root therein.

Abstract: A molded plastic seedling tray with an array of depressions thereon, with holes in the bottom of the depressions, each depression comprising a germination cell for growing plants. A perimeter side wall around the edge of the tray holds the germination cells up from the supporting surface so as to insure an air circulation chamber under the cells. Indexing holes are formed in the perimeter at intervals equal to the space between cells so that a planting machine can engage the holes and index the cells by one hole at a time, and thus one cell at a time. The indexing holes also provide root drying ventilation to enable self pruning.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a band for forming a seedling raising bottomed pot aggregate, in which multiple rows of a plurality of pots are aggregated. The bottoms of the pots are formed by making specific planar structures in a material paper having a constant width and by adhering, combining and cutting the paper. The pot aggregate can be easily manufactured by expanding the band. The bottoms are extended from the lower sides of the side walls of the cubes and are folded inward at a right angle from the adjoining extensions. These adjoining extensions are adhered on one of the diagonals of the bottoms, and the extensions on the other diagonal are overlapped.

Abstract: A low density (5-12 Kgs/M.sup.3), rigid, unicellular (i.e. closed cell) expanded polyurethane foam is perforated through at least part of its thickness by mechanical means, resulting in a hydrophilic, heterocellular (open cell) foam, whereby to facilitate the passage of emergent plant roots and also to provide groups of enlarged voids (in contrast to the fine cell structure of the unmodified foam) so as to facilitate water absorption and retention.

Abstract: An insert for a planting container is useful to support planting soil above a water reservoir. A base member includes several leg openings, a fill tube opening, and a plurality of air vents. Hollow leg members are attached to the base member to maintain the base member above the floor of the container. The leg members have conduits that are open to the leg openings. Flaps are flexibly connected to the periphery of the base member. The flaps contact the inside walls of the container and prevent soil from falling beneath the insert. A fill tube is positioned in the fill tube opening and is designed to extend from the floor of the container to a position above the soil. Water added to the fill tube creates a water reservoir beneath the base member. A webbed cover portion attached to the bottom of the leg members has slots that allow water to enter the conduits of the leg members. Soil may fill the conduits and draw water from the reservoir, while soil on the base member is aerated through the air vents.

Abstract: A propagation tray configured to receive a plurality of seedlings or the like comprising a tray member having an outer peripheral ledge formed about the periphery thereof and plurality of elongated frustum conical propagation cells each having a centrally disposed aperture formed in the upper portion thereof to receive individual seedlings formed inwardly of the outer peripheral ledge and a drainage aperture and cell support surface formed on the lower portion thereof such that the seedlings disposed within the plurality of elongated frustum conical propagation cells are provided drainage and air pruning through the drainage apertures while supported on the ground or other supporting surface by the cell support surfaces.

Abstract: The system includes an efficient, closed irrigation system in conjunction with insulating components for minimizing the harmful effects of extreme changes in ambient temperature, moisture and chemical concentrations in plant containers. Mechanisms are provided for permitting a single pallet, or a single plant within a pallet, to be readily removed from an integrated plurality of pallets without interfering with irrigation of the plants that are contained in the remaining pallets.

Abstract: A method for conserving water in lawn maintenance is described. According to the method, a layer of of a water-absorbent, nonbiodegradable material is provided between the ground and a layer of sod. This absorbent layer retains water which may be reached by the roots of the plants in the sod layer. This layer may also be used to retain lawn chemicals. The lawn produced by the foregoing method is also described.

Abstract: A substrate for out-of-ground cultivation is made of a felt of mineral fibers obtained by continuous longitudinal compression, at a rate between 1.5 and 15, of a sheet of mineral fibers in which the fibers are arranged in layers or strata parallel to the upper and lower faces of this sheet. The compression takes place before the heat treatment of the sheet for setting the binder.

Abstract: Substrates for soil-free culturing are formed from a felt of mineral fibres having a hydroretentivity gradient such that the hydroretentivity decreases in the direction of gravity. The hydroretentivity gradient may be brought about by a gradient in the fineness of the fibres such that the average diameter of the fibres increases in the direction of gravity or the density of the fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple pot comprising individual pots interconnected by connector portions so as to be capable of being pulled out. The multiple pot is used to raise and transplant seedlings of plants. The invention also relates to a method of fabricating the pot. The pot is designed especially to promote growth of roots across the side walls of the individual pots after transplantation. Also, the resistance encountered when the multiple pot is unfolded is reduced. Further, the individual pots are uniform in size. These feature arise from the facts that the connector portions are formed by applying a waterproof paste discontinuously and that a water-soluble paste is not applied around the edges of the individual pots created when the multiple pot is unfolded. Hence, a coating of the paste is formed in none of these portions. The multiple pot is fabricated by continuously carrying out three steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for propagating plants is illustrated wherein provision is made for aeration and drainage of the root plug with increased air flow to the upper or leafy parts of the plants extending across a growing tray in a predetermined pattern. Provision is also made for filling the compartments of a growing tray with growing medium in a predetermined pattern to permit air flow across the tray from the bottom. Provision is also made to support strips forming a growing tray permitting horizontal movement of the strips as well as rows of compartments containing the plants, and a shelf is provided in the strips or partitions of the trays extending for a limited distance over a minor area of the compartments to confine the growing medium within the trays while permitting insertion of a member for pushing the plant upwardly from the bottom out of the respective growing containers.

Abstract: This containment structure comprises a sheet-like container defining a plurality of cells for accommodation therein of small plants, in particular for cultivations in greenhouses, and a container holder having a substantially box-like shape. The containment holder removably supports the container and has engagement members allowing easy and reliable stacking of a plurality of such structures, cross-pieces for setting the position of the container with respect to the holder and recesses in the lateral walls for aerating the small plants accommodated in the cells.

Abstract: An ornamental flower bed base assembly or matrix material comprising a flower bed base plate having a plurality of insertion through-holes disposed at appropriate intervals and a plurality of flower plant holders each having a side wall provided with irrigation orifices and an open top end, each of the flower plant holders being removably engageable with the respective insertion through-holes of the base plate. This matrix is lightweight and can be easily transported to the contemplated site of erection. Using this ornamental flower bed matrix material, a variety of ornamental flower beds can be constructed easily at site. The resulting flower beds are attractive and easy in maintenance.

Abstract: A plant growing medium has a fabricated fibrous product having a density below 4.5 pcf, and preferably below 3.0 pcf, as a root supporting structure. The product comprises a pack of fibers, the fibers having a three-dimensional orientation and at least some of the fibers being glass fibers, and binder binding the fibers to each other at substantially every place of fiber-to-fiber contact.

Abstract: An improved method and container for growing a plant intended to be transplanted are provided. The side wall of the container includes at least one upwardly facing internal ledge positioned substantially horizontally therein and a plurality of spaced openings are disposed on the side wall and extend through the ledge. A portion of the roots growing laterally within the container are trapped by the ledge, are guided through the openings and are air-pruned as a result thereof.

Abstract: A seedling tray has intercalating seedling cavities extending oppositely from mouth openings in top and bottom faces of the tray to bottom regions near to the said faces, thereby rendering the tray reversible. Each seedling cavity converges from its mouth opening to its bottom region which as a bottom opening. In use, the seedling tray has a plurality of upwardly open seedling cavities filled with a suitable growing medium such as soil or mulch. Seeds are planted in such medium in each upwardly open cavity. Inverted seedling cavities act as air ventilation passages extending upwardly and are interspersed between the planted seedling cavities. The air ventilation passages intercalate with and are spaced uniformly between the planted seedling cavities. When the seeds have germinated and developed into seedlings, the seedlings may be transplanted as desired.

Abstract: A novel tissue culture assembly (10) which employs a tray (11) that presents one or more cavities (12) opening upwardly through a web sheet (13). A unique growing medium (25) is received in each cavity (12) and comprises a mixture of granulated foam (26) and pulverized gel (28). A membrane (35) spans the opening of each cavity and is secured to the tray (11). An aperture (36) pierces the membrane (35) at approximately the central portion of the cavity opening, or mouth (17), and the sides (38) of the aperture (35) engage a propagule (40) inserted through the aperture to support the propagule. The base (19) of each cavity (12) is provided with an aperture (20) by which selected fluids may gain ingress and egress with respect to the cavity. A domed cover (60) may be removably secured to the tray (11).

Abstract: A vertical air-root-pruning container involving a series of vertical air gaps displaced around the sidewall of a container. The air gaps are alternately displaced outwardly or inwardly to air-prune spiral root growth in both the right and left directions or are equipped with deflecting means to make the pruning effect bidirectional. Such a container inhibits spiral growth, promotes root branching, and results in more even root distribution as well as increased root growth in the growing medium.

Abstract: A reusable seedling transplant unit for elevated growing, by germinating several seedlings simultaneously in a growth medium, contains a plurality of pot-shaped cells all joined together; each cell has an open top and bottom and is structured with a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from the open cell top to converge to the bottom. The ribs are closely spaced forming narrow slits therebetween so as to retain the growth medium in the cell during elevated growing and during transportation to a site, e.g., for reforestation. The ribs can be resiliently deformed to release each seedling for replanting in soil along with its root lump and associated growth medium, without detrimentally affecting the root lump.

Abstract: A cap and a base fit together to form the culture vessel. Adjacent the tops of the walls of the base is a rim which is "L" shaped in cross-section, consisting of a bottom leg joined to the base walls and an upright leg. Downwardly extending walls of the cap project into the space between this flange and the walls of the base. These cap walls have a plurality of spaced ribs which frictionally engage the walls of the base so that the cap will maintain a position in which it is slightly raised above the position wherein the cap is fully seated against the base. When in that raised position a length of cotton filtering material may be used between the bottoms of the cap walls and the bottom leg of the rim. The cap has an outside peripheral flange coplanar with the upright leg thereby permitting pressure sensitive tape to be applied to the two and bridging the space therebetween. Extending downwardly from the top, within the base walls and adjacent thereto, is a condensate drip flange.

Abstract: A support structure for growing plants such as lettuce by hydroponic cultivation includes a buoyant, closed cell, foamed plastic pallet having an array of spaced integral punch-out plugs arranged preferably in staggered rows. Selected patterns of plugs are removed to permit insertion of plants growing in porous seed blocks into the resulting holes, the patterns having different spacings depending on the size of the plants. Blocking members prevent the plants from falling through the holes when the pallets float on liquid nutrient solution in a trough and also space the pallets above the bottom of the trough for access of air to the plant roots when the trough is periodically drained. When plants outgrow one selected spacing pattern, they are readily and precisely transferred to another pallet having a selected pattern of greater spacing. When the plants are ready for harvesting, the pallets with mature plants in them can be carried to a packaging area.

Abstract: A portable greenhouse which includes a base, a cover, and trays. The bottom of the base is corrugated, the bottom of the trays are corrugated. The base, cover and trays all have a peripheral flange. The flanges engage with each other to form a seal around the periphery of the greenhouse. The trays have apertures in the bottom. The cover is transparent with longitudinal and lateral ribs and an air flow vent.

Abstract: A plant container having a plurality of downwardly extending compartments, each retaining a dirt ball having the root structure of a growing plant. Each compartment has an open top end and side walls converging downwardly and terminating at the bottom end of the compartment. The bottom end of the compartment is constructed of thin material and is slitted to form yieldable flap members that can bend reverse inwardly on themselves so that an ejecting plunger can be moved upwardly through the bottom of the compartment to eject the dirt ball without damaging its structural integrity.

Abstract: A rooting media in the form of a resilient, integral body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer forming a first essentially continuous phase extending throughout the body and having passages therethrough forming a second essentially continuous phase extending throughout the body, a quantity of particles of soil mixture distributed throughout the body of spongy polymer and held thereby with a substantial portion of the surface area of the particles of soil mixture exposed and in communication with the passages, the exposed particles of soil mixture providing colloidal contact exchange surfaces in communication with the passages and having collectively a porosity maintenance capacity and a water holding capacity and an ion exchange capacity and a pH buffering capacity; also disclosed is a method of making such a body of rooting media, as well as a release agent useful in that method; there further is disclosed a particular form of rooting media for use in propagation by air layering and a method of propagat

Abstract: Open-topped container for cultivating one or more plants individually contained in a corresponding number of cavities of said container, containing a natural or artificial cultivating medium for said plant(s), e.g. soil, and being adapted for easy transplantation of such plants by said base comprising a peripheral line of weakness adapted for an application of pressure against the base cause the base to break loose from the remainder of the container. The line of weakness having an average breaking strength of between 10 and 40% of the average breaking strength of the base is preferably formed wholly or in part by elongate drainage holes passing through the base and so dimensioned that cultivating medium is retained. For transplantation the base is pushed upwards with the cultivating medium and plant.

Abstract: A plant cultivation and support structure in the form of a strongly hygroscopic block having a flat base, an indentation located in the top large enough to hold a seed or a seed pellet, an open bore leading from the bottom of the indentation to the base, and at least one transverse channel extending clear through the block at the base. A plurality of blocks may be formed in rows and columns of an integral plate subdivided by mutually perpendicular sets of spaced narrow congruent grooves in the top and bottom surfaces of the plate. The material of the plate is a foamed light, brittle plastic having an elongated tandem cell structure with porous walls, a pH value not exceeding 5.2, and specific gravity between 3 and 15 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: In a tubular system for hydroponic culture,the improvement consisting in that the channel structure comprises a central core of a comparatively stiff plastics material and the sidewalls are made of a comparatively pliable plastics material, the upper edges of the sidewalls being capable of being at least partially juxtaposed. A further important improvement consists in that the surface of the bottom wall of the central core is lined with a fibrous material which offers a grasp for the seedling roots.

Abstract: A multi-compartmented container formed from a single sheet of material having its various portions folded upon one another in predetermined arrangement along flexible hinge-type connections. One or more channels are defined within the container wherein each channel includes an elongated base movably attached to elongated side walls which together at least partially define a channel. Divider portions are attached to at least the side walls of the channel and disposed in divider portion sets mounted on the side walls to engage one another in a removable, locking tongue and groove connection wherein the sets are disposed in spaced relation along the length of the channel to at least partially define segmented and successively arranged compartments.