Abstract: In a horticultural growing system including a container comprising an inactive growing medium, the container is shaped as a sealed bag or box of a material capable of containing the inactive medium together with water while remaining dry on the outer surface, and allowing for absorption and subsequent draining of water. The inactive growing medium is in the form of a mixture of lava products and clay products in proportioned mutual ratios, said mixture including one or more constituents selected from among pumice stone, Perlite, clay materials, light clinker and lava, but it can also contain zeolites and/or vermiculite and other constituents. The growing system provides environmental and economical advantages in that it can be used for up to five years without having to change the medium. In this time period, it is possible to produce 300 kg of tomatoes in one box.
Abstract: A shape-permanent or deformation-resistant growing medium in the shape of a block, that may hold one or more plants, consists of an active or inactive growing medium and an adhesive or binder providing shape and strength, said adhesive or binder being gypsum (calcium sulphate, CaSO4.2H20). By using gypsum as an adhesive or binder it is possible to make known growing media completely shape-permanent or deformation-resistant in a quite simple way enabling plants to grow and thrive absolutely normally, while the growing medium keeps its original shape under practically any circumstances. When the medium is no longer of use, it may be discarded without any problem and without any costs of disposal.