Abstract: A grow module, a plant growing system, and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The grow module comprises a plurality of tray modules including a light tray over a growing tray. The light tray includes a lighting array and at least one sensor. The growing tray is adapted to hold a plurality of plant vessels. The grow module comprises a machine-readable identification. The grow module is configured to hold the plurality of tray modules in a vertically stacked configuration. The lighting array on the light tray is configured to provide light to the plurality of plant vessels on the growing tray in the grow module directly under said light tray.

Abstract: A lighting array and a method of using the same facilitate a lighting strategy that dynamically provides the photosynthetic photon flux density needed by a plant throughout its stages of growth while reducing power loss and waste caused by providing excess light during all stages of plant growth. LED placement patterns may be used to form a number of lighting channels on an LED board or an array of LED boards. These lighting channels may be individually controlled such that the ON/OFF state, intensity, and wavelength, of a plurality of LEDs may be adjusted to provide variable illumination levels and wavelengths of light customized for attributes of the plants being illuminated, such as their stage of growth, size, type, and/or shape.

Abstract: A system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

Abstract: A system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

Abstract: A plant growing vessel includes an impervious outer vessel, a cover, a first permeable membrane, a nutrient chamber, and a pocket. The impervious outer vessel includes an inert substrate in a root zone. The cover is positioned over the impervious outer vessel. The first permeable membrane is in contact with the inert substrate. The nutrient chamber includes solid nutrients. The nutrient chamber is between the cover and the first permeable membrane or between the first permeable membrane and a bottom of the impervious outer vessel, and the solid nutrients are in contact with the first permeable membrane. The pocket is configured to allow seeds, seedlings, or shoots of plants access to the inert substrate through an aperture in the cover.

Abstract: A plant growing vessel includes an impervious outer vessel, a cover, a first permeable membrane, a nutrient chamber, and a pocket. The impervious outer vessel includes an inert substrate in a root zone. The cover is positioned over the impervious outer vessel. The first permeable membrane is in contact with the inert substrate. The nutrient chamber includes solid nutrients. The nutrient chamber is between the cover and the first permeable membrane or between the first permeable membrane and a bottom of the impervious outer vessel, and the solid nutrients are in contact with the first permeable membrane. The pocket is configured to allow seeds, seedlings, or shoots of plants access to the inert substrate through an aperture in the cover.

Abstract: An automated growing facility for plants, seeds, or seedlings is disclosed. The facility comprises a growing chamber, a fertigation station, a load/unload station, a device such as an automated guided vehicle (AGV) configured to transport grow modules, and a control system configured to control at least one of the grow modules, the fertigation station, the load/unload station, and the AGV. The grow modules are transported from the growing chamber to the fertigation station using the AGV for fertigating plant vessels in growing trays of the grow modules, and the fertigated plants vessels are transported from the fertigation station to the growing chamber using the AGV. Further, the plant vessels are loaded into the growing trays and unloaded from the growing trays at the load/unload station.

Abstract: A grow module, a plant growing system, and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The grow module comprises a plurality of tray modules including a light tray over a growing tray. The light tray includes a lighting array and at least one sensor. The growing tray is adapted to hold a plurality of plant vessels. The grow module comprises a machine-readable identification. The grow module is configured to hold the plurality of tray modules in a vertically stacked configuration. The lighting array on the light tray is configured to provide light to the plurality of plant vessels on the growing tray in the grow module directly under said light tray.

Abstract: A system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

Abstract: A plant growing tray system, and a method of using the same, the system comprising a growing tray including a plurality of tray insert openings configured to accept tray inserts, a pallet stop, and a transfer catch. The system further comprises a plurality of tray inserts comprising a plurality of tray locking points configured to secure each of the plurality of tray inserts within the plurality of tray insert openings, a vessel cavity to hold a plant vessel, a plurality of fertigation holes on the bottom of the vessel cavity configured to receive fertigation needles, and a plurality of plant vessel securement points configured to secure the plant vessel within the vessel cavity.

Abstract: A lighting array and a method of using the same facilitate a lighting strategy that dynamically provides the photosynthetic photon flux density needed by a plant throughout its stages of growth while reducing power loss and waste caused by providing excess light during all stages of plant growth. LED placement patterns may be used to form a number of lighting channels on an LED board or an array of LED boards. These lighting channels may be individually controlled such that the ON/OFF state, intensity, and wavelength, of a plurality of LEDs may be adjusted to provide variable illumination levels and wavelengths of light customized for attributes of the plants being illuminated, such as their stage of growth, size, type, and/or shape.

Abstract: A plant growing vessel includes an impervious outer vessel, a cover, a first permeable membrane, a nutrient chamber, and a pocket. The impervious outer vessel includes an inert substrate in a root zone. The cover is positioned over the impervious outer vessel. The first permeable membrane is in contact with the inert substrate. The nutrient chamber includes solid nutrients. The nutrient chamber is between the cover and the first permeable membrane or between the first permeable membrane and a bottom of the impervious outer vessel, and the solid nutrients are in contact with the first permeable membrane. The pocket is configured to allow seeds, seedlings, or shoots of plants access to the inert substrate through an aperture in the cover.

Abstract: A plant growing vessel includes an impervious outer vessel, a cover, a first permeable membrane, a nutrient chamber, and a pocket. The impervious outer vessel includes an inert substrate in a root zone. The cover is positioned over the impervious outer vessel. The first permeable membrane is in contact with the inert substrate. The nutrient chamber includes solid nutrients. The nutrient chamber is between the cover and the first permeable membrane or between the first permeable membrane and a bottom of the impervious outer vessel, and the solid nutrients are in contact with the first permeable membrane. The pocket is configured to allow seeds, seedlings, or shoots of plants access to the inert substrate through an aperture in the cover.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods for cultivation and shipping of live and growing plants. The compositions, containers, systems, assemblies, and related methods disclosed herein provide additional stability for a plant's growing environment and enable prolonged storage and shipping shelf life while also reducing or eliminating the need for refrigeration.