Abstract: A flexible sleeve for containing a pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium. The flexible sleeve has a body and a flap. The body has an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and a skirt. The flap is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the body, preferably near the skirt. The flap is adapted to be positioned in: a storage position extending downward, a receiving position extending upward, and a deployed position extending substantially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the body when the body is in an open configuration. The flap can be a sheet, or may be folded or slitted. Water or other chemicals my be impregnated into the flap to aid in the maintenance of the floral grouping or growing medium. The flap may also be used to secure the sleeve about the pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium.

Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve and attaching the sleeve to a potted plant via a bonding material which may be disposed on the tubular sleeve, or on the pot of the potted plant, and a plant package produced by the method.

Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with an oversized sleeve. The sleeve has an inner diameter which is greater than the maximum diameter of a pot disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion, a skirt portion, with a linear or non-linear upper end, or with or without gussets in the lower end or sides. In the method the sleeve is secured about the pot by crimping a portion of the sleeve having a bonding material thereon, or using a securing element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a decorative cover about an outer peripheral surface of a flower pot. The apparatus includes a frame assembly having a well formed therein, and a cover forming and banding assembly having a flower pot receiving opening sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a sheet of cover forming material and at least a lower portion of the flower pot. The platform is provided with an opening therein sized to permit passage of at least a portion of the flower pot and at least a portion of the sheet of cover forming material there through. The cover forming and banding assembly is supported within the well of the frame such that the flower pot receiving opening in the cover forming and banding assembly is aligned with the opening in the platform.

Abstract: A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping wherein the decorative cover is provided with a card holder assembly for securing a card to the decorative cover, and a design indicia bearing portion which extends above the remainder of the decorative cover and thereby enhances the visual aesthetic effect of the decorative cover. The decorative cover is formed from a sheet of material having a design indicia, the sheet of material having an opening extending therethrough wherein the opening is offset from a central portion of the sheet of material in a direction generally away from the indicia bearing portion of the sheet of material.

Abstract: A flexible sleeve for containing a pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium. The flexible sleeve has a body and a flap. The body has an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface and a skirt. The flap is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the body, preferably near the skirt. The flap is adapted to be positioned in: a storage position extending downward, a receiving position extending upward, and a deployed position extending substantially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the body when the body is in an open configuration. The flap can be a sheet, or may be folded or slitted. Water or other chemicals may be impregnated into the flap to aid in the maintenance of the floral grouping or growing medium. The flap may also be used to secure the sleeve about the pot and/or floral grouping and/or growing or retaining medium.

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 has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

Abstract: A method for covering a flower pot with a sheet of material or a pot cover. At least a portion of a sheet of material, or the inner surface of the pot cover and/or the outer surface of the flower pot is provided with a bonding material such that upon wrapping the sheet of material about the outer surface of the flower pot or placing the flower pot in an interior space of the pot cover, the flower pot is secured to the sheet of material wrapped thereabout or the pot cover via the bonding material.

Abstract: A method of forming a decorative cover, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover for a floral grouping or flower pot from a sheet of material having a printed pattern thereon wherein the printed pattern contains shaded and highlighted areas which provide the printed pattern with a visual perception of depth and thus a three-dimensional appearance.

Abstract: A band applicator for applying a band about a sheet of material disposed about a pot to provide a decorative cover for the pot. The band applicator includes a pot frame having a pot opening and a band holder configured to releasably hold a plurality of bands. The sheet of material is extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and the pot with the sheet of material disposed thereabout is disposed in a pot receiving space in the pot frame. The pot frame holds the sheet of material positioned about the pot. A band is removed from the band holder and disposed about the sheet of material and pot for cooperating to hold the sheet of material positioned about the pot.

Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve having a linear or non-linear upper edge and disposing the sleeve about a potted plant.

Abstract: A plant package includes a flower pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve which may be provided with detaching elements at preselected areas. The sleeve may further include a bonding material which connects the sleeve to the flower pot when the flower pot is positioned within the sleeve. When the sleeve is positioned about the flower pot, a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the flower pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the flower pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the flower pot. At least a portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which forms a decorative plant cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a decorative pleated cover about an outer peripheral surface of a flower pot. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a platform adjustably connected to the frame assembly, a pleating assembly supported on the platform and a banding assembly also connected to the platform. The banding assembly is disposed about the pleating assembly and supports at least one band so that upon forming a decorative pleated cover about the flower pot with the pleating assembly, the decorative pleated cover so formed is secured about the flower pot with a band while the flower pot having the decorative pleated cover formed thereabout is supported within the pleating assembly.

Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, a cover having an upper extension is formed about the flower pot. The upper extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the upper extension extends about a portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. The cover is secured about the pot and floral grouping via an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed on the cover.

Abstract: A floral sleeve sized to fit a flower pot, the sleeve generally having a conical shape and having a bonding material disposed thereon for connecting the sleeve to a pot disposed within the sleeve or connected via a banding element to a pot disposed within the sleeve.

Abstract: A floral container used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The floral container has a closed curved bottom. The floral container may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The floral container optionally has a detachable upper portion.