Abstract: An aeroponic plant growing system with vertically aligned planting sites. The system includes a plurality of plant-holding containers, a walled enclosure, and a fluid dispenser housed therein. One of the enclosure's walls defines a plant-supporting frame on which are formed horizontally extending, outwardly-facing grooves and their respective inwardly-projecting ridges. Tapered between its distal ends, each container can be individually received within one of a plurality of spaced apart orifices defined by each groove. So received, the container extends into the enclosure and a substantial portion of the container's transverse cross-section most distal from its wider end is cantilevered over each horizontally extending ridge situated downwardly of that particular container's interface with the frame, thus positioning, in use, the taproots of large numbers of plants within a barrier-free, vertical corridor of extremely narrow footprint down which their roots can grow both aeroponically and gravitropically.

Abstract: A device for holding objects that are attractive to the senses of animals, including a device for protecting a live catnip plant for use by a cat, the device in one form having a protective enclosure defining an interior to receive the object, such as the plant and plant supporting medium, the cage including a plurality of bars spaced apart to prevent or restrict access to the interior and direct contact with the object while allowing liquid, air, and light to pass through the bars to sustain the plant life and allowing the plant to grow through the bars to the exterior of the device for access by the cat. A watering cap in a top of the cage distributes water to the plant inside the enclosure. A cat toy, scratching surface, or platform or combination thereof may be incorporated into or associated with the enclosure.

Abstract: A plant support is assembled from a plurality of interchangeable parts that can be readily assembled together to form a complete plant assembly having a desired size, in either an open or closed configuration, and to readily permit disassembly for storage or reconfiguration of the support. The plant support may be made up of various horizontal and vertical members that are configured to readily attach and detach from one another in order to form supports in various shapes and sizes such as enclosures or trellis-type supports.

Abstract: A decorative cover for a flower pot is constructed of a sheet of material having at least one extension attached to a portion of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to provide a decorative cover having the appearance of being formed of at least two separate, unattached sheets of material.

Abstract: A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot is formed of a polymeric material or a laminated polymeric material. The decorative cover has a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper.

Abstract: An aeroponic growing system is provided. The aeroponic growing system can include a distribution pipe, multiple, different sprayers, and a plurality of plant supports. Each plant support can include a body. Each body can include an upper panel, a lower panel, and at least one opening adapted to retain a seed container formed on the upper panel. Each plant support can further comprise a liquid nutrient solution guide in fluid communication with the interior of body and extending from the lower panel of the body.

Abstract: A green roof module for covering a portion of a roofing surface with vegetation, includes a tray for containing a growing medium and vegetation, a permeable membrane, and a drainage board The tray has a biodegradable bottom and a plurality of upwardly extending biodegradable walls about the perimeter of the biodegradable bottom The biodegradable bottom is configured so that water received within the tray can pass therethrough The permeable membrane is provided below the biodegradable bottom, and is sized and shaped so as to span the biodegradable bottom and configured to allow water to pass therethrough while inhibiting the growing medium from passing therethrough The drainage board is provided below the permeable membrane opposite the biodegradable bottom, and has an upper surface for supporting the biodegradable bottom and being surrounded by a plurality of edges The drainage board is configured so that at least some of the water passing through the permeable membrane and received on the drainage board will

Abstract: A plant support is assembled from a plurality of interchangeable parts that can be readily assembled together to form a complete plant assembly having a desired size, in either an open or closed configuration, and to readily permit disassembly for storage or reconfiguration of the support. The plant support may be made up of various horizontal and vertical members that are configured to readily attach and detach from one another in order to form supports in various shapes and sizes such as enclosures or trellis-type supports.

Abstract: A method for cultivating a plant, wherein a substrate is formed, in which substrate a seed or a root of the plant is placed, which substrate containing the seed or the plant is placed in a holder for the plant to grow, characterized in that at least two substrate parts are formed, with the seed or a root of the plant being placed between said at least two substrate parts before the substrate containing the seed or the plant is placed in the holder.

Abstract: Reflecting device (1) for adjustably reflecting light, such as sunlight, comprising a transparent first wall (3), a transparent second wall (40), which is arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the first wall (3), and a regulating layer (7), which is provided with a duct (10), which is bounded between the first wall (3) and the second wall (40), and which regulating layer (7) substantially allows light which impinges on the first wall (3) through to the second wall (40) if the duct (10) is filled with a transparent liquid (9) and reflects light which impinges on the first wall (3) if the duct (10) is empty, the regulating layer (7) being provided with a structure (11) which is prismatic in cross section, characterized in that, the reflecting device is provided with a third wall (41), which is arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the second wall (40), and a second regulating layer (7?), which is provided with a second duct (10?), which is bounded between the second wall

Abstract: A seed and plant growth medium module includes a seed embedded in plant growth medium which is encapsulated in a biodegradable moisture retaining shell. The shell has a bottom with an upper covering. A root opening is provided in the bottom to allow egress of roots as the seed germinates. A plant egress opening is provided in the upper covering to allow upward growth of a plant resulting when the seed germinates. At least one water entry opening is provided in the shell to allow entry of moisture into the shell to wet the plant growth medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a full spectrum sunshine simulation apparatus for developing biological growth which comprises a full spectrum light emitting diode module and a photoperiod controller. Therein, the full spectrum light emitting diode module includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, wherein the luminescence spectrum of the full spectrum light emitting diodes has a wavelength range of 350 nm to 800 nm. The photoperiod controller, connected to the full spectrum light emitting diode module, is in charge of lighting periods of the plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, color temperatures and emitting angles of the lights emitted from the plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, thereby simulating a environment under artificial sunlight.

Abstract: A material and method for maintaining a suitably dry sporting surface in natural soils may include a substrate treated with a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Various materials can serve as a hydrating, particulate coating. Polyacrylamide has been found to serve well and provide absorption to remove moisture that normally accumulates from a storms passing over a playing field. Soil treatment makes the soil surface ready to play on almost immediately. An amount of the amendment may be added to soil, mixed in, and watered before use, to provide more consistent properties such as natural bounce, reduced compaction, and reduced dust. The polymer may be embedded in mats to soak up standing water after storms, after which the amendment can be mixed into the soil to effectively tie up water that may otherwise create mud with the soil. Rain remediation may be done, whether or not the amendment was used for field preparation.

Abstract: A central housing is provided in a generally rectilinear configuration. The central housing has a horizontal open top, a horizontal open bottom and side walls. A horizontal divider panel is provided between the top and the bottom. A plurality of interchangeable upper components is chosen from the class of upper components. The class of upper components include a cover, a seat, a small planter and a large planter. The upper components are adapted to be selectively positioned on the open top and depend into the upper component. A plurality of lower components is chosen from the class of lower components. The class of lower components includes a base and casters. The base is adapted to receive and support the bottom of the housing. A lateral opening in the housing is provided adjacent to the bottom for storage of selected upper components.

Abstract: A bird repellent apparatus having an integral base member and a plurality of prongs. The base member, by means of a plurality of tabs having holes for receiving screws or other fasteners, can be affixed to virtually any desired surface. The plurality of prongs with sharp tips presents an impossible barrier to birds that would otherwise land or perch on the surface to which the present invention is affixed. The combined base member and prongs are formed from injection molded plastic structure that also provide the tabs having holes to secure the base member to the underlying surface.

Abstract: A transplantable plant container assembly is provided for containing a growing medium for a plant that significantly promotes air root pruning. The container assembly includes a container device that includes a sidewall support and a bottom support collectively defining an interior cavity. The sidewall support is comprised of a lattice framework defining a plurality of spaced apertures that extend from an interior wall to an exterior wall thereof. A relatively thin, moisture absorbent liner material is disposed adjacent to the lattice framework. The liner material is sufficiently penetrable to enable root penetration therethrough, by the plant, at the apertures. However, the liner material must also have sufficient structural integrity, when moist, to bound the growing medium and moisture across the spaced apertures of the lattice framework when contained in the interior cavity.

Abstract: An automated system for sampling seeds includes a seed loading station for separating individual seeds from a plurality of seeds held in a seed hopper, an imaging station configured to receive the separated seeds from the seed loading station and collect image data of the received seeds, and a seed sampling subsystem configured to remove tissue samples from the seeds after the image data of the seeds is collected. And, an automated method for sampling seeds includes separating individual seeds from a plurality of seeds, imaging the separated seeds, and removing tissue samples from the imaged seeds.

Abstract: A hydroponic plant growing system including a housing divided into a growing chamber and a fragrance masking manifold by an electrical control panel having spaced holes formed therethrough which permits air flow between the growing chamber and the fragrance masking manifold. A water reservoir is defined between a reservoir top panel and a bottom panel of the housing, the top panel having spaced plant basket collars adapted to support a plant cup to position plant roots in reservoir and to position plant vegetation within the growing chamber. Air discharge tubes in the growing chamber discharge ambient air into the growing chamber by a fan to circulate air through the growing chamber into the fragrance masking manifold where a fragrance source masks odors before the air is discharged back to ambient. An irrigation pump dispenses water into each plant cup, excess water drained back into the reservoir.

Abstract: A plant arrangement for plants, in particular for pot plants with tendrillar shoots, comprises a base body surrounding an interior with at least one plant pot receptacle, a plant pot arranged in the at least one plant pot receptacle with a plant pot interior surrounded by the plant pot to receive a plant and a plant pot opening to insert the plant in the plant pot interior, at least one substantially vertically extending holding element, which is fastened to the base body, and at least one substantially horizontally extending climbing aid for the plant, wherein the at least one climbing aid has a spring unit, which can be transferred by actuation from a fastening position into a displacement position, wherein the at least one climbing aid is clamped on the holding element in the non-actuated fastening position of the spring unit, and wherein the at least one climbing aid can be displaced along the holding element in the actuated displacement position of the spring unit.

Abstract: A seed sampler system generally includes an automated sampling station configured to orient a seed and remove a tissue sample from the oriented seed. The seed sampler system may include a support configured to orient a seed received by the support, and an automated sampling mechanism configured to remove a tissue sample from the oriented seed.