Abstract: A living plant growth system (10) for controlled growth of plants under ambient conditions which may differ substantially from ideal, including one or more a plant growth assemblies (240), having a substrate bag (252), a rooting substrate (100) for supporting a growing plant (12), plant receiving zones for receiving viable growing plant material (12). A collapsible foliage bag (244) is provided to mate with the substrate bag (252) such that the stem portals (104) provide access to the interior of the foliage bag (244). The foliage bag (244) is inflatable such that the interior thereof provides an interior volume within which foliage of the plants (12) may grow. The foliage bag (244) has an enclosing material and a plurality of flexible support members (242) such that the foliage bag (244) maintains said interior volume when the interior air pressure is less than external air pressure.

Abstract: An automatic plant growing and harvesting system 10 which can be used in either zero gravity or full Earth gravity conditions for controlled growth of plants 14, The system 10 includes an enclosure 12 which is adapted to allow at least one plant 14 to grow within, where the plants 14 each generally have a stem 56, foliage 52 and a root portion 58. The system 10 includes an illumination system 27, a material supply system 60 having a nutrient supply 72 and a water supply 70. The system 10 also includes a root chamber 50, a retractor assembly 46 for controllably retracting a lower portion of the plant stems 56 into the root chamber 50, a harvesting assembly 102 and a controller 100 which directs the actions of the included systems and assemblies. The system 10 is provided with a variable speed fan 26 to aid in produce harvesting and self-pollination, and a gravity compensator 114 for preventing water vapor accumulation in stagnant areas.

Abstract: A gravity independent photosynthetic growing system (10) is provided for use in providing an environment conducive to growing plant materials under unusual conditions, such as are encountered in space or in locales isolated from sunlight. The growing system (10) includes a stationary core assembly (26), a rotating drum assembly (28) which is rotated by a motive assembly (30), an enclosing assembly (32), a growth requirements assembly (34) and a control assembly (35). Illumination lamps (42) situated in the central core (20) provide photosynthetic radiation which is transmitted through light transmissive sector walls (52) to be reflected inward from a surrounding cylindrical reflector (64) into growth sectors (50) within which the plants are grown. The growth sectors are adapted to receive seed mats (178), hard shell growth cases (204) and growth bags (188) which provide purchase for the plants.

Abstract: A gravity independent photosynthetic growing system (10) is provided for use in providing an environment conducive to growing plant materials under unusual conditions, such as are encountered in space or in locales isolated from sunlight. The growing system (10) includes a stationary core assembly (26), a rotating drum assembly (28) which is rotated by a motive assembly (30), an enclosing assembly (32), a growth requirements assembly (34) and a control assembly (35). Illumination lamps (42) situated in the central core (20) provide photosynthetic radiation which is transmitted through light transmissive sector walls (52) to be reflected inward from a surrounding cylindrical reflector (64) into growth sectors (50) within which the plants are grown. The growth sectors are adapted to receive seed mats (178), hard shell growth cases (204) and growth bags (188) which provide purchase for the plants.