Abstract: A hydroponic culture system comprising an angle panel having a plurality of holes for supporting plants with roots projecting through the holes, and a hydroponic solution feeding means comprising a hydroponic solution spraying means for supplying a hydroponic solution onto the roots of the plants and a hydroponic solution pumping means for supplying the hydroponic solution to the hydroponic solution spraying means, in which the hydroponic solution spraying mechanism is movable along the longitudinal direction of the angle panel, or the angle panel is disposed in a plant cultivation structure which is supplied with carbon dioxide through a duct for controlling the environment within the structure, or a plurality of angle panels are disposed in a plurality of rows and top edges of the adjacent angle panel rows are connected with canopies to form substantially triangular-sectioned spaces between the adjacent angle panel rows for enhanced lighting efficiency, thereby cultivating the plants systematically and almo

Abstract: A method of growing a plant hydroponically wherein nutrient solution is drawn by surface tension from a nutrient supply and conveyed to the root system of said plant by a layer of hydrophilic material, said nutrient solution passing at least intermittently in one direction across said root system thereby removing exudates from said root system to a collecting area while supplying said plant's requirements for nutrients and water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a porous product for cultivating plants, comprising a matrix of mineral fibres which can be moistened with water, by material present in said porous product having a greater water retaining capacity than said mineral fibres which form said matrix and which can be moistened with water, of which preferably said material consists of flakes having a greater water retaining capacity and are accommodated therein over the whole height or only a portion of the height, and comprises mineral fibres that can be moistened with water, the density of which is at least 20, preferably 30, or more preferably 40 kg/m.sup.3 greater than the density of the mineral fibre matrix, and further to a method for manufacturing such a porous product.

Abstract: A plant growth body for germinating seeds for promoting the development of a root system for a cutting is constructed from a plurality of corrugated layers. Each corrugated layer has a plurality of parallel ridges and valleys that form channels extending between the adjacent ridges. When the corrugated layers are stacked one on the other, the plant growth body is formed so that the channels extend through the body. The material of the corrugated layers is penetrable by the roots so that the roots can penetrate successive ones of the corrugated layers and channels respectively. Further, the material of the corrugated layers preferably promotes capillary liquid flow through the plant growth body so that the roots are supplied with water.

Abstract: Plants are hydroponically grown in a cellular water table provided with divergent grow lines along which plants are moved in plant holders. The grow lines are arranged to provide spacing between adjacent rows of plants as plants mature. Within each grow line is a variable pitch screw arrangement which provides for increased spacing between adjacent plants in a grow line as the plants mature. Four-way spacing is provided for both the leaves of the plants and their roots as the plants are suspended over the cellular water table. Maintenance of the system is faciliated by a crawl space beneath the water table which allows access to removable bottom panels of the individual cells within the water table. Plants are cultivated and serviced from the top by a man carrier system. CO.sub.2 enriched air and/or pesticides are supplied directly to the undersides of the plants by a conduit system provided within each grow line.

Abstract: A tubular membrane plant growth unit is described. The unit includes a tubular pipe with an opening in its wall. A tubular porous member is situated inside of the pipe. The member and pipe are arranged to provide a space between them for a seed to be positioned so that the stem of the plant grows outwardly through the opening and the roots of the plant grow in the space between the member and pipe. The unit is useful for hydroponic growth of the plant.

Abstract: A method for hydroponics comprises submerging the lower region of a bulb and its hair roots for a selected period of time and for another selected period of time, lifting the bulb out of the water to expose to air the lower region of the bulb and an upper portion only for the hair roots of the bulb.An aquatic float comprises a vessel having a floatable coaster in juxtaposition thereto, means temporarily securing the coaster to the vessel and a seed or bulb bed means disposed at least at one end of the vessel, the seedbed means including a plurality of passages through the walls of the vessel.

Abstract: A disk composed of rigid open cell synthetic resin foam has a recess in one face for being occupied by fertilizer. A water permeable plug of similar foam is inserted in the recess to retain the fertilizer and to serve as a wick for conducting fertilizer dissolved in water out of the recess and into the bottom hole of a plant pot standing on the disk for the fertilizer to permeate the soil in the pot. The fertilizer is preferably composed of pellets coated with water permeable resin. In use the disk is set in a reservoir and covered with water.

Abstract: A hydroponic gardening system includes an apparatus for supporting the growth of selected plants, which apparatus includes a housing having a lower-level nutrient tank and a plant support tray with a dual-level aeration chamber therein. Seed germination cubes are positioned on the tray adjacent the aeration chambers, and a uniquely designed capillary mat overlies the floor in both levels of the aeration chamber and underneath the seed germination cubes. End portions of the capillary mat extend down into the nutrient tank. Nutrient is conducted from the tank through the capillary mat to the plant root system which develops and grows in the aeration chambers. While the root system is nourished and moistened by the capillary flow of nutrient fluids from the nutrient tank into the aeration chamber, the structure of the dual-level aeration chamber is such that the roots are maintained in an environment of freely circulating air and conditions of 100 percent humidity.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydroponics comprising (a) a box made of cardboard comprising a bottom wall, a surrounding wall and a cover, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least two sheets and a space is formed between the two sheets, and the cover consists of at least two parts which can be separately opened and closed, and at least one of the parts has at least one opening; (b) a container made of water-impermeable material which can be contained in the box; and (c) a porous solid medium for plant culture comprising a culture bed which can be contained in the water-impermeable container and at least one plant support, wherein the plant support protrudes through the opening of the cover part of the apparatus, beyond the cover part, and an upper surface of the culture bed and an inner surface of the cover define a space therebetween; and the use thereof.

Abstract: A plant flat handling system for handling floatable plant flats employs a horizontally extending main channel which can be flooded from either a water tank or a nutrient containing tank with a plurality of branch channels extending outwardly from the main channel. Gate valve means between the branch channel and the main channel can be opened to permit the main channel to fill the branch channel or to drain the branch channel when the main channel is drained. Plural wires extend along the length of the branch channels and support floating plant flats when the branch channels are drained. Periodic flooding and draining of the branch channels is effected until plants in the flats have matured and can be harvested. Harvesting is effected by maintaining light pressure against the outermost plant flats in the branch channel to urge the body of plant flats toward a main work area overlying the main channel. A power conveyor extends downwardly into the branch channel and lifts the flats therefrom for harvesting.

Abstract: A cultivated plant either which blossoms or has only leaves can be provided over a long time interval simultaneously with moisture and a nutrient material without watering. A root ball containing the nutrient material including the roots of the plant is surrounded by a moist material which simultaneously uniformly feeds it and supplies it with moisture. This moist material is advantageously formed from a mixture of swollen and then broken clay pieces and from a plurality of cellular or foamed plastic material pieces which is provided surrounding the root ball in a container for the plant advantageously in the ratio of about 2:1 or 3:1. In this way the plant with the usual earth or humus root ball can be provided with moisture uniformly over a long time interval without requiring that a particular container or plant be used.

Abstract: A synthetic substrate for use in the rooting of cuttings and the raising of seedlings, comprising an expanded, semi-rigid, substantially hetero-cellular plastics material having a plurality of regions of relatively low density for receiving cuttings or seedlings to be propagated. The regions of low density are separated by regions of relatively high density which exhibit higher capillarity than the lower density regions.One way of forming the aforegoing substrate is to subject predetermined regions of a block of foamed polyurethane or other suitable, relatively low density plastics material to heat and pressure whereby to selectively compress and permanently deform the low density foamed material to produce the regions of relatively high density.The synthetic substrate of the invention may also be in the form of capillary matting for use in supplying water and/or nutrients to plants.

Abstract: An integrated hydroponic system including subsystems for support and movement of plants, controlling the atmosphere around the plants and nutrient distribution. The support and movement subsystem features diverging trough-in-trough construction where the interior trough is formed by discrete autoclavable plastic troughs which are slidably removable for sanitation purposes from supporting exterior troughs which in turn support nutrient distribution tubing and a rotatable variable pitch drive screw for moving individual plant holders along the troughs in graduated increments. The atmospheric control system features supply and exhaust ducts under the troughs which establish a blanket of air in the zone proximate to the trough where the temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration are regulated. The nutrient distribution system involves recycling the thermally and component regulated dilute nutrient fluids from a reservoir to the plants and back into the reservoir.

Abstract: A plant growing medium has a fabricated fibrous product having a density below 4.5 pcf, and preferably below 3.0 pcf, as a root supporting structure. The product comprises a pack of fibers, the fibers having a three-dimensional orientation and at least some of the fibers being glass fibers, and binder binding the fibers to each other at substantially every place of fiber-to-fiber contact.

Abstract: A modular plant propagation system and apparatus utilizes a first or lower reservoir containing a liquid plant nutrient in fluid communication with a second or upper reservoir in which a plant propagation support module utilizes a sterile, low water retention, linear foam plastic providing fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the second or upper reservoir. The nutrient fluid in the first nutrient reservoir is forced up into the second reservoir by compressed gas for predetermined cycles and periods of time to provide nutrients to the roots of the plants supported by the linear foam plant propagation support module. A computer is used to control air and root temperatures, humidity, nutrient quality, nutrient cycling rate and level in the first and second reservoirs and utilizes an image recognition apparatus to measure plant growth rate and produce maturity or ripeness to achieve optimum or maximum growth rate potential for the plant being propagated.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus can be applied to cultivation of young seedlings of Welsh onion economically in a mass production way utilizing the growing progresses of this vegetable, during which seed coats can be scraped and removed by the flange of each mesh of a screen sheet or screen film when a stalk stretches itself at the knee part uprightly. Young seedlings of Welsh onion are supplied as material for hors-d'oeuvre, soup and Japanese "sushi".

Abstract: Plant watering apparatus comprises a trough incorporating a water reservoir, and a number of separate growing units each of which is removably received within the trough and is provided with a hollow portion which is filled with growing medium and extends into the water reservoir, when the growing unit is installed within the trough, so that water is supplied from the reservoir to the growing unit by capillary action. A ballcock is provided for controlling the water level in the reservoir.

Abstract: A hydroponic assembly in the form of a tray having spaced through-openings serving as growing stations, the tray being supported by a trough containing a body of nutrient solution. At each growing station there is a wafer of dry compressed growing medium having a seed-receiving surface on its top side and having a wick communicating with its underside and extending downwardly into the nutrient solution, the growing medium being of the type capable of expanding three-dimensionally into a porous root-supporting block as the solution is fed via the wick by capillary action. The land surface surrounding each opening is formed into a well or receptacle for maintaining the porous block seated and generally aligned with the opening. A transparent cover of hollow inverted shape defines an enclosed space developing high humidity for sprouting of the seeds and growth of the resulting seedlings, the cover, tray and trough being interfitted.

Abstract: A composition of matter for use as a vitreous fertilizer comprising a soluble vitreous constituent comprising the following ingredients: 35 to 55 moles %, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 ; less than 10 moles %, K.sub.2 O; and the balance to 100 moles %, CaO and/or MgO. The balance of the composition, if any, is constituted by optional additions of nutrient proportions of one or more micro-nutrients in plant assimilable form, and/or optional additions of one or more plant-inert filler materials. Such compositions have favorable nutrient release rates. The invention also encompasses compositions of matter adapted for use as a plant fertilizer which comprises soluble vitreous plant nutrient release material in expanded or cellular form, and to methods of plant cultivation using such compositions.

Abstract: An automatic hydroponic garden includes a single container for water and growing medium immersed in the water. A means is provided in the container for constantly mixing the water and air and circulating the mixture within the container. An enclosure surrounds the mixing means, into which plant nutrient may be added to the water and which disperses the air-water mixture in the container. A means for supplying air is connected to the mixing means. The result is an improved hydroponic gardening method in which plant roots are immersed in the water, which is both constantly aerated and circulated in a manner that does not agitate the plant roots.

Abstract: A hydroponic assembly in the form of a tray having spaced through-openings serving as growing stations, the tray being supported by a trough containing a body of nutrient solution. At each growing station there is a wafer of dry growing medium having a seed-receiving surface on its top side and having a wick communicating with its underside and extending downwardly into the nutrient solution, the growing medium being of the type capable of expanding three-dimensionally into a porous root-supporting block as the solution is fed via the wick by capillary action. The land surface surrounding each opening is formed into a well or receptacle for maintaining the porous block seated and generally aligned with the opening. A transparent cover of hollow inverted shape defines an enclosed space developing high humidity for sprouting of the seeds and growth of the resulting seedlings, the cover, tray and trough being interfitted.

Abstract: Seeds are sprouted within a cup-shaped container to confine and entangle them in a packable group. The seeds are uniformly spread across the bottom of the container with the aid of an upwardly directed light source. The bottom of the container is porous and a flow of air maintained through it during sprouting. The sprouts are entangled by growing in a porous hydrophobic foam or tilting the bottom of the container to several angles for the sprouts to mature. After maturing, the entangled sprouts are dumped from the container and wrapped under tension to provide a strong compact resilient package in a wrapper sheet which is folded over itself and sealed by heat sealing, twisting or crimping.

Abstract: A continuous flow, modular hydroponic system comprising a nutrient tray housing a nutrient feed supply operatively supported on a support structure and a plurality of plant cartridges removably mounted on a plant cartridge support member wherein each plant cartridge comprises a hollowing member housing a planting medium therein and having a coupling member formed on the upper portion thereof to mount the plant cartridge on the plant cartridge support member.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method in cultivating plants, especially forestry plants, and planting them. In this connection the plants are cultivated in slabs of a cultivating medium such as compressed peat, e.g. Sphagnum peat, with an air space underneath. The slabs provided with seeds for germination are mounted firmly, but removably on support frames provided with supporting rails, said frames together with corresponding stackable transport or carrier frames, being placed on a substructure with an air space between the substructure and the slab. After germination, the support frames with the plants are stacked in their associated transport frames one above the other. After possible intermediate storage, the stack of transport and support frames are transported to the planting site with the plants substantially undisturbed in the cultivating medium on the support frames. The invention is also concerned with a means for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A rooting media in the form of a resilient, integral body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer forming a first essentially continuous phase extending throughout the body and having passages therethrough forming a second essentially continuous phase extending throughout the body, a quantity of particles of soil mixture distributed throughout the body of spongy polymer and held thereby with a substantial portion of the surface area of the particles of soil mixture exposed and in communication with the passages, the exposed particles of soil mixture providing colloidal contact exchange surfaces in communication with the passages and having collectively a porosity maintenance capacity and a water holding capacity and an ion exchange capacity and a pH buffering capacity; also disclosed is a method of making such a body of rooting media, as well as a release agent useful in that method; there further is disclosed a particular form of rooting media for use in propagation by air layering and a method of propagat

Abstract: An integral, non-floating, plant-food enriched, growth-supporting and plant-holding solid substrate is provided for rooting and growing aquatic plants submerged in water. The substrate comprises a water-cured hydrophilic-polyurethane-prepolymer foam composition in which plants (submerged in water) are grown.

Abstract: Various commercially valuable plants are grown by implanting a seed or cutting within a shaped porous root-permeable support body. The plant is periodically fed by applying a hydroponic nutrient solution to the plant roots growing through and depending from the shaped support body and the foliage of the plant is periodically exposed to actinic radiation. Root feeding and actinic radiation are continued until the plant reaches commercial maturity. In the case of those plants having valuable foliage, such as leafy vegetables, ornamentals, etc., the entire plant is shipped, stored and displayed for sale while the plant is still alive and growing in the moistened shaped support body which is enclosed in a vapor-barrier integument.

Abstract: A plant cultivation and support structure in the form of a strongly hygroscopic block having a flat base, an indentation located in the top large enough to hold a seed or a seed pellet, an open bore leading from the bottom of the indentation to the base, and at least one transverse channel extending clear through the block at the base. A plurality of blocks may be formed in rows and columns of an integral plate subdivided by mutually perpendicular sets of spaced narrow congruent grooves in the top and bottom surfaces of the plate. The material of the plate is a foamed light, brittle plastic having an elongated tandem cell structure with porous walls, a pH value not exceeding 5.2, and specific gravity between 3 and 15 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A seed starter apparatus includes:A. a container having a lower portion and a water outlet from said lower portion, andB. a resiliently or flexibly self-supporting and water retaining mass of permeable and porous material defining interstices, the material located in the container to support a seed above said outlet, whereby water received in the container will wet said material before slowly draining through said outlet and some of the water will be retained in the interstices of said material to continuously wet the supported surface of the seed and roots will penetrate said interstices to be wetted by water retained in said interstices and to be supported by said material.

Abstract: An upstanding open top reservoir is provided and a foraminated plate is disposed within an upper portion of the reservoir with the latter and the plate including coacting structure supporting the panel or plate within the reservoir against downward displacement relative thereto. An upstanding sleeve is secured through a central portion of the plate and supported therefrom. The upper and lower ends of the sleeve include liquid outlet and liquid inlet structure, respectively, spaced above and below the plate and manually operable lift pump structure is disposed within the sleeve, includes an operator actuatable from the upper end of the sleeve and is operable, upon actuation of the operator, to lift liquid plant nutrient upwardly through the sleeve from the lower end thereof to the upper end thereof for flowing outwardly from the upper end of the sleeve through the liquid outlet structure.

Abstract: A hydroponic container comprising a casing and a porous foam plate disposed on the surface of water contained in the casing, the porous foam plate consisting of an aggregate of foamed resin beads bonded to one another with continuous open spaces among adjacent beads, and a hydroponic method which comprises disposing a porous foam plate on the surface of water containing nutrients, the porous foam plate consisting of an aggregate of foamed resin beads bonded to one another with water permeable spaces among adjacent beads, and cultivating a plant on the porous foam plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable hydroponic unit comprising a nutrient containing trough which supports an plant supporting aggregate filled tray. Liquid nutrient is carried to the aggregate through an upwardly directed conduit, with apertures in the aggregate, by air bubbles supplied at the conduit lower open end by an air source.