Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a plurality of trays, at least one retention layer configured to absorb at least a portion of water that falls upon the plurality of trays, and/or a drainage layer configured to allow the water to drain out of the at least one retention layer.

A method for making a dyed mulch composition or a dyed growing medium, the method comprising combining tree bark including one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors and wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition at a temperature greater than about 149 C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks, the refiner separating the tree bark and wood components into fibers and separating the fibers from each other; and dyeing the wood components by the one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors while the tree bark and the wood components are being separated into fibers in the refiner to obtain dyed fibers.

A self watering bottle planter insert allows a regular bottle to be transformed into a hydroponic planter. The self watering bottle planter insert is insertable into a bottle and removes the need for a separate source of nutrients. The planter uses composite media with an enriched substrate layered beneath a more standard hydroponic growth media to add nutrients to the water for the life cycle of the plant. Also provided is a substrate assembly for use in a bottle planter assembly.

A self watering bottle planter insert allows a regular bottle to be transformed into a hydroponic planter. The self watering bottle planter insert is insertable into a bottle and removes the need for a separate source of nutrients. The planter uses composite media with an enriched substrate layered beneath a more standard hydroponic growth media to add nutrients to the water for the life cycle of the plant. Also provided is a substrate assembly for use in a bottle planter assembly.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149 C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149 C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

A composition including a plant medium and a poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide that comprises a clathrate containing oxygen gas molecules. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide may comprise of a poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide. The composition may include one or more nutrients. The composition may be in a solid form, a fluid form, or a combination thereof. The poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide is soluble in a fluid. In one embodiment, the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition may have particles having a diameter of 212 m or less, and which may be homogeneous.

A composition including a plant medium and a poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide that comprises a clathrate containing oxygen gas molecules. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide may comprise of a poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide. The composition may include one or more nutrients. The composition may be in a solid form, a fluid form, or a combination thereof. The poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide is soluble in a fluid. In one embodiment, the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition may have particles having a diameter of 212 m or less, and which may be homogeneous.

A modular hydroponic tower array fixture system for the growth of organisms such as plants and fungi on arrays of hydroponic towers, allowing for the insertion and removal of individual towers from the array, is provided. Methods for the production of organisms such as plants and fungi using a modular hydroponic tower array fixture system are also provided herein.

A method for making a dyed mulch composition or a dyed growing medium, the method comprising combining tree bark including one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors and wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition at a temperature greater than about 149 C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks, the refiner separating the tree bark and wood components into fibers and separating the fibers from each other; and dyeing the wood components by the one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors while the tree bark and the wood components are being separated into fibers in the refiner to obtain dyed fibers.