A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration, the growing unit comprising: a container configured for growing plants and containing a growth media located therein; a reservoir located in a lower portion of the container and associated with an outlet portion of the container, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe associated with the reservoir, wherein the growth media comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil and wherein the growth media is amended with an irrigation liquid which stimulates biological activity in the growth media and in and adjacent to the reservoir.

Divided jardiniére suspension and/or watering systems for vandaceous orchids. In some embodiments, the system may comprise two receptacle pieces that may be coupled together to define a complete receptacle for a vandaceous orchid. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more watering elements, such as a watering manifold that may deliver water through one or more outtake ports through water delivery members that may extend from the watering manifold and be wrapped around the roots of the vandaceous orchid to deliver water and/or nutrients continuously via capillary action.

A conveyor system (4, 5) moves vertical poles (2) in an agricultural facility between a growing area (20) and a workstation (W). Each pole carries plant growing containers (3) at multiple levels (H1-H9). An irrigation reservoir (30) may be mounted atop each pole. Irrigation lines (31-33) from the reservoir may be individually metered (35) at each level to compensate for differing water pressure with height. Sensors (40) in the reservoir and at each level of the poles may provide a controller (36) with data input. The controller may impose different growing conditions in different areas of the facility, including vertically different grow areas (20A, 20B), and controls pole movements and locations selectively to provide a sequence of poles at the workstation ready to harvest on a demand schedule. The workstation may have multiple heights (W1, W2, W3) for tall poles that increase plant density per facility footprint.

A plant growing system has a number of modular units arranged together on a flat surface in side of a growing room. The modular units have rigid boxes therein with vertical holes therethrough inside of which is located a growing soil. Water and nutrients are pumped from a reservoir to a distributor located in a growing soil of the rigid boxes as called for by moisture sensors, which activates a controller to turn ON a delivery pump. When moisture and nutrients need to be removed from an impermeable flexible liner located below the modular units, the controller turns ON a return pump, which pumps the excess water and nutrients back to the reservoir.

A rotary garden apparatus, method and system for growing plants comprising an open rotatable cylindrical drum mounted within a structural frame is provided wherein said apparatus comprises an accessible front area permitting access to the drum and grow trays mounted on said drum from the front of the apparatus. The rotating drum portion comprises metal bars which form struts round the periphery of the drum on which grow trays can be mounted. The grow trays are inserted by sliding them along the struts of the drum and they are held in position by arms which extend below the metal struts over which the grow trays slide into position. The inverted T shaped fit between the tray and the strut holds the tray in position during rotation without further securing mechanisms required. The operation and most routine maintenance of the apparatus can all be done from the front of the apparatus thereby permitting multiple apparatus units to be placed side by side in a grow facility or against walls. The apparatus may be stacked one above the other all of which maximizes the number of units which can be present in a defined floor space in a grow facility. A light source comprising a holding tray, a sleeve and at least one bulb as part of a rotary garden apparatus is present in the rotary garden apparatus providing light for growing plants.

Details of a planting vessel that includes a bottom-watering system specifically configured to help with care, maintenance, and root growth is described in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The planting vessel includes a removable insert configured to regulate bottom water flow, aerate soil, and provide flexibility with respect to repotting plants. The planting vessel may include a base, the liner configured to be at least partially disposed within the base, a funnel configured from a portion of the liner and an inner surface portion of the base, the funnel extending from an upper area of the planting vessel to a lower area of the planting vessel, and a watering chamber portion configured from a lower portion of the liner and a portion of the base, the watering chamber portion coupled to the funnel such that a liquid can pass through the funnel to the watering chamber portion.

The present invention provides a plant pot tray and irrigation system that improves the efficiency of installation and removal of growing pots from the tray. The present invention includes a plant pot tray that includes an integrated irrigation system that does not install into the individual pots but may be installed into the tray itself outside of the pots. The integrated irrigation system allows for the pots to be installed and removed from the plant pot tray without disturbing the integrated irrigation system, thus making the installation and removal of the pots efficient and operable to be automated.

Some embodiments of apparatuses and methods according to the present invention control the growth of plants in indoor systems. In some embodiments, an electronic device is provided that wirelessly discovers, couples to and controls one or more peripheral devices, the one or more peripheral devices including one or more of a light for illuminating a grow, a water pump for supplying water to the grow, a fan for circulating air to the grow, an air pump for oxygenating water for the grow, a heater for increasing a temperature ambient to the grow, and a chiller for decreasing a temperature ambient to the grow. The electronic device may also wireless couple to one or more sensors, including one or more of a temperature sensor, camera, light sensor, pH sensor, electrical conductivity sensor, and/or any other environmental, plant, biology, water, electrical, light, and/or power sensor.

A garden system that include a garden box having at four walls and a floor. The walls and the floor form a plant receiving area. The each wall includes an internal cavity that holds water and acts together as a water tank. The water tank has an input and an output. The garden system also includes a watering system connected to the water tank and is positioned to provide water to the plant receiving area.

A system, comprising: a housing comprising an elongated hollow body configured to be at least partially embedded in a soil environment adjacent a plant at a desired depth; a swellable element dimensioned to be disposed within the housing, the swellable element being configured to swell when absorbing moisture; a resiliently-compressible flexible tube configured to provide water to the soil environment, the flexible tube is laced transversely through tube openings of the housing, the flexible tube is disposed adjacent to the swellable element inside the housing such that a swelling or displacement of the swellable element compresses the flexible tube, thereby limiting or preventing water flow therethrough; and a moisture transfer adapter configured to communicate moisture along its length from a desired location within the soil environment to the swellable element, as well as methods of using the system.