As part of the natural biological process, plants produce various metabolites. The amount of certain metabolites produced is important, especially during the growth phase of plants to be harvested in whole or in part. The production of metabolites is affected by the chemical environment within the plant, including the amount of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2. The production of metabolites of interest can be controlled by measuring the amount of the metabolites being produced by the plant, and then adjusting the amount of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 available to the plant. These are adjusted by adjusting the amount of CO.sub.2 in water delivered to the leaves of the plant through foliar spraying and the amount of O.sub.2 in water delivered to the roots of the plant.

As part of the natural biological process, plants produce various metabolites. The amount of certain metabolites produced is important, especially during the growth phase of plants to be harvested in whole or in part. The production of metabolites is affected by the chemical environment within the plant, including the amount of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2. The production of metabolites of interest can be controlled by measuring the amount of the metabolites being produced by the plant, and then adjusting the amount of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 available to the plant. These are adjusted by adjusting the amount of CO.sub.2 in water delivered to the leaves of the plant through foliar spraying and the amount of O.sub.2 in water delivered to the roots of the plant.

A water distribution assembly includes a water capture cup adapted to hold a volume of water, the capture cup including an open recess disposed centrally thereon extending upward into the internal volume thereof, a location spike having a fin configuration, the location spike having a bottom portion and a top portion, the top portion culminating at a central stem, the bottom and top portion separated by a flange, the location spike fitted into the recess of the capture cup extending orthogonally below and above the bottom of the capture cup, and a water regulator with a central emitter valve disposed centrally above the capture cup, the regulator cup connected to a water inlet line via a feed stem and to a vertical feeder tube below center, the feeder tube extending downward and connected at the remaining end over the central stem of the location spike.

A water distribution assembly includes a water capture cup adapted to hold a volume of water, the capture cup including an open recess disposed centrally thereon extending upward into the internal volume thereof, a location spike having a fin configuration, the location spike having a bottom portion and a top portion, the top portion culminating at a central stem, the bottom and top portion separated by a flange, the location spike fitted into the recess of the capture cup extending orthogonally below and above the bottom of the capture cup, and a water regulator with a central emitter valve disposed centrally above the capture cup, the regulator cup connected to a water inlet line via a feed stem and to a vertical feeder tube below center, the feeder tube extending downward and connected at the remaining end over the central stem of the location spike.

A growing container system for free-rooted plants adapted to grow plants to be grown aeroponically. The growing container includes a spherical upper portion and a conical lower portion. The growing container allows for the growing of individual free-rooted plants and is coupled to a fluid supply system which provides water to misters within the growing container, and which removes excess water from the bottom of the lower portion of the growing container. The growing container may be made of two halves which are coupled vertically.

A system for the transport and growing of free-rooted plants adapted to be grown aeroponically. The system and method includes propagating the free-rooted plants and then transferring them to a transport container. The transport container includes a light and hydrated nutrient balls adapted to keep the plant alive during transport. The plant may, after transport, be transferred to a growing container. The growing container may include a spherical upper portion and a conical lower portion. The growing container allows for the growing of individual free-rooted plants and is coupled to a fluid supply system which provides water to misters within the growing container, and which removes excess water from the bottom of the lower portion of the growing container.

The present invention relates to a tree watering and fertilizing apparatus that can be used to irrigate and fertilize the base of a tree and to protect the roots thereof. The present invention comprises a tree ring having a bottom half that serves as a root harrier and a top half that serves as a barrier to retain water around a tree while the water percolates to the root system of the tree. An inlet fitting is attached to a water supply and directs water into an irrigation valve that is in fluid communication with a fertilizer dispenser. As the water flows through the irrigation valve and out a distribution fitting, the water flow siphons fertilizer from the fertilizer dispenser and mixes it with the water before it is released through a distribution fitting to irrigate the base of a tree or shrub.

The present invention relates to a tree watering and fertilizing apparatus that can be used to irrigate and fertilize the base of a tree and to protect the roots thereof. The present invention comprises a tree ring having a bottom half that serves as a root harrier and a top half that serves as a barrier to retain water around a tree while the water percolates to the root system of the tree. An inlet fitting is attached to a water supply and directs water into an irrigation valve that is in fluid communication with a fertilizer dispenser. As the water flows through the irrigation valve and out a distribution fitting, the water flow siphons fertilizer from the fertilizer dispenser and mixes it with the water before it is released through a distribution fitting to irrigate the base of a tree or shrub.

A system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

An automated growing facility for plants, seeds, or seedlings is disclosed. The facility comprises a growing chamber, a fertigation station, a load/unload station, a device such as an automated guided vehicle (AGV) configured to transport grow modules, and a control system configured to control at least one of the grow modules, the fertigation station, the load/unload station, and the AGV. The grow modules are transported from the growing chamber to the fertigation station using the AGV for fertigating plant vessels in growing trays of the grow modules, and the fertigated plants vessels are transported from the fertigation station to the growing chamber using the AGV. Further, the plant vessels are loaded into the growing trays and unloaded from the growing trays at the load/unload station.