An integrated stair planter to provide a plurality of levels for plants to be grown in areas where room is limited. Each of the levels enables various types of plants to be planted at any location. Each of the levels are in communication with one another for providing more efficient watering and drainage. The integrated planter includes side panels having a plurality of steps along an upper edge and a sloped lower edge, a plurality of risers to connect between associated risers of the side panels, a sloped floor to seal off an underside of the integrated planter and connect to the sloped lower edge of each of the side panels. A plurality of step planters are provided between associated treads of the side panels and abutting risers. An integrated opening is formed by the plurality of step planters as the step planters are connected to one another.

Provided is an expandable, modular tower planter having an internal vertical composting capability, and a method of assembling and using the same. Provided in various example embodiments is a modular composting garden container system comprising a base and a plurality of stackable rings forming a tower upon the base, including an optional base ring specially sized, shaped, and positioned to connect the tower to the base. A plurality of perforated, stackable tube sections are provided that are removably assembled into a compost tube assembly of selectable height and mounted within the interior of the tower and above the base. A plurality of holding struts are sized, shaped, and positioned to removably connect the compost tube assembly with the tower and to securely locate the compost tube assembly relative to the tower. Means are provided for recovering nutrient-rich drainage and selective recovery of compost material for reintroduction into the system.

A hydroponic device includes a water tank, a drain pan, a hydroponic module and a light emitting diode module. The water tank delivers water to the drain pan via a drain pump. The water is then dispensed to each pot body of the hydroponic module. Each pot body includes an inner pot and an outer pot. Water inside the inner pot will flow to the outer pot through the draining hole. Water will flow out of an overflow outlet and re-enter the water tank if the water level is higher than the overflow outlet. The light emitting diode module is disposed above the hydroponic module.

A system for cultivating plants comprising a plurality of cultivation shelves for cultivating plants, support frames structured to support the cultivation shelves so as to form one or more horizontal cultivation planes that develop along a first horizontal direction, an aeroponic feeding system, which is provided with nebulizing devices that are arranged at the cultivation shelves for spraying the liquid towards the cultivation shelves themselves, and a suction duct arranged at the nebulizing devices to suck up the nebulised liquid dispersed by the same.

A plant-growing system includes a planting system configured to hold one or more plants, a lighting system including a light source configured to emit light, a watering system configured to communicate liquid to the planting system, or a controller communicatively coupled with the lighting system or the watering system. The controller operates in a plant-growing mode during a first period and operate in a plant-preservation mode during a second period. In the plant-preservation mode, the controller controls the lighting system and the watering system to cause the one or more plants to grow more slowly than in the plant-growing mode.

A plant-growing container (500) can include a lower portion (506) and a wall (502) extending upwardly from the lower portion (506). The wall (502) can include a first aperture (512). The plant-growing container (500) can further include an orifice (510) formed by an upper portion (504) of the wall (502) and configured to receive a removable seed receptacle. The plant-growing container (500) can further include a reservoir provided by a lower portion (506) of the wall (502). The container (500) can be configured to be removably inserted into a port of a module of a plant-growing system, wherein the reservoir can be configured to receive a first volume of fluid from a fluid that is circulated through the plant-growing system.

A container farm provides a grow zone and a work zone within an enclosure. Plants are grown in vertical grow towers within the grow zone supported by a rotatable carousel grow structure. The grow towers can be moved within the grow zone to a location in which they are accessible from the work zone. A seedling station can be provided within the work zone. Other systems, including an irrigation system, a lighting system, and a climate control system, can be provided to support the growth of plants within the container.

Generally described, a growing container for a vertical rack system includes an inner container portion with a plurality of inlet perforations across a sidewall, an opening for plant growth, and a base panel with a plurality of outlet perforations. An outer container portion is configured to at least partially surround the inner container portion, and having a fluid inlet port and a fluid drain port. An upper seal and a lower seal are disposed between the inner container portion and the outer container portion on either side of the plurality of inlet perforations to allow a fluid from the fluid inlet port to cover the plurality of inlet perforations at any tilt angle of the growing container. The fluid drain port allows excess fluid drainage. A racking handle protrudes from the outer container portion with an internal angle corresponding to the tilt angle when coupled to a vertical rack system.

A multi-tiered plant growing aid includes a first frame and a plurality of base legs attached to the first frame such that the first frame is supported by and spaced apart from a base surface. A second frame is included, and a plurality of support legs are positioned between the first frame and the second frame such that the second frame is positioned parallel and spaced apart from the first frame. A first mesh panel is attached to the first frame and a second mesh panel is attached to the second frame such that the second mesh panel is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first mesh panel. The second frame has an outer dimension greater than an outer dimension of the first frame such that a plurality of cascading growing shelves is provided.

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.