A stackable growth media filled porous fabric block-shaped container includes either an internal seed carrier to facilitate the growth of various plants from within the block, or an outer three-dimensional open structure media retention sleeve to support external growth of vegetation via hydromulching into the sleeve. A plurality of the containers may be stacked or laid side by side to create a vegetated retaining wall or a vegetated slope facing. The porous fabric block-shaped containers are filled with growth medium that encourages plant growth, while allowing proper drainage and moisture retention. The seed carrier is a degradable or porous material coated with or supporting seeds and other amendments which facilitate plant growth. The open structure media retention sleeve includes loops of filaments to increase friction between blocks and to hold hydromulch on exposed surfaces.

An automatic vertical farming system may include at least one growth area configured to support a plurality of vertical plant growth structures. The system may include at least one piece of farming equipment configured to plant crops within the at least one growth area, maintain the crops within the at least one growth area, harvest the crops within the at least one growth area, or a combination thereof. The system may include a control system including at least one processor in communication with at least one network, the at least one processor being configured to receive a configuration message from a remote computing device through the at least one network and automatically control the at least one piece of farming equipment according to content of the configuration message.

A tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth is set forth devised to support germination and plant growth upon an exterior surface. Water moves under osmotic pressure from a water storage volume disposed in osmotic communication with the ceramic, through the ceramic to become available water at the exterior surface. A graduated cross-section regulates water flow from a water storage volume through to the exterior surface along a pressure gradient exerted by the water head. Plant growth is facilitated within a plurality of tessellated indentations disposed upon the exterior surface and growth may be restricted from areas of the exterior surface by application of gloss, glaze, sealants and/or other surface features that may blend design elements to augment and support a living design.

A wall mounted agricultural assembly includes a first planter and a second planter below the first planter, and a water supply arrangement that includes a fluid supply delivering fluid from a fluid supply to the first and second planters and a first valve configured to allow or prevent fluid flow to the planters, and a second valve configured to prevent or allow fluid to bypass the planters.

The planting pot comprises a pot wall and a pot bottom, wherein clamping assemblies are arranged at the bottom of the pot bottom. The clamping assemblies comprising a plurality of upper clamping members and a plurality of lower clamping members; the upper clamping members positioned above the lower upper clamping members. A plurality of clamping portions are arranged at the pot bottom, when the pot wall is assembled with the pot bottom, each of the upper clamping members is clamped with an upper side of one of the clamping portions and each of the lower clamping members are clamped with a lower side of one of the clamping portions. The pot bottom can be effectively clamped by the clamping pieces arranged on the pot wall of the planting pot, thus preventing the pot bottom from falling off when the planting pot is moved.

A plant plug holding unit is provided, the plant plug holding unit including at least one plant plug holder. The plant plug holding unit, which is configured to be inserted into a cut-out in a hydroponic tower face plate, includes an edge member that encircles the unit and is sealed to the rear surface of the front tower face. Each individual plant plug holder of the plant plug holding unit includes (i) a base member configured to support a plant plug and which extends rearward from the edge member and into the hydroponic tower cavity; (ii) a top shroud member that inhibits leakage as well as plug erosion; (iii) a pair of side members that maintain the position of the plant plug within the plug holder; and (iv) a plurality of open regions configured to promote water drainage from the plant plug.

A green wall system includes a plurality of potted plants positioned within respective pots to form a wall of vegetation. The pots can be mounted to a support element and plumbing and electrical utilities of the green wall system can be positioned within a utility column adjacent to the wall of vegetation. The utility column can span from a bottom of the green wall system to a top of the green wall system. A fluid reservoir and a pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the potted plants can be positioned within the utility column.

A disclosed vertical planter box assembly includes perimeter walls defining an interior space for holding plants. The perimeter wall includes openings aligned around the interior space. A water basin is provided at a top side for communicating water into the interior space. A drip tray is supported below a bottom side for capturing draining water from the interior space. A plurality of pins extend through the openings and across the interior space to hold the plant structures in place within the interior space.

A pocket structure for receiving containerized plants is sloped and hung from a wire of a wire basket. The pocket structure includes hooks, an irrigation fitting and corresponding drip channel to transmit water toward the rear of the pocket, and slots in the walls. The mesh units include braces and are sized for shipping. An earth wall is formed of the mesh units and pockets, and includes irrigation tubing.

A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.