Systems and methods for vertical farming that reduce the deployment cost, operational costs of human labor, and overall use of energy intensive processes, such as lighting, heating and cooling, and ventilation, while increasing crop quality and yield. This reduction is achieved through a hybrid system that alternates natural light, temperature, and ventilation sources with system-controlled lighting, temperature, and ventilation means. The system includes a germination module that allows seeds to germinal on a horizontal substrate, a growth module that provides optimal growth conditions to the germinated seed on the substrate in a vertical position, and a dosing module that controls the micronutrient mixture supplied to the growing plants.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

A living wall system or method involving a plurality of living wall modules. Each living wall module has a module body enclosing a module plenum, the module body having a growth media port and at least one duct port in fluid communication with the growth media port via the module plenum. The plurality of module plenums are interconnected through the plurality of duct ports to form a recirculation plenum. At least one directional blower is received within the recirculation plenum, the at least one directional blower between at least one upstream living wall module and at least one downstream living wall module to direct fluid flow from the at least one upstream living wall module to the at least one downstream living wall module.

A living wall system or method involving a plurality of living wall modules. Each living wall module has a module body enclosing a module plenum, the module body having a growth media port and at least one duct port in fluid communication with the growth media port via the module plenum. The plurality of module plenums are interconnected through the plurality of duct ports to form a recirculation plenum. At least one directional blower is received within the recirculation plenum, the at least one directional blower between at least one upstream living wall module and at least one downstream living wall module to direct fluid flow from the at least one upstream living wall module to the at least one downstream living wall module.

A seedmat for growing plants, the seedmat comprises a biodegradable base layer, a seed layer and a biodegradable cover layer. The seed layer includes fertilizer granules or pellets that each have a coating, such as a polymer coating, that enables the pellets to absorb water and to slowly release that water, together with fertilizer.

A seedmat for growing plants, the seedmat comprises a biodegradable base layer, a seed layer and a biodegradable cover layer. The seed layer includes fertilizer granules or pellets that each have a coating, such as a polymer coating, that enables the pellets to absorb water and to slowly release that water, together with fertilizer.

A grow media includes a layered grow media including a mechanical support structure layer and a wicking structure layer. The mechanical support structure layer and the wicking structure layer are coupled together in a vertical configuration.

A grow media includes a layered grow media including a mechanical support structure layer and a wicking structure layer. The mechanical support structure layer and the wicking structure layer are coupled together in a vertical configuration.

To provide a vegetation sheet which requires no soil as a base of cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings and enables the cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings in a stable state even in a severe environment such as on a steep slope or in a strong wind. A vegetation sheet 1-1 comprises a surface layer 10 in which Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 are laid and a core layer 20 which allows rhizoids 30a of the Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 extending with growth to enter downward therein. The core layer 20 has a rough netlike structure which has spaces having an aperture size equal to or larger than the thickness of each rhizoid 30a so as to allow the rhizoids 30a to enter therethrough.

A flexible layered fabric sheet comprising a porous front layer and a pre-seeded substrate layer, where the seeds are in-between the two layers (rather than at the back of the substrate layer), for supporting root growth, the two layers together having an upper and lower edge and being attached together with one or more non-continuous seams between the upper and lower edges, which seams have a component of direction parallel to the upper and/or lower edge, and wherein the non-continuous seams enable water to exit the layered fabric sheet at its lower edge, and the non-continuous seams further serve to slow water flow through the water sheet. The seams also serve to keep the two layers from separating which would hamper the penetration of the sapling through the front porous layer, and thus stunt growth.