A hybrid grass support structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 710) comprising a growth medium layer (102), a stone wool layer (104) positioned below the growth medium layer, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers (106). The growth medium layer comprises a growth medium. The synthetic grass fibers are incorporated at least into the growth medium layer.

There is provided a solid shape information generation system to form a solid shape object suitable to cultivate a plant. The solid shape information generation system includes a forming information generator that generates forming information to form a solid shape object used to cultivate a plant using a first material and a second material based on information representing the solid shape object and form an area where at least the plant is sown using the first material whose tensile strength is lower than that of the second material; and an output unit that outputs the forming information for a solid shape forming unit to form the solid shape object.

Cultivation systems including a cultivation substrate configured to retain and viably maintain spores and germinated spores are disclosed. The cultivation systems may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The cultivation substrates may be patterned. The cultivation systems may specifically retain and viably retain specific spore types.

Cultivation systems including a cultivation substrate configured to retain and viably maintain spores and germinated spores are disclosed. The cultivation systems may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The cultivation substrates may be patterned. The cultivation systems may specifically retain and viably retain specific spore types.

Growing systems including double-walled growing devices, and methods of making and using the same are provided. Growing devices include two sheets of material, a sprouting layer and a rooting layer, strategically bonded together to form containers for growing plants. Each container includes openings in the layers to allow the plants to grow out of their containers and to allow roots to access water through the rooting layer. The two layers can be formed into a cylinder where the center of the cylinder provides a channel for watering such that the roots grow into that channel. Deployed as a flat sheet of containers, the device can include a third layer to provide a water channel between the rooting layer and the third layer. Growing systems include the device and can also include a system to provide water thereto, and an enclosure around the device for providing an overpressure.

Growing systems including double-walled growing devices, and methods of making and using the same are provided. Growing devices include two sheets of material, a sprouting layer and a rooting layer, strategically bonded together to form containers for growing plants. Each container includes openings in the layers to allow the plants to grow out of their containers and to allow roots to access water through the rooting layer. The two layers can be formed into a cylinder where the center of the cylinder provides a channel for watering such that the roots grow into that channel. Deployed as a flat sheet of containers, the device can include a third layer to provide a water channel between the rooting layer and the third layer. Growing systems include the device and can also include a system to provide water thereto, and an enclosure around the device for providing an overpressure.

A hybrid grass support structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 710) comprising a growth medium layer (102), a stone wool layer (104) positioned below the growth medium layer, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers (106). The growth medium layer comprises a growth medium. The synthetic grass fibers are incorporated at least into the growth medium layer.

A hybrid grass support structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 710) comprising a growth medium layer (102), a stone wool layer (104) positioned below the growth medium layer, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers (106). The growth medium layer comprises a growth medium. The synthetic grass fibers are incorporated at least into the growth medium layer.

A soil-less plant cultivation substrate, for use in hydroponic or aeroponic plant cultivation, adapts entangled layers of natural wool batting that has been chemically treated with a compound containing thiol to increase its water holding capacity. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical treatment uses thioglycolic acid, such as calcium thioglycolate or ammonium thioglycolate, to increase the wool's solubility and then a neutralizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, halts the process. The thiol compound reduces the disulfide bonds of cysteine in the cortex of the wool and the hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the reaction and oxidizes the cysteines back to cystine, although not all disulfide bonds are reformed. The addition of an alkaline modifier is used to moderate or hasten the breaking the disulfide bonds.

A soil-less plant cultivation substrate, for use in hydroponic or aeroponic plant cultivation, adapts entangled layers of natural wool batting that has been chemically treated with a compound containing thiol to increase its water holding capacity. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical treatment uses thioglycolic acid, such as calcium thioglycolate or ammonium thioglycolate, to increase the wool's solubility and then a neutralizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, halts the process. The thiol compound reduces the disulfide bonds of cysteine in the cortex of the wool and the hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the reaction and oxidizes the cysteines back to cystine, although not all disulfide bonds are reformed. The addition of an alkaline modifier is used to moderate or hasten the breaking the disulfide bonds.