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 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 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.

A horticultural growing medium including a support matrix, the support matrix present in an amount between 60 and 80% by weight and an inorganic component. The organic component includes a moss component including at least 50% by weight moss from the sphagnum genus is composed of at least 25% hyaline cells; between 30 and 50% by weight plant derived cellulose fiber component including alone or in any combination: coir, bamboo, hemp, cocoa fiber, rice hulls, and mixtures thereof; and between 0 and 15% cork fiber. The inorganic component includes a particulate igneous volcanic material component including at least one of amorphous volcanic glass, volcanic rock. The horticultural growing medium also includes an organic soil constituent present in an amount between 20 and 40% by weight that includes between 30% and 70% by weight humus soil; between 30% and 70% vermicompost; and up to 5% by weight mammalian derived fecal matter.

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 three-dimensional ground vegetation reinforcement structure within which a plurality of seeds for a selected plant are disposed at or near a plant starting material connected to a three dimensional structure wherein the three dimensional structure has a plurality of apertures to allow the selected plant to grow through the apertures and further including upper elements in the general form and shape of the vegetative parts of the selected plant such that the vegetative parts of the upper elements are artificial and represent the matured portion of the selected plant until the seeds of the selected plant germinate and grow to maturity, and wherein the three dimensional structure has a base portion at the bottom of the three dimensional structure.

A three-dimensional ground vegetation reinforcement structure within which a plurality of seeds for a selected plant are disposed at or near a plant starting material connected to a three dimensional structure wherein the three dimensional structure has a plurality of apertures to allow the selected plant to grow through the apertures and further including upper elements in the general form and shape of the vegetative parts of the selected plant such that the vegetative parts of the upper elements are artificial and represent the matured portion of the selected plant until the seeds of the selected plant germinate and grow to maturity, and wherein the three dimensional structure has a base portion at the bottom of the three dimensional structure.

A sowing unit is provided including water-absorbing material, an enclosure and a seed. The water-absorbing material is vermiculite, which is a hygroscopic negatively-charged material capable of binding a positively charged nutrient ion selected from NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine. Further, there is least one hole in the water-absorbing material arranged to hold one or more seeds.

A sowing unit including water-absorbing material, an enclosure and a seed, wherein the water-absorbing material includes a hygroscopic negatively-charged material capable of binding a positively charged nutrient ion selected from NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine; and optionally a nutrient including a positively charged nutrient ion selected from K+, NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine. Methods and uses of the sowing unit are described.