A rotary garden apparatus, method and system for growing plants comprising an open rotatable cylindrical drum mounted within a structural frame is provided wherein said apparatus comprises an accessible front area permitting access to the drum and grow trays mounted on said drum from the front of the apparatus. The rotating drum portion comprises metal bars which form struts round the periphery of the drum on which grow trays can be mounted. The grow trays are inserted by sliding them along the struts of the drum and they are held in position by arms which extend below the metal struts over which the grow trays slide into position. The inverted T shaped fit between the tray and the strut holds the tray in position during rotation without further securing mechanisms required. The operation and most routine maintenance of the apparatus can all be done from the front of the apparatus thereby permitting multiple apparatus units to be placed side by side in a grow facility or against walls. The apparatus may be stacked one above the other all of which maximizes the number of units which can be present in a defined floor space in a grow facility. A light source comprising a holding tray, a sleeve and at least one bulb as part of a rotary garden apparatus is present in the rotary garden apparatus providing light for growing plants.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural growing apparatuses and methods. More specifically the present invention relates to a dynamic, modular, rotating apparatus, and methods related to the apparatus' use and/or function.

Systems, methods, and devices for irrigating a growing crop by hydroponic means, in particular a hydroponic system and a reusable growing plug. In a first aspect there is provided a hydroponic system comprising a growing frame with a rotating portion. The rotating portion further comprises a spiral conduit. The spiral conduit comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving the growing crop. The spiral conduit is configured for receiving fluid and further comprises an opening for receiving the fluid into the spiral, such that in use rotation of the spiral conduit feeds the fluid around the conduit towards the centre of the spiral and past the plurality of apertures for receiving the growing crop. In a second aspect there is provided a reusable growing plug, for use in hydroponic systems, wherein at least a portion of the growing plug is flexible and comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one aperture extending through the first and second surface for receiving a growing crop. The growing plug further comprises a plurality of prongs, coupled to the second surface. The growing plug has a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the plurality of prongs are brought together relative to the second configuration; and in the second configuration the plurality of prongs are separated relative to the first configuration.

A plant growing apparatus is described. In some examples, the plant growing apparatus includes a carousel that is powered such that controlled movement of tubs/containers/vessels with plants or plant matter on the carousel about an axis allows for controlled and measured exposure of the plants/plant matter to predetermined frequencies of light from a light source. The light sources are positioned such that, as the plants/plant matter pass by the light sources in a controlled and timed rotation, a predictable amount of light in predetermined frequencies that is necessary to promote healthy plant growth is provided to the plant/plant matter. The described plant growing apparatus including the carousel provides a uniform distribution of light vis--vis traditional plant growing methods and therefore achieves higher yields from the plant/plant matter.

A rotary plant growing apparatus is disclosed having a light emitting source operable to emit light. The apparatus also has at least one retaining component and a support operable to support the at least one retaining component in spaced relation to the light emitting source. A rotation mechanism is operable to rotate the at least one retaining component in a path around the light emitting source. A position adjustment mechanism is operable to move the at least one retaining component along a path extending between the at least one retaining component and the light emitting source so to adjust the distance between the at least one retaining component and the light emitting source.

This invention relates to a modular rotatable gardening system, comprising a modular main frame supporting a drum for growing plants. This modular rotatable gardening system can be stacked on top of one or more other modular rotatable gardening systems, and also combined in-line. The modular rotatable gardening system may additionally comprise a modular hot air removal ductwork, and may additionally comprise a CO.sub.2 delivery system.

An aeroponic system for supporting efficient low-resource-usage plant growth comprises a housing having one or more openings for a stalk of a plant to pass therethrough, and one or more root chambers for positioning therein of roots of the plant; one or more sealing members coupled to the one or more openings, each sealing member configured to substantially conform to the stalk of the plant and to substantially isolate a canopy of the plant from the one or more root chambers; a nutrient distribution system for introducing nutrients into the one or more root chambers; and a network interface configured to enable the aeroponic system to communicate with an external control system via a computer network.

An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module that is seated on a turntable that is rotatably mounted within a grow chamber and is rotated by a drive assembly. A position sensing assembly monitors an angular position using two proximity sensors, such as Hall-effect sensors, mounted below the sump, and the turntable includes a plurality of proximity indicators, such as magnets, positioned at various circumferential positions on the turntable. A controller is configured to initiate rotation of the turntable from a first angular position, determine that the turntable should have reached a second angular position, e.g., based on the operating duration or drive signal of the drive motor, and identify a drive assembly fault upon determining that the turntable has not reached the second angular position.

A method and apparatus for continuous automated growing of plants utilizes a vertical array of plant supporting arms extending radially from a central column. Each arm has a plurality of plant receiving trough elements which receive the plant seedling and liquid nutrients and water. The plant supporting arms rotate on the hollow column which is motor-driven at its lower end and supported on a bearing mounted on a fixed central pipe at its upper end. The central pipe is fixed to a concrete base or post buried in the supporting surface.

This invention relates to a growing tray and growing tray system for a rotating hydroponic garden. The growing tray is shaped to hold a standard cube of hydroponic growing media with or without a basket with a cap to cover the top opening in the tray between the plants. The growing tray may include an indentation at the bottom of the growing tray to provide room for root growth expansion. The cap may additionally include a flap for covering the space between growing trays in a rotating hydroponic garden.