A porous glass plant growth support structure, including a porous glass substrate and a plurality of interconnected pores distributed throughout the substrate. The substrate is typically formed from foamed glass and/or fused glass spheres and is characterized by a porosity of at least about 80 percent. The pore size is substantially between about 0.2 and about 5 millimeters and the substrate is sufficiently chemically stable such that water filling the plurality of interconnected pores experiences a pH shift of less than 0.5.

A porous glass plant growth support structure, including a porous glass substrate and a plurality of interconnected pores distributed throughout the substrate. The substrate is typically formed from foamed glass and/or fused glass spheres and is characterized by a porosity of at least about 80 percent. The pore size is substantially between about 0.2 and about 5 millimeters and the substrate is sufficiently chemically stable such that water filling the plurality of interconnected pores experiences a pH shift of less than 0.5.

Water-retaining gel compositions, methods of making water-retaining gel compositions, and the uses thereof for enhancing soils, preparing plant growth media and facilitating the growth of plants therein are disclosed.

A magnetic sheet for plant cultivation includes: a base material; and a magnetic layer which is arranged on the base material and includes a resin and at least one selected from the group consisting of a ferromagnetic powder and a ferrimagnetic powder, wherein a product of residual magnetization and layer thickness of the magnetic layer is 20 mA or higher.

Methods for promoting plant growth based on novel photosafening treatment regimes with glycopyranosides including glycopyranosylglycopyranosides, and aryl--D-glycopyranosides, and more specifically, with one or more compounds comprising terminal mannosyl-triose, optionally in the presence of light enhanced by one or more light reflecting and/or refracting members such as silicon-based substrates. Furthermore, chemical synthesis processes for the above compounds are disclosed for general application to plants. Silicate microbeads of the like are distributed over the ground or substrate in which roots of a plant are supported and planted, beneath and around a plant in a manner that light is refracted or reflected toward the phylloplane.

A plant growing device includes an envelope made of a vacuum formed film and having substantially planar first and second walls interconnected by a surrounding wall. A plant growing medium is enclosed by the envelope. The first and second walls each has a plurality of micro-holes, and a network of interconnected ribs that are indented from an outer surface of the first or second wall to define a plurality of flow guide channels. The second wall further has openings to receive plants. The first wall further has drain holes. The envelope has high air permeability due to the micro-holes while still possessing a relative high strength due to the network of ribs.

The invention provides a method of growing plants in a mineral wool growth substrate, the method comprising: providing at least one mineral wool growth substrate comprising man-made vitreous fibers bonded with a cured binder composition, and positioning one or more seeds or plants for growth in the growth substrate, and allowing growth of the one or more plants,
wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises: a) a sugar component, and b) a reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid component and an alkanolamine component,
wherein the binder composition prior to curing contains at least 42% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.

A gel plug comprised of a gel may be used for growth of plants. The gel may include two polysaccharide components, with a second of the two components providing increased rigidity Plants may be grown, including from seed, in the gel plug.

A gel plug comprised of a gel may be used for growth of plants. The gel may include two polysaccharide components, with a second of the two components providing increased rigidity Plants may be grown, including from seed, in the gel plug.

A preparation method for artificially simulated soil rich in humus, relating to a preparation method for simulated soil. The purpose of the method is to solve the problem that the endurance capacity for an existing organic fertilizer to rainwash is low, thereby influencing the effect of remediation on defective soil by the organic fertilizer. The method comprises: 1, preparing a soil mixture; and 2, placing the soil mixture in a high-temperature high-pressure hydrothermal reaction kettle for a hydrothermal reaction to obtain artificially simulated soil rich in humus. The preparation method is simple, raw materials are cheap and easily obtained, and therefore the method is suitable for large-scale synthesis and preparation. The prepared artificially simulated soil rich in humus is used for increasing the soil water retention capacity and the capacity of absorption of nutrients.