A planter assembly includes a reservoir including a flexible container which includes an inlet port for introducing liquid therein and an outlet tube. One end of the outlet tube points towards a bottom portion of the container and the other end of the outlet tube is in fluid communication with an outlet port. Filler elements partially fill the container and prevent the container from contracting beyond a limit.

An apparatus for cultivating plants may include a cabinet forming a space in which plants may be cultivated; a door connected to the cabinet to open or close the space; at least one bed disposed in the space; at least one seed package separably seated on the at least one bed and having a medium including seeds of plants and nutrient solution; and a light assembly to radiate light to the at least one seed package disposed on the at least one bed. The at least one bed may include an upper bed on which the at least one seed package may be seated and a bottom bed on which the upper bed may be seated and that forms a water collecting portion that stores water, and the at least one seed package may be supplied with the water stored in the water collecting portion.

A system for growing plants, the system may include a substrate having one or more weakened areas or openings: one or more grow portions coupled to the substrate and situated at the one or more weakened areas or openings and having at least one seed or plant; and/or a fluid distribution portion coupled to the substrate and configured to provide fluid to the one or more grow portions. The system may further include a method of operation including one or more acts of: obtaining a weather forecast for a future time period; determining whether rain is expected during the future time period; and preventing, terminating, or restricting an irrigation cycle when it is determined that rain is expected during the fare time period. The restricting may restrict a flow of liquid during the irrigation cycle or shorten the irrigation interval.

A vertical pole (2) holds plant growing containers (3, 50, 54), at multiple heights. Some containers may be mounted at a given height (H1-H9) in a circular array around the pole. Each container may occupy a V-shaped region about the pole in a top view. The pole may be moveable by a conveyor system (4, 5). The pole may have a fluid reservoir (30), and a fluid distribution system (31-35) extending from the fluid reservoir to plant growing containers at different vertical locations on the pole. Each plant growing container may integrate a soil containment portion (51), a bottom drain portion (61) that collects fluid draining through the soil, and a bypass drain portion (64, 70, 72, 75, 79), that interconnects with higher and lower like containers on the pole and bypasses the soil in the containers for rinsing the soils individually.

An apparatus and method to regulate the fluid level in a plant watering device is described. In an embodiment, the plant watering device comprises a fluid reservoir that is supported by an adapter/fluid regulator that sits within a hollow permeable plant stake. The plant stake is designed to be pressed into soil adjacent to a plant growing in the soil. The adapter sits within the plant stake and acts as a valve with a variable settings that controls the depth of water in the plant stake. Exposing the permeable plant stake to various levels of water affects the rate of permeation through the stake and thereby regulates the watering rate for the plant.

A method for pumping seeds to an assembly line grow pods includes releasing seeds to a pipe in fluid communication with a pump, moving water from a water source to the pipe in fluid communication with the pump, combining the seeds released from the tank with the water from the water source in the pipe, and pumping the combination of the seeds released from the tank and the water from the water source to a grow pod line in fluid communication with the pump, and moving the seeds from the grow pod line to one or more carts of an assembly line grow pod.

A stackable vertical garden system includes a base to hold and receive water, a rotation system engaged with the base and having a motor engaged with a first gear and a second gear, a bearing system having an inner race rigidly attached to the second gear and an outer race to remain stationary; the motor causes rotational movement of the inner race; a stacking base to engage with the inner race such that the stacking base rotates; a stationary brace engaged with the stacking base to receive a water source; and a first plant holder engaged with the stacking base, the first plant holder having plant receivers; a water chamber extending vertically through the stacking base and first plant holder to transfer water to a top of the stackable vertical garden system; a power source connects to the motor for rotation of the stackable base.

A self-watering planter of unitary construction amendable to additive manufacture is provided. A divider divides an upper space of the planter for soil and a lower space for a water reservoir, wherein a conduit extends from the reservoir through the divider to an open end of the upper space, wherein the reservoir can be filled through the conduit. The divider provides a planar first portion and a tubular second portion that depend therefrom into the reservoir. A soil opening in the first portion communicates soil in the upper space with soil compacted in the second portion. A drain hole near an upper portion of the reservoir results in all water from the reservoir to pass through saturation holes in the second portion into the compacted soil therein for leaching into the soil of the upper spaced.

A multifunctional hanging-type plant-growing assembly, comprising a supporting system, a planting system and a watering system; the supporting system comprises a bottom frame, at least two stand columns that are fixed on the bottom frame and extend upwards, and hanging hooks disposed on the stand columns; the planting system comprises at least one planting basket and at least one flowerpot placed in the planting basket; the watering system comprises a water storage tank, a water pump matched with the water storage tank, and a water pipe with one end connected to the water outlet of the water pump; the water pump is connected to the power supply through a control switch.

A planter includes a wall and a rim formed at an open end portion of the wall. A set of holes is formed through the wall and is disposed on a surface beneath the rim. The surface beneath the rim includes a shape to obscure a view of the hole below the rim.