An automated plant cultivation system is provided having multi-tiered vertically arranged horizontal magazine structures each employing seed or plant capsules with a fluid circulation and illumination and communication network controlled by an on-board processor. Particularly, the system includes a magazine structure having seed/plant capsules within seed/plant reservoirs alternately arranged between at least one of a light source substantially concealed from direct viewing. A fluid channel extends across a long axis of the magazine structure, wherein the magazine structure is adapted for use of seed/plant capsules with nutrient composite plant growth cultivation, hydroponic plant growth cultivation, aeroponic plant growth cultivation methods or combinations thereof.

A vertical aeroponic growing apparatus is disclosed which includes a hollow structure having a top wall, a sidewall, and a bottom wall. A plurality of openings is formed through the sidewall. A thermal, light refractive cover is wrapped around the sidewall. The cover has a plurality of openings formed therethrough which correspond to the plurality of openings formed in the sidewall. A fitting is positioned in each of the plurality of openings in which a plant will be supported. A cap closes off any of the plurality of openings which are not needed to support a fitting. A drain pipe is secured to the bottom wall for allowing excess nutrient laden water to be removed. Lastly, an irrigation tube routes nutrient laden water to the hollow structure. A nozzle attached to an end of the irrigation tube delivers a fine mist of the nutrient laden water to the plant roots.

A generally planar foundation pad is formed of a material such as concrete, or the like, and supports a framework defining a plurality of concentric circular paths stacked in a cylindrical array. A plurality of helical water troughs are supported by the framework within each of the circular paths. Water circulation apparatus is provided which pumps water from the bottom of each helical water trough to the top and selected intermediate portions of the water trough to produce a continuous circulation of water. The circulating water is combined with various nutrients and the nutrient and water solution is filtered as it is circulated. Each helical water trough is formed of multiple vertically stacked layers of the trough. As a result, a great length of water trough is stacked upon a small footprint of land. Each water trough is filled with a plurality of floating growing trays to form a continuous train of growing trays extending down the entire water trough. As the water and nutrient solution flows down each helical water trough, the floating growing trays are carried down the water trough. As the growing trays move, they are continuously removed from the bottom end of the water trough and added at the top.

Various embodiments of vertical hydroponic horticulture systems are provided that maximize space saving features and provide improved convenience and recyclability. The hydro-ponic systems disclosed herein use a simple flexible mesh tube that can be tied at the bottom, and optionally tied at the top, and filed with a suitable growing medium for hydroponic agriculture. A plurality of perforations is provided in the mesh envelope for plants to grow on the exterior of the envelope with their roots in the medium inside the mesh envelope. An irrigation water drip may be provided at the top of the tubular flexible mesh tube, and a water collector may be provided at the bottom of the mesh tube, and a pump may be provided for recirculating the aqueous nutrient solution from the bottom of the mesh tube to the irrigation water drip at the top. In an embodiment, the mesh tube may be hung from an overhead supporting member. In an embodiment, the entire system may be self supporting by the use of a rigid pipe that acts as an internal skeleton through the center of the mesh tube.

A growing system for providing fluids to a plurality of growing assemblies using only a single pump and fluid source. The growing system generally includes a single fluid source such as a reservoir from which fluids are drawn by a single pump. A main manifold connected to the pump outlet splits the fluids drawn from the fluid source into a plurality of feeder pipes. Each of the feeder pipes provides fluid to a separate growing assembly; with the present invention providing support for a plurality of growing assemblies. Each growing assembly comprises an inlet manifold for receiving the fluids, a plurality of growing pipes for providing the fluids to a plurality of planters, and a drainage device for discharging fluids back into the fluid source for further use.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to a fluid conveyance apparatus, the apparatus comprising a receptacle comprising at least one raceway configured to allow a culture medium to flow in a continuous loop; a propulsion mechanism configured: to generate a fluid current of sufficient force to propel a floating mat on a top surface of the culture medium, and to vary a velocity of the fluid current in a controlled manner to maintain a substantially uniform distribution of the floating mat on the top surface of the culture medium; and a control mechanism operatively linked to the propulsion mechanism and configured to regulate the velocity of the fluid current.

A closed hydroponic vertical modular cultivation system, comprising: a lighting system; a system pump; a nutrient supply reservoir; a reservoir cover; a nutrient supply pipe; a hydroponic vertical modular cultivation system panel; and a nutrient return pipe. The closed system pumps a nutrient aqueous solution to seedlings that are in stabilization collars that are integrated into the troughs of the panel. The system, panel, and lighting system are vertically orientated and several lighting systems and panels may be part of one system.

Modular systems for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment may include at least one tank configured to hold liquid. A modular drive assembly may be carried by the at least one tank. At least one propagation module may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the modular drive assembly. The at least one propagation module may be configured to support and propagate at least one plant. At least one pump may be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one tank. The at least one pump configured to pump the liquid from the at least one tank through the at least one propagation module. Modular methods for propagating plants in at least one of a hydroponic environment and an aquaponics environment are also disclosed.

A plant growth system and medium employs a manmade mineral fiber-based growth medium that includes from about 40% to about 99.5% man-made mineral fiber interspersed with from about 0.5% to about 60% by weight pieces of natural or synthetic open cell foam. The foam includes from about 5 to about 50 pores per square inch. Additives in the form of nutrients, fungi, and bacteria are included. Water is supplied to plants by flood and drain watering during plant growth in the medium. EC is maintained within a range of about 0.5 mS/cm to about 2.500 mS/cm and pH is maintained within a range of about 5.6 to about 5.8.

A rotatable, electric powered self-contained vertical plant housing and watering apparatus including an elongated plant-housing tower having a closed first end, a second end, a hollow interior, and a plurality of removable plant plug-supporting cups extending outward from a sidewall of the tower, a water column supported within the hollow interior of the tower in a fixed condition and running from proximal to the first end to the second end of the tower, a self-contained water basin connected to the second end of the tower and supporting the tower in a rotatably upright condition, a water pump located within the basin and pushing fluid within the basin up the water column for fluid distribution within the tower, and a motor driving a rotation of tower about the water column to provide all sides of the tower with equal sun and shade time.