The invention taught is a method and apparatus to mix a special polymer, hot water or other hot water material containing additives and a special mixture of dry growing substances mixed in a particular way so that they may be applied to structures such as to ceilings, walls, and any grade of vertical slants, commercial roofs, courtyards, indoor and outdoor applications. The purpose is to coat any surface and grow any plant for any reason be it erosion control, beautification of an area. The invention would help in reforestation after fires and such. This invention has a wide range of applications and so it is impossible to limit it to just one of these applications. Green parking lots and green areas that before could not be made green is just one area for the invention.

The invention taught is a method and apparatus to mix a special polymer, hot water or other hot water material containing additives and a special mixture of dry growing substances mixed in a particular way so that they may be applied to structures such as to ceilings, walls, and any grade of vertical slants, commercial roofs, courtyards, indoor and outdoor applications. The purpose is to coat any surface and grow any plant for any reason be it erosion control, beautification of an area. The invention would help in reforestation after fires and such. This invention has a wide range of applications and so it is impossible to limit it to just one of these applications. Green parking lots and green areas that before could not be made green is just one area for the invention.

A growing medium comprising fibrous tree bark and fibrous wood components, wherein the fibers of the growing medium have an average length to width ratio, such that the growing medium has a dry bulk density of about 60 kg/m.sup.3 or lower and wet bulk density of about 120 kg/m.sup.3 or lower.

The subject invention relates to novel systems, materials and methods for aseptic production of fungi on a large scale. In particular, the subject invention provides systems, materials and methods for producing endomycorrhizal fungal propagules, including spores and hyphal mycelium, using a two-stratum system supplemented with plant hormones and other natural growth stimulators.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149? C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149? C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

According to the present invention a composite structure is provided comprising in intimate mixture essentially through the whole composite structure: peat fibers, peat particles, peat agglomerates or mixtures thereof, that have been obtained from horticultural peat by fractionation or by producing from peat fines; and polymer fibers, which composite structure has been heat-treated to bind the polymer fibers to each other and to stabilize the peat fibers, peat particles, peat agglomerates or mixtures thereof in place in the composite structure. In addition, a process is provided for the production of the composite structure.

According to the present invention a composite structure is provided comprising in intimate mixture essentially through the whole composite structure: peat fibers, peat particles, peat agglomerates or mixtures thereof, that have been obtained from horticultural peat by fractionation or by producing from peat fines; and polymer fibers, which composite structure has been heat-treated to bind the polymer fibers to each other and to stabilize the peat fibers, peat particles, peat agglomerates or mixtures thereof in place in the composite structure. In addition, a process is provided for the production of the composite structure.

A cocopeat substrate and its manufacturing method, includes the steps of: (a) mixing raw materials, part by mass, of 70-75 parts of cocopeat, 0-0.5 parts of pH regulator, 0-0.5 parts of rooting agent, 25-30 parts of modified diisocyanate and 20-35 parts of water uniformly by a mixer to form a premixed material; (b) immediately filling the premixed material into a mold and carrying out hot press curing to obtain a cured cocopeat substrate; and (c) drying with hot air to remove excess moisture, and then air cooling under room condition. The cocopeat substrate has an EC value less than or equal to 1.0, a pH value of 5.0-6.5, a porosity of 80-85%, and a density of 0.18-0.25g/cm.sup.3. The cocopeat substrate has a truncated pyramid structure and a planting hole functioning as a natural planting pot with slow natural decomposition rate, readily for use directly for growing seedlings.

A cocopeat substrate and its manufacturing method, includes the steps of: (a) mixing raw materials, part by mass, of 70-75 parts of cocopeat, 0-0.5 parts of pH regulator, 0-0.5 parts of rooting agent, 25-30 parts of modified diisocyanate and 20-35 parts of water uniformly by a mixer to form a premixed material; (b) immediately filling the premixed material into a mold and carrying out hot press curing to obtain a cured cocopeat substrate; and (c) drying with hot air to remove excess moisture, and then air cooling under room condition. The cocopeat substrate has an EC value less than or equal to 1.0, a pH value of 5.0-6.5, a porosity of 80-85%, and a density of 0.18-0.25g/cm.sup.3. The cocopeat substrate has a truncated pyramid structure and a planting hole functioning as a natural planting pot with slow natural decomposition rate, readily for use directly for growing seedlings.