A sampling device for plants having a lower section with a plurality of sample containers, an upper section with a plurality of cultivation containers, a cutter and a cutting tip, wherein a base opening is formed in each cultivation container and corresponds to a sample container opening of one of the sample containers, and wherein the cutter and cutting tip are arranged, when the sampling device is in a usage position, between the upper section and the lower section such that a part of a plant protruding out through the base opening of the cultivation container and in through the sample container opening into the sample container can be severed by the cutter and cutting tip.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a growing medium. The method comprises accumulating a particulate material. The particulate material comprises particles having a range of particle sizes. The method further comprises agitating the particulate material. Agitation of the particulate material causes smaller particles of particulate material to sink to the bottom of the growing medium under gravity and to thereby displace larger particles of particulate material to the top of the growing medium. There is also provided a growing medium comprising a particulate material defining a volume of particulate material. The particulate material comprises particles having a range of particle sizes. The concentration of smaller particles of particulate material increases from the bottom of the volume of the particulate material to the top of the volume of the particulate material. The concentration of larger particles of particulate material decreases from the bottom of the volume of particulate material to the top of the volume of particulate material.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a growing medium. The method comprises accumulating a particulate material. The particulate material comprises particles having a range of particle sizes. The method further comprises agitating the particulate material. Agitation of the particulate material causes smaller particles of particulate material to sink to the bottom of the growing medium under gravity and to thereby displace larger particles of particulate material to the top of the growing medium. There is also provided a growing medium comprising a particulate material defining a volume of particulate material. The particulate material comprises particles having a range of particle sizes. The concentration of smaller particles of particulate material increases from the bottom of the volume of the particulate material to the top of the volume of the particulate material. The concentration of larger particles of particulate material decreases from the bottom of the volume of particulate material to the top of the volume of particulate material.

Described is a hydroponic system wherein a feed formulation comprising a plant's nutritionally required mineral nutrients is applied to the foliage of the plant and the roots of the plant are in contact with an incomplete water solution that may comprise only hydrogen and oxygen. The feed formulation, methods of feeding a plant or plant seed, and plants produced thereby are also described.

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 method of producing artificial bio-soil aggregates based on foamed concrete for plant growth that can ensure sufficient moisture and plant nutrients for the habitat of plants in non-soil conditions; obtain a lightweight, durable, and deep soil layer, and continuously provide a favorable environment for plant growth. A paste is prepared by mixing cement with an admixture, such as ochre and burnt-furnace slag; foamed concrete is formed by adding foam bubbles with an appropriate foaming rate to said paste, thereby producing soil concrete. When the foamed concrete is used, a designated compressive strength can be ensured and a number of pore spaces are formed, which allow the air to be sucked and expelled therethrough and store moisture therein. Also, hydrogel that is incorporated into the foamed concrete may supply nutrients required for plant growth, improve pest resistance, and store and supply a large amount of water.

A composite, time-delayed, polymer-coated, granulated material for maintaining hydration in plants is formulated to delay acceptance of water in order to operate in drilling, plugging, and disking equipment used for aeration, soil amendment, or both. Whether potted or outdoors, whether relying on a third-material binder or a small, hydrated portion of the polymer itself as a binder, the material may be injected or otherwise placed below the surface of soils. Water is eventually absorbed sufficiently to expose the bulk of the hydrating particles attached to each granule. Addition of the granulated material as a soil amendment resists dehydration normally occurring in plants between waterings, yet its initial delay in hydrating supports water-jet injection and soil integration by resisting premature expansion from hydration.

Methods for promoting plant growth based on novel photosafening treatment regimes with glycopyranosides including glycopyranosylglycopyranosides, and aryl-a-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 culture support substrate comprising: a first part, making up the backbone of the substrate and representing more than 70% of the total volume of the substrate, composed of particles P.sub.>100 m with particle size greater than 100 m, the particles as a whole consisting of hard particles P.sub.H>100 and/or of resilient particles P.sub.R>100, wherein the resilient particles make up a proportion by volume PV of between 0% and 100% by volume of this first part; a second part of corpuscular components P.sub.<100 with a particle size of less than 100 m, and making up from 0 to 450 g/l of the substrate; a third part, making up from 0 to 200 g/l of the substrate, composed of fine fibers between 3 mm and 100 mm in length and between 5 m and 35 m in diameter; and a fourth part, making up from 0 to 200 g/l of the substrate.

A seedling nursery member for grafting according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one seedling nursery unit. At least one seedling nursery unit includes a seed storage section configured to store a seed of a plant and have a space for the plant to germinate, a stem storage section configured to store a stem of the plant that has germinated and elongated, and a stem holder configured to hold the elongated stem of the plant. At least a portion of the seed storage section of at least one seedling nursery unit is configured to be openable to the outside of at least one seedling nursery unit. At least a portion of the stem storage section of at least one seedling nursery unit is configured to be openable to the outside of at least one seedling nursery unit.