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.

Hybrid hydroponic plant growing systems are designed specifically for urban home, community and small farm gardening without the need for arable soil or broadcast irrigation. The innovative hybrid hydroponic systems provide a hybrid growing environment including a limited, containerized amount of soil-like growing media combined with soluble fertilizer creating a hydroponic nutrient solution. The use of containerized growing media allows the units to be utilized regardless of the availability of arable soil, irrigation water, or runoff capacity. Multiple hydroponic techniques, such as drip system, nutrient wicking, ebb-and-flow, and/or deep water culture are combined to optimize plant nutrition at different stages of plant growth. Incremental fertilization, water monitoring, and drain systems are designed for easy use by non-professional gardeners. Water recirculation minimizes water use and fertilizer runoff. The units are easily adapted to solar and other off-grid power techniques.

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.

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.

An objective of the present invention is to provide 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.

To achieve the above objective, according to the present invention 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 growing medium for a plant production apparatus utilized in greenhouse crop production is provided. The growing medium comprises a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material wherein the media material is constructed from a plastic material.

A soil-less biodegradable and porous rigid foam substrate for cultivating plants that has been formed of a heterogeneous matrix of organic fibers pasteurized with organic matter and natural minerals, and then contacted with a fungus, resulting in a biocomposite foam with excellent capillary dynamics, the whole of which does not compact and whose organic bio-composition favors the proper micro-biological activity upon a plants' rhizosphere. The preferred embodiment is to grow said substrate inside a waxed hexagonal prism shaped box, and around an externally accessible means of internal aeration, for approximately 3-5 days, and then to deactivate the live fungus in said biocomposite foam by exposure to microwave radiation.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

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.