Culture Medium for the Cultivation of Plants

Abstract

A culture medium for the cultivation of plants, wherein the culture medium includes a container which is open at the top and which is filled or is arranged to be filled with a growth substrate. The container is made of fibers and/or granules which are interconnected by means of an adhesive, and the growth substrate is a loose material, such as soil or peat.

Claims

1. A culture medium for the cultivation of plants, wherein the culture medium comprises a container which is open at the top and which is filled or is arranged to be filled with a growth substrate, and wherein the container is made of fibers and/or granules which are interconnected by means of an adhesive.

2. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a circumferential side wall, preferably a frusto-conical side wall.

3. The culture medium of claim 2, wherein the container comprises a bottom connected to the side wall.

4. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the container is air and water permeable.

5. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the fibers and/or granules are made of an anorganic material.

6. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the fibers and/or granules are made of an organic material.

7. The culture medium of claim 6, wherein the fibers and/or granules comprise cellulose fibres, pressed carton granules, peat fibers, wood fibers or bark granules, preferably pine bark granules.

8. The culture medium of claim 6, wherein the fibers and/or granules are comprised of a material of a type which does not soften when soaked in water, such as pressed carton granules, wood fibers, coconut fibers or bark granules, preferably pine bark granules.

9. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the fibers and/or granules have an average length of between 1 mm and 50 mm.

10. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the fibers and/or granules have an average width of between 1 mm and 4 mm.

11. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the fibers and/or granules have an average length of between 1 mm and 5 mm, between 5 mm and 35 mm, or between 20 mm and 50 mm.

12. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the side wall of the container is between 1.5 mm and 20 mm.

13. The culture medium of claim 12, wherein the thickness of the side wall is between 10 mm and 20 mm.

14. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the growth substrate is a loose material, such as soil or peat.

15. The culture medium of claim 14, wherein the loose material is comprised of the same sort of fibres and/or granules of which the container is made.

16. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein the culture medium is filled with the growth substrate and a plant or a plant seed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be elucidated by way of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the figures, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a culture medium in accordance with the invention; and

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the culture medium of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to the figures, a culture medium for the cultivation of plants comprises a container 1 filled with a growth substrate 2, such as loose peat. A young plant 3 is grown in the culture medium, for instance by putting a seed in the growth substrate 2, putting the culture medium in a growth tray (for instance by a pick-and-place machine), and providing water to the culture medium, such that roots 31 and a stem 32 and leaves 33 develop from the seed. Once the plant is grown big enough, the culture medium is re-planted to a bigger size pot for instance, which may again be doen by a pick-and-place machine.

[0016] The container 1 is open at the top and comprises a frusto-conical circumferential side wall 11, with it widest circumference on top, and a bottom 12 integrated therewith. The container 11 is made of organic fibers and/or granules, such as a mixture of wood fibers and pine bark granules, which are bonded together by means of a binder, such as a thermoplastic polymer, in such a manner that the container wall is air and water permeable, as well as water absorbent.

[0017] The invention has thus been described by means of a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that this disclosure is merely illustrative. Various details of the structure and function were presented, but changes made therein, to the full extent extended by the general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, are understood to be within the principle of the present invention. The description and drawings shall be used to interpret the claims. The claims should not be interpreted as meaning that the extent of the protection sought is to be understood as that defined by the strict, literal meaning of the wording used in the claims, the description and drawings being employed only for the purpose of resolving an ambiguity found in the claims. For the purpose of determining the extent of protection sought by the claims, due account shall be taken of any element which is equivalent to an element specified therein.