Abstract
Provided is a kit facilitating the low stress training horticultural technique comprising an elastic band upon which are strung arms of synthetic cord. The elastic band fits around horticultural containers and the arms form loops when pulled through the cord lock. The looped arms may be fitted around the branches of a plant, then tightened and locked to train plant branches down into a horizontal position, causing side growth sites on the plant to develop into a uniform canopy of primary budding sites, thus increasing the quantity and quality of yield while maintaining ease of manipulation of both the growth of individual plants and the spacing of horticultural areas.
Claims
1. A reusable kit for implementing low stress training technique, comprising a band which fits around horticultural containers, along which five or more arms of cord are attached by loops or rings, allowing the arms free movement along the band. Each arm has a cord lock which through which the cord of the arm is pulled to form a loop which may be fitted onto a branch of a plant. The loop may then be adjusted and locked with the cord lock to train the branches and/or stem of the plant into a horizontal growth pattern in species where this training results in leafing and secondary budding sites on the plant developing into primary flowering sites, thus increasing yield.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the band is formed of shock cord or similar durable elastic material.
3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the arms are formed of cord made from synthetic material such as nylon paracord.
4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the arms are attached to the band with rings, hooks or dips, or are sewn around the band in such a way as to allow free movement of the arms along the band.
5. The kit of claim 4, in which the cord lock is any locking device which may lock or loosen around the cord loop depending on whether a button is manipulated up or down by the user.
6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the band is fastened to complimentary halves of a buckle on either end, allowing the user to buckle the band around a horticultural container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a view of the reusable low stress trainer kit of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of one embodiment of the invention, showing a buckle which is clamped to the base of elastic cord and which clips around the rim of a horticultural container;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1, showing a metallic ring which links the synthetic cord arm to the elastic band base, permitting the user to easily adjust the position of any of the arms along the base.
[0017] FIGS. 4A-4D are a sequential progression of fragmentary views showing how the cord of an arm of the invention is threaded through the open cord lock (FIGS. 4A-4B) and how the cord lock may be used to form (FIG. 4C) and fasten (FIG. 4D) a loop suitable for training a plant arm or stem into horizontal position.
[0018] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a branch newly trained into a horizontal position by an arm of the present invention and a similar branch after the side growth has developed into primary flowering sites respectively.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a front view of an untrained plant in a horticultural container;
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a fully developed plant whose arms have been horizontally low stress trained using the present invention, resulting in the formation of an even canopy of primary flowering sites.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the invention in which the elastic base cord, 1, is clamped into a circle with metallic hog rings, 2, in this embodiment, the elastic base cord 1 is threaded through a number of metallic 8 hooks, 3, which corresponds to the number of paracord arms, 4, one of which is tied onto each 8 hook, allowing the arms to slide freely along the base cord. A plastic wheel cord lock, 5, with a lock and release button, 6, is threaded onto each arm, 4.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a buckle to facilitate application to and removal of the invention from horticultural containers, 8, is damped to either end of the elastic base cord, 7, using plastic rings, 9.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a dose up fragmentary view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1, showing how the metallic 8 hook, 3, is threaded onto the elastic base cord, 1, and how the paracord arm, 4, is tied onto the other aperture of the 8 hook, permitting free movement of the arms around the elastic base cord.
[0024] FIGS. 4A-4D are dose up fragmentary views of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1, showing how the paracord arm of the invention, 4, is threaded through wheel cord lock, 5. FIG. 4C shows how the user may form a loop with the paracord arm suitable for fitting around the stern of a plant branch. FIG. 4D shows how the locking mechanism of the wheel cord lock may be engaged by pushing the locking mechanism of the cord lock, 6, into the locked position, thus creating a stable yet adjustable loop for plant training.
[0025] FIG. 5A shows a plant branch, 10, which has been recently trained downwards using an arm of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5B shows a plant branch, 11, similar the one pictured in FIG. 5A after the secondary side growth has developed into primary flowering colas due to the use of the present invention to implement horizontal low stress training.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows the growth habit of an untrained plant in a horticultural container, 14, in which the primary flowering site at the top of the plant, 22, is superior in size and quality to secondary flowering sites such as 13.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a mature plant, which has benefitted from horizontal low stress training in that it has developed an even canopy of primary flowering sites, 15. The elastic base cord of the present invention, 2, is shown in use around the rim of a horticultural container, 14. The arms of the present invention, 4, are shown in looped position around the arms of the plant, and are locked into piece by means of the cord locks, 5.
