SUBSTANCE INTRODUCTION METHOD FOR PLANTS

Abstract

A method for introducing a substance into a plant, in particular a pot plant, includes the following steps: forming a hole into a stem of the plant to get access to a transportation system of the plant; filling the hole with a substance absorbing material; and allowing the substance absorbing material to absorb substance and to subsequently deliver the substance from the substance absorbing material to the transportation system of the plant.

Claims

1. A method for introducing a substance into a plant, comprising the following steps: forming a hole into a stem of the plant to get access to a transportation system of the plant; filling the hole with a substance absorbing material; and allowing the substance absorbing material to absorb substance and to subsequently deliver the substance from the substance absorbing material to the transportation system of the plant.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hole formed in the stem is a through hole.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the substance absorbing material is provided in the form of a wire to extend through the through hole.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the through hole is formed by introducing a tool through the stem of the plant.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the tool is a hypodermic needle.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of: attaching the substance absorbing material to a needle; and using the needle to introduce the substance absorbing material into the hole such that the substance absorbing material extends through the through hole.

7. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of providing a reservoir with substance near the plant, wherein the step of allowing the substance absorbing material to absorb substance comprises making contact between the substance absorbing material and the substance in the reservoir.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein providing the reservoir with substance near the plant comprises attaching the reservoir to the stem of the plant below the hole.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of allowing the substance absorbing material to absorb substance comprises wetting the substance absorbing material with substance and/or water prior to being introduced into the hole.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of closing the hole while the substance absorbing material remains in the hole.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of removing the substance absorbing material from the hole and subsequently closing the hole.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein closing the hole comprises the step of applying a layer of material to an interior wall of the hole preventing said wall from drying.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein closing the hole is carried out using wax.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein closing the hole is carried out by providing a cover over the hole, wherein a seal is provided between the cover and the stem of the plant.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein a diameter of the substance absorbing material is larger than a diameter of the through hole.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substance absorbing material comprises cotton.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the wax is bee wax.

18. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of: attaching the substance absorbing material to a needle; and using the needle to introduce the substance absorbing material into the hole such that the substance absorbing material extends through the through hole.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein closing the hole comprises the step of applying a layer of material to an interior wall of the hole preventing said wall from drying.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein closing the hole is carried out using wax.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols and in which:

[0061] FIG. 1 depicts schematically a plant, in particular a pot plant;

[0062] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section of a stem of a plant in which a hole is filled with a substance absorbing material; and

[0063] FIGS. 3-6 depict steps in a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic drawing of a plant P, in particular a pot plant. FIG. 1 shows schematically the different parts of a plant. The shown parts of a plant are the root system RS, the stem structure including the stems MS, FS, FS1, FS2, FS3, FS3A, FS3B of the plant, the leaves L of the plant, the flowers FL of the plant and the buds B of the plant P.

[0065] The root system RS of the plant is the non-leaf, non-nodes bearing part of the plant P. The major functions of the root system RS may be one or more of the following: [0066] 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients; [0067] 2) anchoring of the plant body to the ground or any other base structure and supporting it; [0068] 3) storage of food and nutrients; [0069] 4) vegetative reproduction.

[0070] The root system RS forms one end of the plant P, the flowers FL, leaves L and buds B form the other end of the plant P. In the schematic drawing of FIG. 1 a non-fruit bearing plant is shown, but it will be apparent that a plant P may also comprise fruits as it comprises leaves L, flowers FL and buds B.

[0071] The stem structure connects the flowers FL, leaves L and buds B to the root system RS and has one or more of the following functions: [0072] 1) support for and the elevation of leaves L, flowers FL and/or fruits; [0073] 2) transport of fluids between roots and the leaves L, flowers FL and/or fruits; [0074] 3) storage of nutrients; and [0075] 4) production of new living tissue.

[0076] In the shown example, the plant P comprises a main stem MS which acts as the main support for all other plant parts except the root system RS and through which all fluids passes. In this example, the main stem MS supports the leaves L and other stems, in this case flower stem FS. The flower stem FS in turn is split up into three flower sub-stems FS1, FS2, FS3. Flower sub-stems FS1 and FS2 each carry one flower FL. Flower sub-stem FS3 is split into sub-stems FS3A and FS3B each carrying a bud B, which will later on develop into a flower FL as well. It will be apparent to the skilled person that the shown structure of the stems is a mere example and that the plant may also have a different configuration.

[0077] The method described in this specification may be applied to all kind of stems of the stem structure. However, in practice, the user will choose a specific stem for carrying out the method depending on the purpose, i.e. the intended destination, of the substances to be introduced into the plant.

[0078] When for instance the substance is intended for only the leaves L of the plant P of FIG. 1 or for all leaves L, flowers FL and buds B, the method will preferably be carried out in relation to the main stem MS, as introducing the substance into the main stem MS will result in the substance being distributed to all parts of the plant P carried by the main stem MS.

[0079] When for instance the substance is not intended for the leaves L but for the flowers FL and buds B, the method is preferably carried out in relation to the flower stem FS. Likewise, if the substance is only intended for the buds B and not for any other part of the plant, the method is preferably carried out in relation to the flower sub-stem FS3. As the methods can be applied to all kind of stems, only the general term stem is and will be used throughout the remaining detailed description of the invention.

[0080] It will be apparent to the skilled person that alternative to choosing a single specific stem, it is also possible to carry out the method in relation to multiple stems of a plant P, possibly simultaneously. For instance, if a substance is intended for the flowers FL and buds B, the method may be carried out in relation to flower stem FS as described above, but alternatively, the method may also be carried out in relation to flower sub-stems FS1, FS2 and FS3.

[0081] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section of a stem S of a plant, e.g. a plant according to FIG. 1. The stem Sofa plant is usually divided into nodes N and internodes IN in between nodes N. The nodes N may hold buds (not shown here) which grow into one or more leaves, sub-stems or flowers as shown in FIG. 1.

[0082] The stem S comprises dermal tissue DT, which may alternatively be referred to as epidermis, defining an outer surface OS of the stem S and usually functions to waterproof, protect and control gas exchange. Plant tissue TI below the dermal tissue comprises vascular tissue and ground tissue filling in around the vascular tissue. The vascular tissue provides long distance transport in the form of xylem and phloem, alternatively referred to as xylem system and phloem system of a plant. The substance introduction methods described in this specification rely amongst others on the xylem and/or phloem transport systems in order to distribute the introduced substance throughout the plant, where the xylem is preferred as it has a single known transport direction where the phloem may be multi-directional. Hence, the distribution of the substance throughout the plant via the xylem system is more predictable.

[0083] The stem S defines a longitudinal axis LA. This allows to define and describe some directions in relation to the longitudinal axis LA. A first direction DL is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the stem, a second direction PD is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the stem, and a third direction is a circumferential direction CD around the longitudinal axis LA of the stem.

[0084] FIG. 2 depicts a hole H which extends from an opening OP in the outer surface OS of the stem S in the second direction PD into the tissue TI, so beyond the dermal tissue DT in order to get access to the long distance transportation system, preferably the xylem. The depth of the hole H in this example is larger than the radius of the stem at this location, and is in this case also larger than the diameter D2 of the hole H.

[0085] The hole H comprises an interior wall IW delimiting the hole from the tissue in the stem of the plant. When a substance is introduced into the hole, the substance needs to penetrate the plant by passing the interior wall IW in order to be taken up by the plant, e.g. by the transportation system of the plant.

[0086] The hole H may be formed by drilling or cutting, but in an embodiment is formed by inserting a hypodermic needle with a beveled tip into the stem. The beveled tip has the advantage that the needle has a sharp tip able to penetrate the dermal tissue and that the entire beveled portion of the tip forms a cutting surface which can be used to form the hole by subsequent rotation of the needle about its longitudinal axis, preferably after it has been brought to the desired depth D1. Rotating the needle will then cut through the tissue and allow for easy removal of the plant tissue.

[0087] When the hypodermic needle is manually inserted into the stem of the plant, it can be advantageous to use a hypodermic needle, wherein the length of the beveled tip is substantially the same as the desired hole depth D1. In that case, the hypodermic needle can be inserted into the stem until the first moment the beveled tip is completely inserted into the stem. This will aid in preventing the hypodermic needle from being inserted too deep and extending through the plant on the opposite side of the opening OP. In that way, it is ensured that a blind hole as in FIG. 2 is formed. However, it is also possible to make a through hole as will be described later on. In that case, no precautions preventing a tool from extending through the stem need to be taken.

[0088] The hole H is filled with a substance absorbing material SAM. The substance absorbing material SAM has absorbed substance prior to being inserted into the hole H. After being inserted into the hole H, the substance absorbing material SAM delivers substance to the transportation system of the plant. The advantage of the substance absorbing material is that it can easily carry the substance and may allow to set the maximum delivery rate of substance.

[0089] Not shown in FIG. 2 is that the hole H may be covered by a cover, e.g. a flexible tape closing the hole by sealingly engaging with the stem of the plant surrounding the hole H. The cover keeps the substance absorbing material inside the hole H, and thus prevents the substance absorbing material from falling out of the hole. It further protects the interior of the hole. Further, it may prevent dehydration of the plant via the hole. The cover and substance absorbing material may stay on and in the plant, even when no substance is left in the substance absorbing material. In that case the substance absorbing material may become part of the transportation system of the plant and the cover keeps the ‘wound’ in the stem of the plant closed. However, it is also possible to remove the substance absorbing material and subsequently close the hole again.

[0090] FIGS. 3-6 depict subsequent steps in a method according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of these figures show a stem S of a plant in front view on the left and in side view on the right.

[0091] FIG. 3 depicts the stem S of a plant in which a through hole H has been formed by introducing a tool, e.g. a hypodermic needle into the stem of the plant. In this way, access to the transportation system of the plant is obtained.

[0092] The location of the hole H depends on the purpose of the substance introduction, but is preferably below the parts that need the substance such that the fluid flow in the transportation system of the plant first passes the hole H and then continues to the parts requiring the substance.

[0093] Techniques to form the hole in the stem of the plant may comprise one or more of the following operations: drilling, cutting, suction, vaporizing, lasering, chemical etching and piercing.

[0094] FIG. 4 depicts a subsequent step in which a thread of substance absorbing material SAM, alternatively referred to as wire, is inserted into the hole H to extend through the through hole H. In this embodiment, the wire SAM is positioned such that the ends on both side of the hole have a substantially equal length.

[0095] It may be preferred to wet the substance absorbing material SAM with substance and/or water prior to being inserted, so that delivery of the substance to the plant can start immediately after inserting.

[0096] The wire SAM may be inserted into the hole H using a needle, e.g. by attaching the wire to the needle and letting the needle pass through the hole H.

[0097] FIG. 5 depicts a subsequent step in which a reservoir R is attached to the stem S of the plant below the hole H, filled with substance SU and in which both ends of the substance absorbing material SAM are introduced into the reservoir R, so that the plant is able to take in the substance SU from the reservoir using the substance absorbing material SAM.

[0098] Preferably, the distance from the substance SU to the hole H is as short as possible. Hence, the reservoir is attached to the stem as high as possible and the reservoir is filled as much as possible, so that the initial level of substance SU is as high as possible and thus as close as possible to the hole H.

[0099] The situation of FIG. 5 may last as long as is necessary, for instance 12-24 hours.

[0100] After sufficient substance has been introduced into the plant, the reservoir R and substance absorbing material may be removed from the stem S and hole H. The hole H may be covered by a cover CO as shown in FIG. 6. This cover CO may be provided in the form of a tape.