GB2138662A

GB2138662A - Flower pot

Info

Publication number: GB2138662A
Application number: GB08311897A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Pick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-29
Filing date: 1983-04-29
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: GB2138662B; GB8311897D0

Abstract

A flower pot 10 comprises a lower chamber 12 and an upper chamber 14 releasably connectable to one another at 16. The lower chamber 12 has a removable base 18 having drainage holes therein. In use, a bulb of the lily family is placed in the lower chamber which is inverted until the basal root system is established after which it is re-inverted and the upper chamber 14 affixed thereto and filled with growing medium to accommodate the stem root system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flower pot This invention relates to a flower pot and in particular relates to a flower pot especially but not exclusively for growing lilies.

Plants of the lily family grow from bulbs and have two root systems, namely basal roots which grow downwardly from the bulb and stem roots which grow out from the stem growing upwardly from the bulb. At the end of the growing season the stem dies back and should be removed from the buib, but the latter should be left undisturbed since the basal root system remains alive through to the next growing season. If the bulb and basal root system is disturbed the next growing season of the plant will be adversely affected.

The invention seeks to provide a simple and convenient flower pot which is adapted to the characteristics of such plants.

According to the present invention there is provided a flower pot which comprises a lower and upper chamber releasably connectable to one another, the lower chamber having a removable base with drainage holes.

The lower and upper chambers may be made in any desired shape, but would conveniently be made cylindrical or conical like conventional flower pots. Moreover, the upper and lower chamber may be made out of any suitable material as with conventional flower pots, for example pot or more commonly plastics materials. Preferably, at least the upper chamber is adapted to be split open to allow access so as, for instance, to be able to cut off the dead stem root after the end of the season, leaving the root system in the lower chamber undisturbed.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a flower pot constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 a-d illustrate the steps in using the pot of figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a flower pot 10 constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a lower chamber 12 and an upper chamber 1 4 each of conical construction made from a suitable plastics material. The upper chamber 14 is releasably attached to the lower chamber 1 2 at 1 6 where it may be fixed by suitable means such as clips or may be retained simply by the action of gravity. The lower chamber 1 2 is provided with a base plate 18, having drainage holes therein which may be affixed to the lower chamber 12 by suitable clip means 20 about the lip 22 of the lower chamber 12. An optional plant support 24 may also be provided affixed to the base plate 1 8 and/or the upper chamber 14.

In use, the lower chamber 12 is inverted and placed on a temporary base 26 (figure 2a) a plant to be grown, for example a lily bulb 28 is carefully placed in the inverted chamber 12 and surrounded with compost 30. Soon the bulb 28 will develop a basal root 32. At this stage the compost 30 is carefully levelled off and the base plate 18 is affixed to the lower chamber by means of the clips 20, following which the lower chamber is inverted once again (figures 2 b and c) and the temporary plate 26 removed exposing the 'nose' of the bulb 28. The upper chamber 14 is then placed in position and filled with compost 30 to a suitable level. A stem 34 will grow from the bulb-28 from which stem roots 36 will grow. The plant will flower on the stem 34, and after the end of the growing season the stem 34 will die away.

At this stage it is preferable to remove the dead stem of the bulb 28 without disturbing it.

In order to do this the upper chamber 14 is formed in two parts 1 4a, 1 4b (figure 2d) having key ways 38 over which a pair of resilient runners 40 locate holding the chamber 1 4 together.

Sliding the runners 40 off the keyways 38 allows the pot 14 to be split into its two halves 14 a and b, the compost 30 removed, and the stem 34 cut back, without disturbing the bulb 28 in the lower chamber 12.

The lower chamber, still containing the bulb and compost, may be kept until the following season when the upper pot may be replaced with fresh compost to accommodate a fresh stem 34.

Alternatively the upper pot, with fresh compost, may be replaced immediately after removing the dead stem.

Optionally, the bottom chamber 12 may be formed in two halves also so that plants with long roots or tap roots such as strelitzia or hippeastrum can be grown and potted on. The base plate 18 is then a good stabiliser for the high double pot arrangement. Support struts can be arranged if desired in the base plate reaching to the upper lip of the top chamber 1 4 and attaching thereto at intervals around the upper lip of the top chamber 14 so as to provide extra stability where this is necessary. The base chamber 1 2 may be used on its own for top heavy plants such as cacti or succulents since this arrangement is more stable than that of conventional pots and there is extra root room.

1. A flower pot which comprises a lower and upper chamber releasably connectable to one another, the lower chamber having a removable base with drainage holes.

2. A pot according to claim 1 in which the upper and lower chambers are conical.

3. A method according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which the upper and lower chambers are made of a resilient plastics material.

4. A pot according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the upper chamber is adapted to be split open to allow access to the interior.

5. A flower pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of growing a plant of the lily family in a pot according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flower pot This invention relates to a flower pot and in particular relates to a flower pot especially but not exclusively for growing lilies. Plants of the lily family grow from bulbs and have two root systems, namely basal roots which grow downwardly from the bulb and stem roots which grow out from the stem growing upwardly from the bulb. At the end of the growing season the stem dies back and should be removed from the buib, but the latter should be left undisturbed since the basal root system remains alive through to the next growing season. If the bulb and basal root system is disturbed the next growing season of the plant will be adversely affected. The invention seeks to provide a simple and convenient flower pot which is adapted to the characteristics of such plants. According to the present invention there is provided a flower pot which comprises a lower and upper chamber releasably connectable to one another, the lower chamber having a removable base with drainage holes. The lower and upper chambers may be made in any desired shape, but would conveniently be made cylindrical or conical like conventional flower pots. Moreover, the upper and lower chamber may be made out of any suitable material as with conventional flower pots, for example pot or more commonly plastics materials. Preferably, at least the upper chamber is adapted to be split open to allow access so as, for instance, to be able to cut off the dead stem root after the end of the season, leaving the root system in the lower chamber undisturbed. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a flower pot constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 a-d illustrate the steps in using the pot of figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a flower pot 10 constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a lower chamber 12 and an upper chamber 1 4 each of conical construction made from a suitable plastics material. The upper chamber 14 is releasably attached to the lower chamber 1 2 at 1 6 where it may be fixed by suitable means such as clips or may be retained simply by the action of gravity. The lower chamber 1 2 is provided with a base plate 18, having drainage holes therein which may be affixed to the lower chamber 12 by suitable clip means 20 about the lip 22 of the lower chamber 12. An optional plant support 24 may also be provided affixed to the base plate 1 8 and/or the upper chamber 14. In use, the lower chamber 12 is inverted and placed on a temporary base 26 (figure 2a) a plant to be grown, for example a lily bulb 28 is carefully placed in the inverted chamber 12 and surrounded with compost 30. Soon the bulb 28 will develop a basal root 32. At this stage the compost 30 is carefully levelled off and the base plate 18 is affixed to the lower chamber by means of the clips 20, following which the lower chamber is inverted once again (figures 2 b and c) and the temporary plate 26 removed exposing the 'nose' of the bulb 28. The upper chamber 14 is then placed in position and filled with compost 30 to a suitable level. A stem 34 will grow from the bulb-28 from which stem roots 36 will grow. The plant will flower on the stem 34, and after the end of the growing season the stem 34 will die away. At this stage it is preferable to remove the dead stem of the bulb 28 without disturbing it. In order to do this the upper chamber 14 is formed in two parts 1 4a, 1 4b (figure 2d) having key ways 38 over which a pair of resilient runners 40 locate holding the chamber 1 4 together. Sliding the runners 40 off the keyways 38 allows the pot 14 to be split into its two halves 14 a and b, the compost 30 removed, and the stem 34 cut back, without disturbing the bulb 28 in the lower chamber 12. The lower chamber, still containing the bulb and compost, may be kept until the following season when the upper pot may be replaced with fresh compost to accommodate a fresh stem 34. Alternatively the upper pot, with fresh compost, may be replaced immediately after removing the dead stem. Optionally, the bottom chamber 12 may be formed in two halves also so that plants with long roots or tap roots such as strelitzia or hippeastrum can be grown and potted on. The base plate 18 is then a good stabiliser for the high double pot arrangement. Support struts can be arranged if desired in the base plate reaching to the upper lip of the top chamber 1 4 and attaching thereto at intervals around the upper lip of the top chamber 14 so as to provide extra stability where this is necessary. The base chamber 1 2 may be used on its own for top heavy plants such as cacti or succulents since this arrangement is more stable than that of conventional pots and there is extra root room. CLAIMS

6. A method of growing a plant of the lily family in a pot according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which a bulb is placed in the lower chamber and the latter is inverted and placed on a temporary base, once the bulb has developed basal roots and the base plate is affixed to the lower chamber which is inverted once again, the temporary base is removed and the chamber is affixed to the lower chamber and filled with growing medium.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which, once the growing season is over, the upper chamber is split open and the stem roots removed from the bulb which is left undisturbed in the lower chamber.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the upper pot is replaced at the next growing season and filled with fresh growing medium to accommodate new growth.

9. A method of growing plants of the lily variety substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.