GB2197574A

GB2197574A - Plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2197574A
Application number: GB08726382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Jeffrey Macmaster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-12
Filing date: 1987-11-11
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-11
Also published as: GB2197574B; GB8627025D0; GB8726382D0

Abstract

A plant container in the nature of a plant pot is formed at least partly from transparent or translucent material to enable the root structure of plants and/or the moisture content of growing medium contained in the pot in use to be ascertained by visual inspection. The base only may be transparent and may be detachable by movement through the body to facilitate ejection of the contents of the pot.

Description

Plant Containers This invention relates to plant containers and particularly to plant containers in the nature of plant pots.

It is an object of the invention to provide a plant container in the nature of a plant pot which enables the root structure and/or the condition of growing medium contained within the pot, to be ascertained without disturbance of the growing medium or the plant.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container in the nature of a plant pot at least part of which is formed from transparent or translucent material.

In one embodiment the entire plant pot is formed from transparent or translucent material. Alternatively if desired certain areas may be transparent or translucent and others opaque. In one such alternative the base only is transparent. In another alternative a transparent band is provided towards the upper region of the pot and corresponding approximately to the area occupied by the top layer of growing medium. Both such arrangements may be combined in the one pot if desired.

If desired a removable opaque sleeve or cover may be provided to enclose or partially enclose the sides and/or base of the pot so as to conceal the pot from view, the sleeve or cover being removable when desired for inspection of the root structure or growing medium within the pot.

In a further arrangement the sides of the pot may be opaque, a detachable transparent or translucent base being provided. The base may comprise a disc freely supported on inwardly directed projections provided at the lower ends of the pot wall. In this way the base may be pushed through the pot towards its mouth to release growing medium and plants from the pot for "potting on".

Preferably the pot is made of synthetic plastics material and provided with one or more drainage apertures in its base. Alternatively the base of the pot or the entire pot may be of porous material.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of plant pot according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pot shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of alternative embodiments; and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through a further embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the pot is of circular crosssection and has tapering sides 5 extending from a relatively wide mouth 6 at the top of the pot to a relatively narrow base 7 at the bottom. A series of drainage holes 8 are provided in the base 7.

The pot is formed from transparent synthetic plastics material such that growing medium contained with the pot is visible through the sides and bottom of the pot. The root structure of a plant or plants growing within the growing medium thus becomes visible when it reaches the sides and/or bottom of the pot and in this way the state of development of the plant may be visually ascertained without disturbance of the plant or of the growing medium.

If desired a detachable sleeve or cover 9 (Fig. 1) of opaque material may be provided to locate over the pot or the bottom region thereof so that the growing medium is not normally visible but can be inspected by removing the sleeve or cover from the pot. The sleeve or cover may decorated in any desired fashion and may enclose the sides of the pot for part or all of their height and, if desired, the bottom of the pot.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the major part 5A of the body of the pot is formed from opaque material, the lower part SB being formed from transparent or translucent material. The base 7 may be opaque but is preferably transparent or translucent. In a modification of this embodiment the whole of the body 5 may be opaque, only the base 7 being transparent or translucent. These embodiments permit the root structure to be viewed at the lower region or base of the pot only, the remainder being opaque.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the major part of the body 5 of the pot and the base 7 are opaque but a transparent or translucent band 10 is provided adjacent the top of the pot. The band 10 is located at the region of the pot at which the top layer of growing medium is generally positioned and enables this layer to be viewed through the band 10. Thus by filling the pot to the level of the top of the band 10 the condition of the growing medium immediately below the top surface can be ascertained by visual inspection through the band 10. This enables the degree of penetration of surface moisture to be ascertained and watering increased if necessary. In a modification of this embodiment the band 10 may be extended upwards in order that the entire upper region of the pot including the rim 6 is transparent or translucent.

The embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4 may be combined so that transparent or translucent regions are provided both at the bottom an towards the top of the pot enabling both the root structure of the plant and the degree of moisture penetration of the growing medium to be ascertained by simple visual inspection.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodment in which the body 5 of the pot is opaque and is provided adjacent its lower narrow end with a plurality of inwardly directed projections 11 serving as supports for a base member 7A in the form of a separate disc of transparent or translucent material. By virtue of this arrangement the root structure of the plant may be viewed through the base 7A and when it is desired to remove the plant and growing medium for "potting on", this may be easily effected by pushing the base 7A in the direction of the arrow A, thereby moving plant, growing medium and base 7A through the body 5 and out of the mouth of the pot.

It should be appreciated that if desired the body 5 of the pot shown in Fig. 5 may be constructed in the manner of Figs. 1 to 4 or the modifications thereof described above. It is preferred however that the body 5 be opaque and the removable base transparent or translucent. This facilitates manufacture and enables root inspection from below the pot without permitting light to enter through the walls of the pot which may be undesirable in some cases.

It should also be appreciated that in all the arrangements described the base or base region of the pot requires to be provided with some means of drainage.

Generally this will comprise apertures at or adjacent the base or alternatively the base, the lower region or the whole of the pot may be formed from porous material.

The arrangements described have a number of advantages compared with conventional plant pots or containers of opaque material. As referred to previously the root structure of plants growing within the pot becomes visible when it reaches the sides and/or base of the pot and the need for re-potting is therefore ascertainable by mere visual inspection. Likewise the condition of the soil at different levels in the pot may be visibly ascertained and watering reduced or increased as appropriate. Certain root diseases to which some plants are prone may also be ascertained by visual inspection which has not hitherto been possible. In the case of the embodiment of Fig. 5 re-potting is also facilitated.

Plant pots of the kind described may be employed in nurseries and like establishments where substantial numbers of seedlings or cuttings are grown on through pots of different size. Whereas at present experienced personnel are required to assess when re-potting is necessary and there is no ready means of inspecting soil and root condition below the surface of the growing medium, these factors become visible and appropriate action can then be taken by inexperienced personnel. At the point of sale purchasers may also see that plants have a satisfactory and healthy root structure without disturbing the plants themselves.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example for special applications a selected region extending downwardly from or spaced from the top or bottom of the pot where soil conditions are most critical may be transparent or translucent. The pot may also be made of other materials and the invention may be applied to a wide range of shapes and sizes of plant pot or container other than those illustrated in the drawings. In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the entire pot and base may be opaque whereby to attain the advantage of easy removal of the contents of the pot without the other advantages referred to above.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A plant container in the nature of a plant pot having a tapered body and a base, at least a part of which container is formed from transparent or translucent material.

2. A plant pot according to claim 1 which is formed entirely of transparent or translucent material.

3. A plant pot according to claim 1 wherein at least one selected region of the body is formed from transparent or translucent material, the remainder of the body being opaque.

4. A plant pot according to claim 3 in which the lower region of the body is formed from transparent or translucent material.

5. A plant pot according to claim 3 wherein the upper region of the body is formed from transparent or translucent material.

6. A plant pot according to claim 3 wherein a transparent or translucent band is disposed between the top and bottom of the body, the remainder of the body being opaque.

7. A plant pot according to claim 3 wherein both lower and upper regions of the body are transparent or translucent and are separated by an opaque region.

8. A plant pot according to claim 3 wherein the lower region of the body is transparent or translucent and a transparent or translucent band is formed adjacent but below the upper edge of the body.

9. A plant pot according to any of claims 3 to 9 wherein the base of the pot is transparent or translucent.

10. A plant pot according to claim 9 wherein the base of the pot is detachable from the body.

11. A plant pot according to claim 10 wherein the base of the pot comprises a separate member supported on projections extending inwardly from the lower region of the body.

12. A plant pot according to any preceding claim wherein at least the base is formed from porous material.

13. A plant pot according to any of claims 1 to 11 provided with drainage apertures in and/or adjacent the base.

14. A plant pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A plant pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A plant pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A plant pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.