GB2247816A

GB2247816A - Plant support

Info

Publication number: GB2247816A
Application number: GB9019456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan William Honn Sumption
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-06
Filing date: 1990-09-06
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-06
Also published as: GB9019456D0; GB2247816B

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly of a plant pot (16) and a cane (12) and methods of growing plants using such an assembly. The cane (12) has a connecting member eg. in the form of a hook (14) for releasably securing to the plant pot (16) via a cooperating member eg. a hole (24), of the pot (16). When plants are grown in such assemblies where the cane (12) is secured to the pot (16), the plant can be handled via the cane (12) without fear of the plant becoming separated from its pot (16). <IMAGE>

Description

POTTING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a potting system.

In particular, the present invention relates to an assembly of a pot and a cane, for growing pot plants.

Plants are commonly grown in pots. For example, producers of plants may grow them in pots to make distribution and sale more convenient. The purchaser may then decide to transfer the potted plant into their garden. However, a frequently occurring problem is that a plant and its root ball of roots and surrounding soil, may fall or be pulled out of its pot. When this happens, plants can easily become damaged. To prevent this occurring, the plant and plant pot has to be carefully handled by lifting at the base of the pot. This is quite awkward and can be time consuming. The problem is particularly apparent when the plants are quite large eg standard fuchsias.

The present applicant has realised that this problem could be overcome by use of an assembly of a pot and a cane wherein the pot and cane are securable with respect to each other. When, for example, a standard fuchsia is grown in such a pot/cane assembly, the plant can be handled via the cane as secured to the pot, without fear of the plant becoming separated from its pot.

The present invention comprises an assembly of a pot and a cane, wherein the cane comprises a connecting member for releasably securing to the pot via a cooperating member of said pot.

The connecting member of said cane may comprise a hook. The hook may comprise a central portion and two end pieces projecting in opposite directions away from said central portion, and wherein each of said end pieces is substantially at right angles with respect to said central portion. Alternatively, the hook may comprise a central portion and two end pieces projecting in the same direction away from said central portion, and wherein each of said end pieces is substantially at right angles with respect to said central portion. The hook may be secured to an end of the cane. It may be secured by one of said end pieces being inserted through a hole which passes centrally through the cane. The hook may be additionally secured to said cane by means of a tie secured around the cane and the central portion of the hook.

The co-operating member of the pot may comprise a hole. The hole may be through the base of the pot, preferably towards the centre of the base. The pot may be a standard plastic plant pot, in which case, the hole may be burnt through the base of the pot.

The present invention also provides a potting system wherein a cane which comprises a hook located at one end of the cane, is releasably secured to a pot via a hole through the base of said pot, by passing an end of the hook through said hole.

In order that the present invention is more clearly understood, an embodiment will now be described in more detail by way of example only and not by way of limitation, with reference to the following figures in which: figure 1 shows diagrammatically a side view of a cane as suitable for use in the present invention; figure 2 shows diagrammatically a view of the base of a pot with the cane of figure 1 in place; and figure 3 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of a pot with a cut-away wall and the cane of figure 1 in place.

As depicted in the figures, the cane shown generally at 10 comprises an elongate rod 12 of eg bamboo. A hook shown generally at 14 is secured to one end of the rod 12, to provide a way of securing the cane 10 to a pot 16. The hook 14 comprises a length of galvanised wire (suitably 4 mm) in which opposite ends 18, 20 of the wire have been bent in opposite directions by approximately 90". Although not depicted as an embodiment in the figures, the hook could also comprise a length of galvanised wire in which opposite ends of the wire have been bent in the same direction by approximately 90". Such a hook would essentially represent a figure "C".Thus, the hook has a central portion 22 for lying alongside part of the longitudinal length of the rod 12, and two end pieces 18, 20 which project transversely with respect to the longitudinal length of the rod 12. In attaching the hook 14 to the rod 12, one transverse end piece 18 is inserted through a hole (not shown) drilled through the rod 12. The length of the central portion 22 is such that, when the transverse end piece 18 is inserted through the hole, the other transverse end piece 20 lies just below the end of the rod 12 and projects away from the rod 12. The hook 14 when inserted as described through the hole in the rod 12, is bound to the rod 12 by a tie 30 secured around the rod 12 and the central portion 22 of the hook 14.

The plant pot 16 to be used with the cane 10, has a hole 24 in its base 26. This hole 24 is located somewhat towards the centre of the base 26. Standard plastic plant pots 16 having drainage holes 28 located substantially circumferentially around the base 26 of the pot 16, can be modified by burning the hole 24 in the base 26.

To assemble the pot 16 and cane 10, the bottom transverse end piece 20 of the cane 10 is inserted through the hole 24 in the pot 16. By rotating the cane 10, so that the end piece 20 projects towards the edge of the base 26, the cane 10 is positioned just to one side of the centre of the base 26. Once inserted, such that the cane 10 is in an upright position, the end piece 20 lies flat against the outer surface of the base 26.

The pot/cane assembly can be potted by first partially filling the pot 16 with some soil (preferably to just above the hook 14), then holding the roots of the plant within the pot 16 and adding more soil around the roots, and finally compacting the soil as necessary.

This potting process can be carried out by a suitable machine.

The advantage of the present invention is that it allows the growers, distributers, purchasers etc to carry the plant in its pot 16 by grasping the cane 10. Since the cane 10 is secured to the pot 16 via the hook 14 and hole 24, the pot 16 will not fall away from the root ball of the plant.

Claims

1. An assembly of a plant pot and a cane, wherein the cane comprises a connecting member which is releasably securable to the pot via a co-operating formation of said pot.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the co operating formation is provided by a hole through the base of the pot.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connecting member comprises a hook secured at, or closely adjacent, an end of the cane and wherein the hook comprises a central portion extending along the cane adjacent said end; an upper end piece extending at an angle to the central portion for engaging with the cane; and a lower end piece extending at an angle to the central portion for engaging the pot.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein the hook is secured to the connecting member by the upper end piece being inserted through an opening which passes centrally through the cane.

5. An assembly according to claim 3 or 4 as appendant on claim 2 wherein the cane is secured to the plant pot by the lower end piece of said hook being inserted through said hole in the base of the pot.

6. An assembly of a plant pot and a cane substantially as described herein and with reference to figures 1 to 3.

7. A method of growing a plant which uses an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and which comprises the steps of: (i) securing the cane to the plant pot via the connecting member and co operating member; and (ii) planting a plant in the pot.

8. A method of growing a plant which uses an assembly according to claim 3,4,5 or 6 and which comprises the steps of: (i) securing the cane to the plant pot by inserting the lower end piece through the hole in the base of the pot; (ii) rotating the cane so that the lower end piece points towards the edge of the base; and (iii) planting a plant in the pot.

9. A method of growing a plant substantially as described herein and with reference to figures 1 to 3.