GB2350044A

GB2350044A - Plant container and watering system

Info

Publication number: GB2350044A
Application number: GB9911479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian William Assell
Original assignee: COTSWOLD HYDROPONICS Ltd
Current assignee: COTSWOLD HYDROPONICS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 1999-05-18
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-18
Also published as: GB2350044B; WO2000069250A1; GB9911479D0

Abstract

A watering system for planters and hanging baskets. The system comprising an outer container (1), a water reservoir (7) and a growing medium that includes water absorbent granules (5). An insert (3) divides the water reservoir from the growing medium. A vent (2) in the outer container communicates with the reservoir and defines the maximum water level, which is below the uppermost level of the insert so that there is an air space above the water in the reservoir. The vent (2) also serves as an air vent.

Description

2350044 HiVNGING BASKET RESERVOIR SYSTEM This invention relates to

planters and hanging baskets, especially to a water reservoir system for use in such baskets or planters.

It is commonplace to have lants growiner in containers, a particularly popular forill beIM-, p -D - hanging baskets. The problem with such containers is that they dry out. han-ing, baskets 1 - Z1, - being, particularly vulnerable in this respect, especially if they have mesh or transpirable bases, Solid based baskets enable (greater water retention, but can become waterloz,-ed if over-watered or in a heavy rainfall.

A reservoir for a hanging basket has been proposed in GB 2272 142, in which water from a reservoir 5 conducted to the soil via a wick. The reservoir is placed in the base of the basket and has a refill tube that protrudes above the surface of the soil. This system has to be manually refilled, and if installed in a solid basket can still suffer waterlogging after heavy rain.

The present invention comprises a reservoir system that can be formed as part of a basket or container, or be in the form of a insert for placement in another container, and which is long lasting and can be refilled manually or by rainfall.

According to the invention there is provided a watering system comprising an outer container having an insert for separating a first reservoir zone from a seco d resenroir zone, the outer container having an overflow means that defines a maximum water level and the insert having a shape such that a portion of the second reservoir zone is belo', the maximum water level, the first reservoir zone being adapted to hold water and the second reservoir zone being filled with water absorbent granules.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanyim drawing in which the single figure illustrates a schematic cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

2 The reservoir system comprises an outer bowl I made of a water retaining material, various forms of plastics are suitable. A chimney 2 is provided in the centre base of the bowl and acts as an overflow when the water level rises above the height of the chimney.

In the clrawimz, a sincle central chimney is shown, but other arrancrements for overflow i-nay be provided such as a Plurality of chimneys or drainage apertures in the sides of the outer bowl. The heiaht of the chimney or apertures defines the maximum water level.

An insert or cover 33 is located over the base of the outer bowl, the cover 3 being shaped to extend o-ver the drainage chimney and meet with the sides of the outer bowl at a level below the maximurn water level which is indicated by dotted line 4. In the arrangement shown, the cover is domed to extend over the chimney, but other confi nu rations are possible. With the shown arrangement the overflow chimney is protected from blockages by the cover.

The edges of the cover are serrated so that the water level can pass up over the outer part of the cover and water can move to and from area below the cover. Alternative slots or apertures for the passage of water may be provided.

A layer of water absorbent QTanules 5 extends over the cover. A particularly suitable form of -ranules are hydroponic pebbles. Soil 6 is then placed over the granules.

A first reservoir area 7 for water is defined by the base of the outer bowl and the cover up to the maximum water level. Above the cover a second reservoir area is defined by the oranules. In the case of hydroponic pebbles, one third of their weight of water can be Stored. This second reservoir area provides a distributed water store. It will be appreciated that the lowermost granules lie below the maximum water level and that water passes upwardly through the layer of granules by capillary action The provision of the double reservoir, a first water reservoir and a second distributed absorbent granule reservoir, has several advantages. The water reservoir contains a concentrated water store and allows a greater amount of water to be stored than if the entire base portion were filled with granules, and therefore lasts longer. The granules 1-D 3 gg,ing the soil If penetrated by provide a well distributed supply of water without waterlog Foots they also act as a growing medium. Soil over the granules act as a thermal insulator n 0- In as well as a arowing medium.

To fill the reservoir and hydrate the granules the assembly can be watered frorn above in the conventional manner. If too much water is given, it drains from the overfloNv chimney As the plants take up -water, water transfers from the water reservoir to replenish the hydration in the granules I Ideally the lowermost granules extend close to the lower level of the Outer bowl so that water IS transferred even when the reservoir Is almost empty. Rain %vill top up the reservoir in just the same way as watering It will be appreciated that the cover prevents the overflow chimney from being blocked either by granules or soil that works its way down. In the event that the overflow is provided by apertures in the sides of the outer bowl some alternative protection may be necessary, such as flanges on the sides of the bowl. The cover is also a way of defining the wateF-only zone and could take other forms such as a series of mounds.

The chimney and the air space above the water also allows air to contact the \ater Feser-,oir, and pre\,ent stagnation. The provision of rnoFe than one such chininey or vent may be particularly advantageous for assisting air Circulation Alternative arrangements of overflow and air vent, beneath the cover but in the side of the outer bowl could be constructed. At the location of the vent the cover would then be above the maximum water level, but other areas of the cover such as a central dip could communicate with the water reser-voir.

4

Claims

1. A watering system comprising an outer container (1) having an insert (3) for Y C> separating a first reservoir zone from a second reservoir zone, the outer container havi 1 ing an overflow means that defines a maximum water level and the insert having a shape such that a portion of the second reservoir zone is below the maximum water level, the first reservoir zone being adapted to hold water and the second reservoir zone being filled with water absorbent granules.

2. A watering system according to claim 1 in which the first reservoir has an overflow vent communicating with an airspace beneath the insert.

3. A watering system according to claim 2 in which the overflow vent comprises a chimney extending from the base of the outer container.

4. A watering system according to claim 33 in which the inser-t is domed to extend above the chimney and meets the outer container at a level below the maximum water level.

5. A watering system substantially as herembefore described with reference to the g accompanying drawing Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A plant container arid waterins systeill having a water reservoir (7) arid a niedium that includes water absorbent granules (5), the plant container colliprisiti-Y all outer container ( 1) capable of holding water and a cover (3) for dividing the container into a water zone arid a growing, medium zone, the water zone being the volull-le enclosed beneath the cover arid the cover having portions at respectively higher and lower levels and permitting flow of "ater between the water zone and the growing medium zone, and in the outer container has an overflow' vent (2), the level of the overflow vent defining a maximum warel- level that is below the lilzlier level of the cover and above the lower level of the cover, and the space below the cover arid above the maximum water level is directly ventilated v,a the overflow vent, 2. A plant container and watering system according to any preceding claim in which 1 the lower level of the cove- is at or close to the base level of the outer container.

3, A plant container arid watering system according to any. precediii,.,:, , claiin in which the cover extends over substanti Y 1 Ir container all the entire base of the out 4. A plant container and watering system according to any preceding claim in which :> 1=1 1 C> 1 1 1 the overflow vent is a chimney that extends upwardly from the base of the outer container.

A plant container and watering system accordino,. to claim 4 in which the cover is a W - dome extendin! over a central chimney vent.

2 5

6 A plant container- and watering system according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the o,,ertlo, ent comprises a plura[ity of chimneys (P

7 A plant container and watering system accordino to any of claim 1 to 3 in which the ove, flo" vent is in the side of the outer bowl.

8. A plant container and watering system according to any preceding cla'm 'n wh-ch the absorbent granules are hydroponic pebbles.

9 A plant container and watering system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.