DE20220091U1 - Decorative article comprising plant growing in nutrient gel in transparent container - Google Patents

Abstract

A decorative article comprises a transparent container, having the lower part filled with a nutrient gel (I) and containing at least one plant, the roots of which penetrate into (I).

Description

·* * ' ! ·* * &idigr; ! ." P52G021

Description:
Decorative item

The invention relates to a decorative object.

It is well known that containers containing plants can be used as decorative objects. The plants take root in a nutrient medium that is adapted to the needs of the plant in question and with which the container is at least partially filled. Cut plants are placed without roots in vases filled with water, to which a fertilizing liquid is added if necessary. Such plants have a shelf life of a few days or weeks. Long-lived plants are usually placed with roots in flowerpots that are filled with potting soil as a nutrient reservoir. Other water and nutrient reservoirs are often placed in flowerpots, e.g. clay granules, which are sold under the registered trademark Seramis®. The gaseous molecules required for the plant's metabolism are taken from the ambient air.

The disadvantage here is that the plants in such decorative objects have to be cared for regularly and the nutrient media have to be regularly supplied with water and other substances such as fertilizer. Otherwise, the lifespan of the plant is significantly shortened. There is also the risk that the nutrient media, such as potting soil, will be thrown out of the container if the container is moved suddenly, e.g. during transport. The same applies in particular to liquid nutrient media in a vase or a pot filled with granules.

The object of the invention is to create a decorative object with a living plant in such a way that it remains attractive over a long period of time, requires no care and is easy to handle.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that a plant is placed in a transparent container, the lower section of which is filled with a nutrient gel, the roots of which extend into the nutrient gel.

P52G021

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The use of a nutrient gel has the advantage that it retains its shape at room temperature. It cannot fall out during transport. The container can even be turned over for a short time without the position of the nutrient gel and the plant changing. The nutrient gel is uncolored and essentially transparent, so that not only the shoots but also the roots can be seen. The decorative object is easy to handle and insensitive to impacts, for example during transport. This easy handling has the advantage that the decorative object according to the invention can be stored and marketed more easily.

Furthermore, handling is made much easier because the nutrient gel contains all the nutrients the plant needs - including water. The plant does not need to be watered or fertilized once during its lifespan, which extends over several months.

A particularly decorative effect can be achieved by adding a colorant to the essentially transparent nutrient gel. This colorant should not be toxic and should preferably be a food coloring. If a light colorant (e.g. light blue or orange) or a very diluted dark colorant is used, the nutrient gel remains transparent and stands out from the colors of the plant and the roots. A concentrated, dark color, e.g. brown or black, can also be used. This makes the nutrient gel opaque and the roots rooted in it can no longer be seen.

One kilogram of nutrient gel preferably contains around one liter of distilled water, around 4 grams of Gelrite™ or agar-agar, a mixture of different salts, around 0.1 grams of myo-inositol, around 20 grams of sucrose and a mixture of different vitamins. Gelrite™ or agar-agar are gel-forming substances. The other components enable the plants in the decorative object to be supplied with nutrients. The incorporation of the nutrient solution into a stable gel has the advantage that the plant thriving in the container remains attractive for months to two years.

The mixture of different salts preferably consists of approx. 0.11 μμγ�I C0Cl2 x 6H ₂ O, approx. 0.10 μμγ�I CuSO ₄ x 4H ₂ O, approx. 0.10 millimoles FeNaEDTA, approx. 0.10 millimoles H ₃ BO ₃ , approx. 5.00 μμγ�I KI, approx. 0.10 millimoles MnSO ₄ x H ₂ O, approx.

P52G021

1.03 µµ&ogr;&Igr; Na ₂ MoO ₄ &khgr; 2H ₂ O, ca. 29.91 µµ&ogr;&Igr; ZnSO ₄ ? 7H ₂ O, approximately 2.99 millimoles of CaCl ₂ , approximately 1.25 millimoles of KH ₂ PO ₄ , approximately 18.79 millimoles of KNO ₃ , approximately 1.50 millimoles of MgSO ₄ and approximately 20.61 millimoles of NH _{4 NO3} .

The mixture of different vitamins preferably consists of approx. 26.64 μμγα glycine, approx. 4.06 μμγα nicotinic acid, approx. 2.43 μμγα pyridoxine HCl and approx. 0.30 μμγα thiamine HCl.

Basically, any plant can be planted in the nutrient gel. So far, the use of the following plants and fruits has been tested: pineapple, locust tree, perennial lupine, tobacco, bromeliad, spider plant, banana, sundew or laburnum.

In one embodiment, the container is closed with a lid that is screwed onto the edge of the container or is attached to it with metal or plastic clamps. Closing the container with a lid prevents accidental ingress of dirt particles or the like.

To enable gas exchange with the ambient air, at least one gas passage channel is provided between the lid and the container.

Preferably, the container and/or lid is made of glass or a transparent plastic such as PMMA or another transparent material.

To ensure that the container is stable, its underside preferably has a support surface.
30

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawing shows a front view of the decorative object according to the invention.

The decorative object shown in the drawing consists of a transparent glass container 1 which is closed with a glass lid 5. The glass lid 5 is fastened to the container with clamps 8, one end of which engages in a recess 7 formed on the glass lid 5 and the other end of which engages in a recess 6 formed on the upper edge of the glass container 1.

A nutrient gel 2 is arranged in the glass container 1. It has the composition described above and is colored blue with a food coloring. It is still transparent so that the roots are visible through the nutrient gel. A plant 3 is placed in the nutrient gel 2, with its roots 4 extending into the nutrient gel 2. The roots 4 can extract all the necessary nutrients and water molecules from the nutrient gel 2 during the life of the plant.

Furthermore, the underside of the glass container 1 has a support surface 9 to enable the glass container to stand stably.

20 List of reference symbols: Glass container 1 Nutrient gel 2 plant 25 3 Roots of the plant 4 Glass lid 5 Recess at the top of the glass container 6 Recess on the glass lid 7 Clamp 30 8 Contact area 9

Claims (16)

1. Decorative object with a transparent container ( 1 ), the lower section of which is filled with a nutrient gel ( 2 ) and into which at least one plant ( 3 ) is introduced, the roots ( 4 ) of which protrude into the nutrient gel. 2. Decorative object according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper portion of the container ( 1 ) is filled with air or a gas of different composition. 3. Decorative article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a dye is added to the nutrient gel ( 2 ). 4. Decorative article according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dye is non-toxic and in particular is a food coloring. 5. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one liter of the nutrient gel ( 2 ) contains about one liter of distilled water and about 4 grams of gelling agent such as agar-agar. 6. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one kilogram of the nutrient gel ( 2 ) contains approximately 20 grams of sucrose and also a mixture of different salts and a mixture of different vitamins. 7. Decorative object according to claim 6, characterized in that one kilogram of the nutrient gel ( 2 ) contains approximately 0.1 gram of myo-inositol. 8. Decorative object according to at least one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the mixture of different salts consists of approx. 0.11 µmol CoCl ₂ × 6H ₂ O, approx. 0.10 µmol CuSO ₄ × 4H ₂ O, approx. 0.10 millimol FeNaEDTA, approx. 0.10 millimol H ₃ BO ₃ , approx. 5.00 µmol KI, approx. 0.10 millimol MnSO ₄ × H ₂ O, approx. 1.03 µmol Na ₂ MoO ₄ × 2H ₂ O, approx. 29.91 µmol ZnSO ₄ × 7H ₂ O, approx. 2.99 millimol CaCl ₂ , approx. 1.25 millimol KH ₂ PO ₄ , approx. 18.79 millimoles of KNO ₃ , approx. 1.50 millimoles of MgSO ₄ and approx. 20.61 millimoles of NH ₄ NO ₃ . 9. Decorative object according to at least one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the mixture of different vitamins is composed of approximately 26.64 µmol glycine, approximately 4.06 µmol nicotinic acid, approximately 2.43 µmol pyridoxine HCl and approximately 0.30 µmol thiamine HCl. 10. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant ( 3 ) is a pineapple, a locust tree, a perennial lupine, a tobacco plant, a bromeliad, a spider plant, a banana, a sundew or a laburnum. 11. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) is closed with a lid ( 5 ). 12. Decorative object according to claim 11, characterized in that the lid ( 5 ) is screwed onto the edge of the container ( 1 ). 13. Decorative object according to claim 11, characterized in that the lid ( 5 ) is attached to the container ( 1 ) by means of clamps ( 8 ) made of metal or plastic. 14. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid ( 5 ) and/or container ( 1 ) consist of glass. 15. Decorative object according to at least one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that at least one gas passage channel is provided between the lid and the container. 16. Decorative object according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the underside of the container ( 1 ) has a support surface ( 9 ).