GB2030037A

GB2030037A - Self-watering plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2030037A
Application number: GB7927765A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: IVES H
Current assignee: IVES H
Priority date: 1978-08-09
Filing date: 1979-08-09
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: GB2030037B

Abstract

A plant pot or trough providing a liquid reservoir for water or nutrient liquid comprises an outer container (1) and an inner container (2) between which is defined a space (3) for liquid (7) and a wick (4) serves to transfer liquid from the space (3) to the container (2) and is so arranged that liquid can penetrate to the container (2) through the side walls of the wick (4) and through porous granules (8) to a body of soil in which the plant is bedded. An impermeable tube (5) may serve to control the area of the wick (4) exposed within the container (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Self-watering plant pots This invention concerns improvements in selfwatering plant pots.

It is known to provide a self-watering plant pot in the form of a pot or trough having a double wall such that around the space within the pot for receiving the plant and the soil in which it grows, there is defined a hollow chamber within which may be stored water or nutrient liquid for feeding the growing plant.

Controlled introduction of the water or nutrient liquid from the storage chamber into the pot or trough is generally achieved by means of an absorbent wick which dips into the liquid contained into the storage chamber and extends into the pot or trough. Whilst such an arrangement effectively transfers water from the storage chamber to the soil surrounding the plant, in order to replenish moisture lost by evaporation, the hitherto known constructions have proved incapable of providing a sufficiently controlled flow of liquid, since the liquid flow is entirely dependent upon the capillary effect of the wick, and in certain circumstances, particularly when the level of liquid in the storage chamber is above the lower end of the wick located in the plant pot, too great a liquid flow may result in waterlogging of the soil containing the plant.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-watering plant pot, wherein the flow of liquid from a storage chamber to the soil contained in the pot may be controlled according to the needs of a plant therein.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a plant pot or trough which is shaped to define a space for receiving a plant together with its nutrient soil, and to define below the space for receiving the soil a chamber for receiving water or liquid nutrient to be fed to the soil within the plant pot, and in which an elongated fibrous wick of woven rope or like construction is so arranged that an end or ends thereof dip into liquid contained in the chamber to transfer the liquid to soil in the plant pot via the side walls of the wick.

Preferably, porous granules are provided in an amount sufficient to surround and cover the wick within said space and below the soil when the pot is in use, the liquid then being transferred through the side walls of the wick to the granules and thence to the soil.

Preferably also, the arrangement is such that the length of the wick exposed within the plant pot may be adjusted to vary the area of the side wall of the wick in contact with the soil or granules, and thus vary the rate of flow of liquid from the storage chamber to the soil contained within the plant pot.

The porous granules are suitably made of baked clay, and can be packed in a separate container sold with the pots or troughs.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a sectional elevation of a plant pot in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a self-watering plant pot comprises a generally cylindrical outer tub 1, which may be of transparent material such as a transparent grade of polystyrene, and within the tub 1 is supported an inner pot 2 having an outer rim 2a engaging over the lip of the tub 1. The depth of the inner pot 2 is less than that of the tub 1, so that between the two there is defined a space 3 for receiving water or a liquid plant nutrient.

At the base of the pot 2 there is arranged a wick 4 of fibrous material, such as plaited nylon rope, and around the body of the wick 4 is arranged a liquid impermeable tubular member 5. The two ends of the wick 4 are inserted through apertures 6 in the base of the pot 2 and dip into a body of liquid 7 contained within the tub 1. Around and above wick 4 and member 5 are placed baked highly-porous clay granules 8, of size 1-2 cm. It will be appreciated that the pot 2 will contain, above the granules 8, a growing plant together with a body of soil, which is omitted for clarity.

The operation of the pot shown is as follows.

Assuming that the pot 2 contains granules and soil, liquid from the space 3 will be drawn into the wick 4 from the two ends thereof in the liquid, due to capillary attraction within the fibres of the wick, and will then diffuse through the lateral wall surfaces of the wick 4 into and through the granules and then into the soil. The rate of flow of liquid into the soil will thus be dependent upon the area of the wick 4 which is exposed within the inner pot 2, which is governed by the size of the tubular member 5. For example, if the length of the tubular member 5 is relatively small, then the area of wick 4 exposed is relatively large, and vice versa. By providing a selection of tubular members 5 of different length, the rate of flow of liquid from the wick 4 into the pot 2 can be controlled in accordance with the requirements of any given plant within the plant pot.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention has the advantage that since the wick 4 does not have an end located within the inner pot 2 and liquid can only diffuse into the latter through the side walls of the wick, the rate of flow of liquid is substantially reduced in comparison with known arrangements, which conditions have proved to be more advantageous in providing the correct growing conditions for a plant. It should be noted that the level of the liquid 7 should of course be below that of the base of the pot 2, to prevent the entry of liquid into the latter directly through the aperture 6.

Various modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended Claims. For example, instead of a single tubular member 5, two tubular members may be provided, each extending through one of the apertures 6 in the base of the plant pot. The tubular members may be of flexible material, such as polyethylene tubing, and thus the area of the wick exposed within the pot 2 may be adjusted by relative movement of the two tubular members within the apertures 6. Alternatively, instead of utilising a tubular member 5 around the circumference of the wick 4, the base of the pot 2 may incorporate a plurality of apertures arranged at different distances from one another, so that the area of wick exposed within the pot 2 may be adjusted by selectively threading the two ends of the wick 4 through differently spaced apertures in the base of the pot 2.

Claims

1. A plant pot or trough which is shaped to define a space for receiving a plant together with its nutrient soil, and to define below the space for receiving the soil a chamber for receiving water or liquid nutrient to be fed to the soil within the plant pot, and in which an elongated fibrous wick of woven rope or like construction is so arranged that an end or ends thereof dip into liquid contained in the chamber to transfer the liquid to soil in the plant pot via the side walls of the wick.

2. A plant pot or trough as claimed in Claim 1, and further comprising porous granules in an amount sufficient to surround and cover the wick within said space and below the soil when the pot is in use, the liquid being transferred through the side walls of the wick to the granules and thence to the soil.

3. A plant pot or trough as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the arrangement is such that the length of the wick exposed within the chamber may be adjusted to vary the area of the side wall of the wick in contact with the soil or granules, and thus vary the rate of flow of liquid from the storage chamber to the soil contained within the plant pot.

4. A plant pot or trough as claimed in Claim 3, in which a plurality of liquid-impermeable tubular members of differing length are provided for location around the side wall of the said wick, whereby adjustment of the length of exposed wick may be effected by selectively positioning upon the wick tubular members of differing length.

5. A plant pot or trough, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. The features herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.