Polymerized soil with growing plant and method of making and package therefor and hanger and plaque incorporating the same

Claim 2

A polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein comprising a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer, a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, and a growing plant having the roots thereof in said body of spongy polymer and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said body of spongy polymer, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, thereby to provide a unitary self-supporting polymerized soil plug with a growing plant having its roots molded therein and its stalk molded therein and extending from one surface thereof.

Claim 3

A polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin and said particles of soil mix are mixed together in an acetone-water slurry and molded around said roots and said stalk.

Claim 4

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said soil plug has an apparent density on a dry basis of from about 0.18 gm. per cc. to about 0.3 gm. per cc.

Claim 5

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said soil plug in the dry condition can take up about 3 times its weight of water.

Claim 6

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said resin comprises from about 20% to about 80% by weight on a dry basis of said polymerized soil-plug excluding said growing plant.

Claim 7

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethene resin.

Claim 8

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein as set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisodyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.

Claim 9

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said growing plant is a bedding plant.

Claim 10

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said growing plant is a plant grown from seed.

Claim 11

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said growing plant is a plant grown from a cutting.

Claim 12

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said growing plant is nursery stock that cannot be handled bare-rooted.

Claim 13

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 1, wherein said growing plant is a field transplant benefitting from an intact soil block.

Claim 14

A polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein comprising a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer, a growing plant having a roots thereof in said body of spongy polymer and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said body of spongy polymer, and a quantity of particles of soil mix having collectively a porosity maintenance capacity and a water holding capacity and an ion exchange capacity and a pH buffering capacity and distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil-like material therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, thereby to provide a unitary selfsupporting polymerized soil plug with a growing plant having its roots molded therein and its stalk molded therein and extending from one surface thereof.

Claim 15

A polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein comprising a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer, a growing plant having a roots thereof in said body of spongy polymer and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said body of spongy polymer, and a quantity of particles of soil mix having collectively a porosity maintenance capacity and a water holding capacity and an ion exchange capacity and a pH buffering capacity and distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil-like material therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, thereby to provide a unitary selfsupporting polymerized soil plug with a growing plant having its roots molded therein and its stalk molded therein and extending from one surface thereof.

Claim 16

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, and further comprising a fertilizer source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer.

Claim 17

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, and further comprising a slowly available source of calcium and magnesium distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer.

Claim 18

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a mineral soil.

Claim 19

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a mixture of a natural organic soil and an agricultural modified mineral selected from the group consisting of Perlite and Vermiculite.

Claim 20

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a synthetic organic soil substitute.

Claim 21

The polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a mixture of a natural organic soil, an agricultural modified mineral selected from the group consisting of Perlite and Vermiculite, and sewage sludge.

Claim 22

A package of a polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein, said package comprising a hermetically sealed flexible transparent envelope, a polymerized soil plug having a substantial water holding capacity and disposed within said envelope, said soil plug including a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer and a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said polymerized soil plug and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said polymerized soil plug, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, said polymerized soil plug being essentially saturated with water providing moisture for said growing plant, and an atmosphere enriched in carbon dioxide within said sealed envelope and in contact with the tops of said growing plant, thereby to provide a package for said growing plant that will maintain said growing plant in good condition for up to three weeks with periodic exposure to light.

Claim 23

A package of a polymerized soil plug with a growing plant molded therein, said package comprising a hermetically sealed flexible transparent envelope, a polymerized soil plug having a substantial water holding capacity and disposed within said envelope, said soil plug including a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer and a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said polymerized soil plug and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said polymerized soil plug, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, said polymerized soil plug being essentially saturated with water providing moisture for said growing plant, and an atmosphere enriched in carbon dioxide within said sealed envelope and in contact with the tops of said growing plant, thereby to provide a package for said growing plant that will maintain said growing plant in good condition for up to three weeks with periodic exposure to light.

Claim 24

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein said envelope is formed of a heat-shrinkable plastic that is shrunk around said plug to retain said plug in a predetermined position within said envelope.

Claim 25

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein said envelope has a reusable closure thereon.

Claim 26

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein said envelope has thinned areas in opposed portions thereof for receiving a display hook therethrough, whereupon the interior of said envelope is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere.

Claim 27

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein said envelope has a ventilating opening therein adjacent to said soil plug, and a removable strip covering said opening.

Claim 28

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein said atmosphere has a carbon dioxide content in the range from about 0.3% to about 1.0% by volume, an oxygen content in the range of about 5% to about 20% by volume, and the balance nitrogen.

Claim 29

The package set forth in claim 20, wherein the pressure of the atmosphere within said filled envelope is slightly in excess of standard atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Claim 32

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein said quantity of particles of soil mix comprises from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil plug.

Claim 33

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethane resin.

Claim 34

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisocyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.

Claim 35

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein said quantity of particles of soil mix and said quantity of organic plastic resin are mixed together in a water-acetone mixture.

Claim 36

The method set forth in claim 27, and further comprising the step of distributing the roots of the growing plant in said slurry.

Claim 37

The method set forth in claim 27, and further comprising the step of supporting said growing plant with the stalk extending through the associated surface of said slurry as said synthetic organic plastic resin reacts in situ to form the spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer.

Claim 38

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein the slurry of soil mix and the synthetic organic plastic resin is initially in the temperature range from about 5° C. to about 20° C.

Claim 39

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein said release agent is lecithin.

Claim 40

The method set forth in claim 27, wherein the ratio in said slurry between the water therein and said quantity of synthetic organic resin is from about 1 to about 8 by weight.

Claim 41

A hanger for growing plants, said hanger comprising a quantity of particles of soil mix bound in a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer of synthetic organic plastic resin, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of the total dry weight of said resin and said soil mix, an attachment member affixed to said body and extending outwardly therefrom to effect mounting of said body, a plurality of openings in the sides of said body for receiving growing plants therein and extending therefrom, the upper end of said body having a well for water therein with at least the lower surface thereof in contact with said body to supply water through said body to the plants in said openings, and a catch basin disposed beneath and affixed to said body for catching and holding water dripping therefrom.

Claim 42

A hanger for growing plants, said hanger comprising a quantity of particles of soil mix bound in a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer of synthetic organic plastic resin, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of the total dry weight of said resin and said soil mix, an attachment member affixed to said body and extending outwardly therefrom to effect mounting of said body, a plurality of openings in the sides of said body for receiving growing plants therein and extending therefrom, the upper end of said body having a well for water therein with at least the lower surface thereof in contact with said body to supply water through said body to the plants in said openings, and a catch basin disposed beneath and affixed to said body for catching and holding water dripping therefrom.

Claim 43

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein said body of soil mix is spherical in shape, and said openings are arranged with the longitudinal axes thereof extending radially in said body.

Claim 44

The hanger set forth in claim 38, wherein said catch basin is part spherical in shape having the same center of curvature as said body and being hollow.

Claim 45

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein said body of spongy polymer is cylindrical in form with said attachment member extending from one end thereof, and said openings have the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 46

The hanger set forth in claim 40, wherein said catch basin is disposed at the other end of said body and includes a bottom wall extending beyond the periphery of said body and having an upstanding wall surrounding said bottom wall and disposed outwardly with respect to the sides of said body.

Claim 47

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein said body of spongy polymer is conical in form, and the longitudinal axes of said openings are disposed substantially normal to the conical surface of said body.

Claim 48

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein said attachment member has a support member secured thereto and engaging said body for interconnecting said body and said attachment member.

Claim 49

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein the vertical walls of said well are impervious to water.

Claim 50

The hanger set forth in claim 37, wherein said body has a decorative coating on the outer surface thereof and around said openings.

Claim 51

A hanger with growing plants thereof comprising a quantity of particles soil mix bound in a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an attachment member affixed to said body and extending outwardly therefrom to effect mounting of said body, the upper end of said body having a well for water therein with at least the lower surface thereof in contact with said body, a plurality of openings in the sides of said body in communication with said well for receiving water therefrom, a plurality of porous plugs respectively disposed in said openings and each having a growing plant therein receiving water from said well through said body and the associated plug, said plug including a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin reacted in situ with particles of soil mix distributed therethrough and comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, and a catch basin disposed beneath and affixed to said body for catching and holding water dripping therefrom.

Claim 52

A hanger with growing plants thereof comprising a quantity of particles soil mix bound in a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an attachment member affixed to said body and extending outwardly therefrom to effect mounting of said body, the upper end of said body having a well for water therein with at least the lower surface thereof in contact with said body, a plurality of openings in the sides of said body in communication with said well for receiving water therefrom, a plurality of porous plugs respectively disposed in said openings and each having a growing plant therein receiving water from said well through said body and the associated plug, said plug including a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin reacted in situ with particles of soil mix distributed therethrough and comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, and a catch basin disposed beneath and affixed to said body for catching and holding water dripping therefrom.

Claim 53

The hanger set forth in claim 46, wherein said plugs comprise a quantity of particles of soil mix bound in a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer of a synthetic organic plastic resin.

Claim 54

The hanger set forth in claim 46, wherein said body of spongy polymer is spherical in shape, and said openings are arranged with the longitudinal axes thereof extending radially in said body.

Claim 55

The hanger set forth in clain 46, wherein said body of spongy polymer is cylindrical in form with said attachment member extending from one end thereof, and said openings have the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 56

The hanger set forth in clain 46, wherein said body of spongy polymer is cylindrical in form with said attachment member extending from one end thereof, and said openings have the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 57

The hanger set forth in claim 46, wherein said body of spongy polymer is conical in form, and the longitudinal axes of said openings are disposed substantially normal to the conical surface of said body.

Claim 58

A plaque for growing plants, said plaque comprising a container having a base and a side wall surrounding said base, a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer having a quantity of particles of soil mix disposed in said container and bound into a cohesive mass and to said container by said open-celled hydrophilic polymer, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said body, and a plurality of openings in the surface of said body for removably receiving porous plugs having growing plants therein and extending therefrom, whereby the plugs having growing plants therein may be replaced and rearranged to provide fresh and various designs of growing plants on said plaque.

Claim 59

A plaque for growing plants, said plaque comprising a container having a base and a side wall surrounding said base, a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer having a quantity of particles of soil mix disposed in said container and bound into a cohesive mass and to said container by said open-celled hydrophilic polymer, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said body, and a plurality of openings in the surface of said body for removably receiving porous plugs having growing plants therein and extending therefrom, whereby the plugs having growing plants therein may be replaced and rearranged to provide fresh and various designs of growing plants on said plaque.

Claim 60

The plaque set forth in claim 51, wherein said container has a hanger on the rear of said base for hanging said container on a vertical support.

Claim 61

The plaque set forth in claim 51, wherein said openings are cylindrical in form with the longitudinal axes disposed substantially normal to said base, and the plugs are cylindrical in form and shaped complimentary to said openings.

Claim 62

A polymerized soil mass comprising a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer, a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a cohesive soil mass, said resin comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil mass, thereby to provide a unitary self-supporting polymerized soil mass.

Claim 63

A polymerized soil mass comprising a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer, a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a cohesive soil mass, said resin comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said soil mass, thereby to provide a unitary self-supporting polymerized soil mass.

Claim 64

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mass has an apparent density on a dry basis of from about 0.18 gm. per cc. to about 0.3 gm. per cc.

Claim 65

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mass in the dry condition can take up about three times its weight of water.

Claim 66

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 55, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethane resin.

Claim 67

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54 wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisocyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.

Claim 68

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mix is a mineral soil.

Claim 69

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mix is a mixture of a natural organic soil and an agricultural modified mineral selected from the group consisting of Perlite and Vermiculite.

Claim 70

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mix is a synthetic organic soil substitute.

Claim 71

The polymerized soil mass set forth in claim 54, wherein said soil mix is a mixture of a natural organic soil, an agricultural modified mineral selected from the group consisting of Perlite and Vermiculite, and sewage sludge.

Claim 72

A package of polymerized soil plug with a growing plant therein, said package comprising a flexible transparent envelope, a polymerized soil plug having a substantial water holding capacity and disposed within said envelope, said soil plug including a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer and a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, and a growing plant having the roots thereof in said polymerized soil plug and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said polymerized soil plug, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, said polymerized soil plug being essentially saturated with water providing moisture for said growing plant, said envelope having openings therein adjacent to the foliage on said plant so that the interior of said envelope is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere, thereby to provide a package for said growing plant that will maintain said growing plant in good condition for up to three weeks with periodic exposure to light.

Claim 73

A package of polymerized soil plug with a growing plant therein, said package comprising a flexible transparent envelope, a polymerized soil plug having a substantial water holding capacity and disposed within said envelope, said soil plug including a body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer and a quantity of particles of soil mix distributed throughout said body of spongy polymer, and a growing plant having the roots thereof in said polymerized soil plug and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said polymerized soil plug, a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form said body of spongy open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said particles of soil mix therein and into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said soil mix comprising from about 20% to about 80% by dry weight of said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, said polymerized soil plug being essentially saturated with water providing moisture for said growing plant, said envelope having openings therein adjacent to the foliage on said plant so that the interior of said envelope is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere, thereby to provide a package for said growing plant that will maintain said growing plant in good condition for up to three weeks with periodic exposure to light.