Use of a tubular structure for growing plants and corresponding method

Abstract

Use of a tubular structure for growing plants and corresponding method The present invention relates to the use of a tubular structure (1) for growing plants, the tubular structure (1) comprising a tubular base wall (3) having a central axis (C) and having first and second closed contour edges (5, 7) at opposite first and second axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open on at least 50% of their respective surfaces. The first edge (5) is placed on a soil (S). The tubular base wall (3) is filled with a growing medium (M) such as potting soil, communicating with the soil (S) through the first open end. The plants (P) are planted in the growing medium (M). Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Use of a tubular structure for cultivating plants and corresponding method

[0001] The present invention relates to the cultivation of plants in containers or pots.

[0002] It is known to use pots to grow plants. These plants must be watered and fed with fertilizer.

[0003] The maintenance of such plants is therefore restrictive.

[0004] In this context, the invention aims to propose a method for growing plants which generates fewer constraints.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to the use of a tubular structure for growing plants, the tubular structure comprising a base tubular wall having a central axis and having first and second closed-contour edges at opposite first and second axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces;

[0006] the first edge being placed on a ground;

[0007] the base tubular wall being filled with a growing medium such as potting soil, communicating with the soil through the first open end;

[0008] plants being planted in the growing medium.

[0009] Because the tubular wall is filled with a growing medium communicating with the soil through the first open end, exchanges occur between the soil and the growing medium. In particular, moisture can rise from the soil inside the tubular wall. Earthworms can circulate between the soil and the growing medium.

[0010] This helps to reduce the constraints associated with growing plants planted in the tubular structure.

[0011] The use may have one or more of the following characteristics, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0012] - The first end is open over at least 90% of its surface, preferably on 100% of its surface.

[0013] - The basic tubular wall has openings, cups making projecting radially outward from the base tubular wall and being placed immediately offset towards the first edge relative to the openings.

[0014] - The cups are filled with the growing medium, plants being planted in the culture medium filling the cups.

[0015] - The tubular structure comprises at least one second coaxial tubular wall to the base tubular wall, having first and second closed-contour edges at first and second opposite axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, the first edge being placed on the second edge of the base tubular wall.

[0016] - The base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by complementary reliefs, formed on the second edge of the base tubular wall and on the first edge of the second tubular wall.

[0017] - The base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by an axis engaged in rings secured to the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall.

[0018] - The basic tubular wall is made of terracotta.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of cultivating plants, the method comprising the following steps:

[0020] - obtaining a tubular structure comprising a basic tubular wall having an axis central and having first and second closed-contour edges at first and second opposite axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces;

[0021] - place the first edge on a floor;

[0022] - fill the base tubular wall with a growing medium such as potting soil, communicating with the ground through the first open end;

[0023] - planting plants in the growing medium.

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, among which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a side view of the tubular structure used in the invention; and - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of the tubular structure of [Fig.l].

[0025] The tubular structure 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is used for growing plants.

[0026] These plants are for example flowers, shrubs, or any other type of plant suitable for being grown in pots.

[0027] The tubular structure 1 comprises a base tubular wall 3 having a central axis C and presenting first and second edges 5, 7 with closed contour at first and second opposite axial ends.

[0028] Advantageously, the tubular structure 1 comprises at least one second tubular wall 9 coaxial with the base tubular wall 3.

[0029] The second tubular wall 9 is placed on the base tubular wall 3.

[0030] In the example shown, the tubular structure 1 has a third tubular wall 11, coaxial with the base tubular wall 3.

[0031] The third tubular wall 11 is placed on the second tubular wall 9.

[0032] In a variant not shown, the tubular structure 1 only comprises the base tubular wall, no other tubular wall being placed on the base tubular wall.

[0033] In another variant not shown, the tubular structure 1 comprises only the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall, without a third tubular wall.

[0034] In yet another variant not shown, the tubular structure 1 further comprises one or more other tubular walls placed on the second tubular wall.

[0035] The first and second axial ends of the base tubular wall 3 are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces.

[0036] The first end, delimited by the first closed-contour edge 5, is open over at least 90% of its surface, and preferably is open over 100% of its surface.

[0037] Similarly, the second end, delimited by the second closed-contour edge 7, is open over at least 90% of its surface, and preferably more than 100% of its surface.

[0038] The basic tubular wall is cylindrical. Perpendicular to the central axis C, it has a circular section, constant over its entire axial height.

[0039] For example, it has a diameter of 500 mm and an axial height of 200 mm.

[0040] The first edge 5 of the basic tubular structure 3 is placed on the ground S.

[0041] The central axis C is perpendicular to the ground S.

[0042] In the present description, the terms top, bottom, upper, lower are understood in a direction perpendicular to the ground S, corresponding to the central axis C of the base tubular wall when the latter is placed on the ground S.

[0043] The base tubular wall 3 has openings 13. These openings 13 are cut out in the base tubular wall, and connect the internal volume of the base tubular wall 3 with the exterior.

[0044] They are distributed over the entire periphery of the base tubular wall 3.

[0045] For example, the openings 13 are located at 90° to each other, around the axis central C.

[0046] The base tubular wall 3 further comprises cups 15 projecting radially towards the outside of the base tubular wall 3.

[0047] The cups 15 protrude from the external surface of the base tubular wall 3. They are placed immediately offset towards the first closed-contour edge 5 relative to the openings 13.

[0048] In other words, the cups 15 are placed under the openings 13.

[0049] Each cup 15 then has a concave side facing upwards, that is to say towards the opening 13, and a convex side facing downwards, that is to say towards the ground S.

[0050] Each cup 15 is attached to the external surface of the base tubular wall 13 along a line having a generally U-shaped shape, which follows the lower edge of the opening 13.

[0051] Thus, the lower part of the opening 13 opens directly into the inside of the cup 15, and the upper part of the opening 13 is located above the cup 15.

[0052] The second upper tubular wall 9 is of the same type as the base tubular wall 3.

[0053] It has the same dimensions as the first upper tubular wall and the base tubular wall, in particular the same diameter and the same height.

[0054] It also has first and second edges 17, 19 with closed contours at first and second opposite axial ends.

[0055] The first and second axial ends are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, preferably over at least 90% of their respective surfaces, and more preferably over 100% of their respective surfaces.

[0056] The upper tubular wall 9 comprises openings 13 and cups 15 of the same type as that described with reference to the base tubular wall 3.

[0057] The third intermediate tubular wall 11 is of the same type as the base tubular wall 3.

[0058] It has the same dimensions as the second tubular wall 9 and the base tubular wall 3, in particular the same diameter and the same height.

[0059] It also has first and second closed-contour edges 21, 23 at its opposite axial ends. These first and second axial ends are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, preferably at least 90% and more preferably 100%.

[0060] The third tubular wall 11 comprises openings 13 and cups 15 of the same type as that described with reference to the base tubular wall 3.

[0061] The first closed-contour edge 17 of the second tubular wall 9 is placed on the second closed-contour edge 7 of the base tubular wall 3.

[0062] The first closed-contour edge 17 of the second tubular wall 9 exactly follows the second closed-contour edge 7 of the base tubular wall 3.

[0063] Similarly, the first edge 21 of the third tubular wall 11 is placed on the second edge 19 of the second tubular wall 9.

[0064] The first edge 21 exactly follows the second edge 19 of the second tubular wall 9.

[0065] Together, the base tubular wall 3, the second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11 form a hollow cylindrical container, without an internal partition.

[0066] The tubular structure 1 comprises means for locking the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall in position relative to each other.

[0067] According to a first variant embodiment, these means are complementary reliefs, formed on the second edge 7 of the base tubular wall 3 and on the first edge 17 of the second tubular wall 9. In the example shown, the second edge 7 carries a rib 25 with a closed contour. The first edge 17 carries another rib with a closed contour 27, arranged radially inside the rib 21.

[0068] According to another variant embodiment, the position locking means comprise an axis 29, engaged in rings 31 secured to the base tubular wall 3 and the second tubular wall 9.

[0069] The second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11 are locked in position relative to each other by the same means.

[0070] Typically, the base tubular wall is made of terracotta.

[0071] The second tubular wall and / or the third tubular wall are made of the same material.

[0072] As indicated above, the tubular structure 1 is used to cultivate plants P by placing the first edge 5 of the base tubular structure 3 on the ground S. The base tubular wall 3 is then filled with a growing medium M such as potting soil.

[0073] The culture medium M communicates with the soil through the first open end of the base tubular wall 3. Plants P are planted in the culture medium M.

[0074] When the tubular structure 1 comprises one or more other tubular walls placed on the base tubular wall, for example the second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11, the or each other tubular wall is also filled with the culture medium M.

[0075] The cups 15 are also filled with the culture medium M, the latter communicating with the culture medium M filling the internal volume of the tubular wall through the openings 13.

[0076] The plants P are planted in the culture medium M contained in the cups 15. They are also planted at the second open end of the tubular wall located highest.

[0077] This second end belongs to the basic tubular wall when the tubular structure does not have another tubular wall.

Claims

Claims

1. Use of a tubular structure (1) for growing plants, the tubular structure (1) comprising a base tubular wall (3) having a central axis (C) and having first and second closed-contour edges (5, 7) at opposite first and second axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces; the first edge (5) being placed on a soil (S); the base tubular wall (3) being filled with a growing medium (M) such as potting soil, communicating with the soil (S) through the first open end;plants (P) being planted in the culture medium (M) characterized in that the base tubular wall (3) has openings (13), cups (15) projecting radially outwards from the base tubular wall (3) and being placed immediately offset towards the first edge (5) relative to the openings (13), the cups (15) are filled with the culture medium (M), plants (P) being planted in the culture medium (M) filling the cups (15).;

2. Use according to claim 1, wherein the first end is open over at least 90% of its surface, preferably over 100% of its surface.

3. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular structure (1) comprises at least one second tubular wall (9) coaxial with the base tubular wall (3), having first and second edges (17, 19) with closed contour at first and second opposite axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, the first edge (17) being placed on the second edge (7) of the base tubular wall (3).

4. Use according to claim 3, wherein the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by complementary reliefs (25, 27), formed on the second edge (7) of the base tubular wall (3) and on the first edge (17) of the second tubular wall (9).

5. Use according to claim 3, wherein the base tubular wall (3) and the second tubular wall (9) are locked in position relative to each other by an axis (29) engaged in rings (31) integral with the base tubular wall (3) and the second tubular wall (9).

6. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base tubular wall (3) is made of terracotta.

7. A method of cultivating plants, the method comprising the following steps: - obtaining a tubular structure (1) comprising a base tubular wall (3) having a central axis (C) and having first and second closed-contour edges (5, 7) at first and second opposite axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, the base tubular wall (3) having openings (13), cups (15) projecting radially outwards from the base tubular wall (3) and being placed immediately offset towards the first edge (5) relative to the openings (13); - place the first edge (5) on a floor (S); - filling the base tubular wall (3) and the cups (15) with a growing medium (M) such as potting soil, communicating with the soil (S) through the first open end; - planting plants (P) in the culture medium (M) filling the base tubular wall (3) and in the culture medium (M) filling the cups (15).

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