Vertical soilless growing system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- GB · GB
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JASON PETER HAWKINS ROW
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-22
Smart Images
Figure 00000001_0000 
Figure 00000001_0001 
Figure 00000001_0002
Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND a. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vertical soilless growing system, and particularly to an elongate housing for a vertical hydroponic growing system, and to a hydroponic growing module for use in such a system and to methods of planting and growing plants using such apparatus. b. Related Art GB 2532467 A is an example of a prior art vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus having a vertical hollow grow tube with a slot through the tube extending lengthwise over some or all of the tube length. A growing medium material for supporting growing roots is inserted into the grow tube. The growing medium material is composed of two halves of material split down the middle. A growing plant is held in the split. The growing medium material partially fills the interior volume of the grow tube and a plant held by slit in the growing medium material grows out through the slot. The slit extends fully through the growing medium material towards a void inside the tube behind the growing medium material. The void provides an aeroponic growing portion where roots are exposed to the air and a nutrient solution that is sprayed from above into the void onto. The nutrient solution spray down onto on any exposed roots and onto a rear surface of the growing medium material. The nutrient fluid also naturally flows downwards through the material of the blocks. A fluid outlet recovers unused nutrient solution at a lower end of the tube. Each tube will has a tubular outer wall that extends vertically along between upper and lower ends of the tube, to which are affixed top and base end caps. The end caps are each mounted to horizontal bars, each of which must then be secured to a wall to provide respective upper and lower mounts for the tubular outer wall. US 2011 / 0023361 A1 is another an example of a prior art vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus having a vertical grow tube with a slot through the tube extending lengthwise over some or all of the tube length. A growing medium material for supporting growing roots is inserted into the grow tube such that the material completely fills the interior volume of the grow tube. The grow tube may be open at both top and bottom ends, or may have a removable top cap. A nutrient solution carrying essential plant nutrients is then trickled down through the opening at the upper end of the grow tube into growing medium material to provide water and nutrients to the growing plant. Nutrient solution is collected at the lower end of grow tube, for example in a drain or trough or by a pipe into which the lower end of the grow tube is fitted. The grow tube is either suspended by ropes, connected at the upper and lower ends of the grow tube, or is affixed to a vertically extending pole by means of brackets. Such prior art vertical hollow grow tubes are effective at making more efficient use of land area; multiple plants can be grown, one above another in the grow tube, and it is also possible to orient two or more vertical grow tubes one above another, allowing even more plants to be grown in each square metre of available space. A difficulty arises, however, when the grow tubes are to be replanted, after harvesting of the crop. Because each vertical grow tube has to be connected at upper and lower ends of the tube to, respectively, a source of nutrient solution and to a collection system for unused nutrient solution, typically with a recirculation system in between, it is generally necessary to temporarily disconnect one or both ends of the tube from the respective source or collection system. Additionally, the vertical grow tube may need to be disconnected from a mounting means or partially disassembled to gain access to the interior of the grow tube, so that new growing medium material can be loaded into the grow tube. It is an object of the present invention to address these issues and to provide a more convenient and versatile vertical hydroponic growing system and methods of using such systems to grow plants. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vertical hydroponic growing system, comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a front wall, at least one elongate aperture in the front wall, said at least one aperture leading to an interior volume of the housing; at least one hydroponic growing module, said module comprising an elongate frame and a hydroponic growing medium material, the frame holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from the frame, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material; and wherein the elongate frame is sized to fit in the elongate aperture with the exposed second side of said material facing in towards the interior volume of the housing and the exposed first side of said material facing away from the housing; the front wall and the frame have therebetween at least one engagement feature for removably securing the frame to the front wall and for holding the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction. Since the module is both securable and removable with respect to the aperture in the front wall, there is no need to assemble or disassemble any part of the housing, merely to install the module with the housing, at the start of the plant growing process. When the plants have grown sufficiently to be harvested, similarly there is no need to assemble or disassemble any part of the housing; the module can be removed from the aperture in the front wall so that harvesting, and afterwards cleaning and / or replanting of the growing medium material, can take place on a convenient work surface or work station. The engagement feature may be configured to seat the frame in the aperture with a rear portion of the frame extending into the interior volume of the housing and with a front portion of the frame extending proud of the front wall. An advantage of this arrangement is that the frame does not take up unnecessary room inside the interior volume of the housing; this provides more room for root development, for any given size of housing. At the same time, the base of the growing plate will also be at a level proud of the front wall, which gives more room for plant portions such as leaves or stems to develop without being unnecessarily crowed by coming into contact with the front wall as the plant portions get bigger or more numerous. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the, or each, aperture is substantially rectangular in outline, with opposite lower and upper short edges and opposite left and right long edges, when the aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction. Similarly, the frame may have a lower edge an upper edge, the lower and upper edges being relatively shorter than opposite left and right edges, when oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction. When the aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction the front wall may extend in a longitudinal direction between opposite upper and lower ends of the housing. The front wall may be a unitary component (i.e. formed as a single continuous component with no joints) or may be modular in construction, being formed from a plurality of front wall portions or sections, each such section being joined to adjacent front wall sections. The growing system may use natural sunlight, for example being provided within a greenhouse. Alternatively, or additionally, the growing system may comprise a source of artificial light, for example white light LEDs or U.V.-enhanced white light LEDs. The hydroponic growing medium material may be provided as one or more blocks of growing medium material, within each frame. In preferred embodiments, the growing medium material within a frame is provided as two elongate blocks, that abut each other along a long axis of the frame. This arrangement naturally provides a slit between the two halves of the growing medium, which are then planted with seeds or plant shoots prior to being secured to the apertures in the front wall of the housing. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the housing comprises also a rear wall, - 5 - with at least one elongate aperture in the rear wall. When this aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction, the rear wall may extend in a longitudinal direction between opposite upper and lower end walls of the housing. This aperture may also lead to the same interior volume of the housing. Alternatively, there may be two, separate, interior volumes of the housing. The front wall and rear wall may be mirror images of each other, with the apertures and modules for the rear wall being the same as for the front wall. As such, the optional rear wall, its apertures and modules will, for the sake of conciseness only, not be discussed in detail, but it will be understood that every feature described in relation to the front wall, is equally applicable to the rear wall. The front wall will, in general, also extend in a lateral direction between opposite left and right side end walls of the housing. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the front wall is modular, being formed of a plurality of similar front wall sections or portions, which may be in the form of panels, joined along seams, vertically extending but laterally spaced apart, such that the distance between the left and right side ends of the housing is increased, and / or joined along seams, horizontally extending but vertically spaced apart, such that the vertical distance between the lower and upper ends of the housing is increased. The front wall and the frame may, in use, be relatively movable with respect to each other between: an engaged configuration in which the frame is inserted into the aperture and secured to the front wall with the frame and held to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction; and a disengaged configuration in which the frame is released from the front wall, and freed to be withdrawn from the aperture. The frame will, in general have a rear portion and a front portion and the frame and front wall preferably have means to set the amount by which the frame may, in use, be inserted into the aperture. With such means setting the insertion of the frame into the aperture, in the engaged configuration the rear portion preferably extends in towards the interior volume of the housing. Additionally, with such means setting the insertion of the frame into the aperture, in the engaged configuration, the front portion of the frame preferably extends proud of the aperture in the front wall. The aperture then extends around the inserted portion of the frame when the frame is partially inserted into the aperture. Preferably, the engagement feature has no mechanical components that move as the front wall and the frame are relatively moved with respect to each other between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration. The engagement feature may comprise a supporting feature on the front wall for bearing the weight of the hydroponic growing module, and a seat on the frame for resting on the supporting feature. The seat comes into contact with the supporting feature as the front wall and the frame are relatively moved with respect to each into the engaged configuration. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the supporting feature is an upwardly facing ledge in the front face that faces upwards when the front face is oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction. The ledge may be provided by a lower edge of the aperture. In preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat is a base of a downwardly facing groove on the frame. The seat may however, be any other type of surface in the frame that faces downwards when the frame is oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction, for example a downwardly facing step in the frame. The engagement feature may further comprise an abutment on the front wall adjacent the aperture and a flange extending from the frame that comes into contact with the abutment. The flange and the abutment may come into contact with each other as the front wall and the frame are relatively moved with respect to each into the engaged configuration. - 7 — The contact between the flange and the abutment limits, in use, the insertion of the frame into the aperture. The engagement feature may comprises a contact interface that holds the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the contact interface is provided between an upwardly projecting feature of the frame and a downwardly projecting feature of the front wall, the upwardly projecting feature lapping behind the downwardly projecting feature relative to the interior volume of the housing whereby an upper portion of the frame is, in use, prevented from tipping forwards relative to a lower portion of the frame when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction. Most preferably, the contact interface is provided by one side wall - the rearmost side wall - of an upwardly facing groove on the frame. The engagement feature may comprises at least one tongue and groove arrangement between the front wall and the frame. The tongue and groove arrangement may comprise a first groove and a first tongue, the first tongue being received by the first groove when the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other to the engaged configuration. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first groove is provided by the frame, and the first tongue is provided by the front wall. However, the arrangement may be reversed, with the first groove being provided by the front wall, and the first tongue being provided by the frame. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the tongue and groove arrangement additionally comprises a second groove and a second tongue, the second tongue being received by the second groove when the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other to the engaged configuration. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second groove is provided by the frame, and the second tongue is provided by the front wall. However, the arrangement may be reversed, with the second groove being provided by the front wall, and the second tongue being provided by the frame. Each of the first and second tongues is received in the corresponding one of the first and second grooves as the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other in a substantially vertical direction of movement. The first groove and the first tongue may be provided between the frame and the front wall where a lower end of the frame is inserted into the aperture. The second groove and the second tongue may be provided between the frame and the front wall where an upper end of the frame is inserted into the aperture. The arrangement of each of the first and second tongues and corresponding grooves is preferably such that the second tongue and the second groove provide more vertical travel than the first tongue and the first groove when the frame and front wall are relatively moved with respect to each other in the substantially vertical direction of movement. In this way, the frame is removably secured to the front wall by: inserting the upper end of the frame into the aperture and then relatively moving the frame upwards with respect to the front wall to insert the second tongue into the second groove; and then inserting the lower end of the frame into the aperture; and then relatively moving the frame downwards with respect to the front wall to insert the first tongue into the first groove; wherein the relative movement upwards is of greater extent than the relative movement downwards, such that the second tongue remains in the second groove after the first tongue is received in the first groove, whereby both the upper end and the lower end of the frame are secured to the front wall and held to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in the substantially vertical direction. The vertical hydroponic growing system may further comprise a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is configured to supply, to at least one fluid dispenser within the interior volume of the housing, a nutrient solution to the growing medium material proximate the upper end of the housing. The fluid outlet is configured to recover, within the interior volume of the housing, unused nutrient solution from the growing medium material proximate the lower end of the housing. The fluid inlet may then be configured to deliver a portion of the nutrient fluid directly to the exposed rear surface of the growing medium, such that the fluid flows down inside the growing medium material. Such a soilless nutrient delivery system is conventionally referred to as a “hydroponic” growing system. Additionally or alternatively, a portion of the nutrient fluid is delivered as a spray or mist that drifts down inside the portion of the housing interior not occupied by the volume of the modules that is inserted into the apertures. This is sometimes referred to as an “aeroponic” growing system, but for the purposes of this invention, both hydroponic and aeroponic techniques are encompassed by the terms “hydroponics” or “hydroponic growing systems”. With these options, growing roots can extend into the hollow portion of the housing interior and be coated with the nutrient fluid mist or droplets in the air, as well as by liquid nutrient absorbed directly from the liquid held by the growing medium. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing a hydroponic growing module to a housing of a vertical hydroponic growing system, the housing comprising a front wall, at least one elongate aperture in the front wall, said at least one aperture leading to an interior volume of the housing, and said module comprising an elongate frame and a hydroponic growing medium material, the frame holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from the frame, wherein the front wall and the frame have therebetween at least one engagement feature, and wherein the method comprises: orienting the housing such that the elongate aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction; locating the frame in the aperture by inserting a rear portion of the housing into the aperture such that said second side of said material faces in towards the interior volume of the housing and said first side of said material faces away from the housing, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material; and then with the frame so located in the aperture, using said engagement feature to removably secure the frame to the front wall and to hold the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a hydroponic growing module for use in the method according to the second aspect of the invention, the frame having a length, a width and a thickness and holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from, respectively, opposite front and back sides of the frame, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the front side of said material, wherein the elongate frame has: a pair of side members that extend along the length of the frame along opposite left and right sides of the frame, said left and right sides each spanning the thickness of the frame between the front and back sides of the frame and extending the length of the frame between opposite first and second ends of the frame; and a pair of end members that extend across the width of the frame at, respectively the first and second ends of the frame, the end members holding the side members together in a spaced apart configuration; and each end member is removably connected to both the side members, the side members being free to separate when disconnected from the end members whereby the hydroponic growing medium material is releasably held within the frame. A first one of the end members preferably has a first groove and a second one of the end members preferably has a second groove. The first and second grooves preferably facie in opposite directions away from, respectively, the first and second ends of the frame. A first one of the side members may have a first flange and a second one of the side members may have a second flange, The first and second flanges preferably extend in opposite directions away from, respectively, the left and right sides of the frame. The first and second flanges each have a rear face, relative to the front side of the frame, and the first and second grooves each have, within the respective groove, a front wall, relative to the front side of the frame. The rear faces of the flanges and the front walls of the grooves preferably lie in substantially the same plane, whereby the module is adapted to be secured to an aperture in a sheet of material having a thickness appropriate to be received in the first and second grooves by engaging opposite edges of the aperture in the first and second grooves and by abutting the rear faces of the first and second flanges with the sheet of material. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the pair of side members define a longitudinal axis of the frame. The flanges are then each parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame and with each other. Also in preferred embodiments of the invention, each of the first and second flanges is a tongue which projects away from corresponding side surfaces of the frame. In general, the vertical hydroponic growing system may comprise a reservoir containing a nutrient fluid and a pump for pumping the nutrient fluid, the reservoir being connected to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet, and the pump being configured to circulate the fluid nutrient in a circuit from the reservoir to the fluid inlet and from the fluid outlet back to the reservoir. The fluid inlet may be connected to a fluid dispenser, for example a spray head, within the interior volume of the housing, the dispenser being positioned to dispense nutrient fluid into the interior volume proximate the exposed rear side of the growing medium material. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a vertical hydroponic growing system, said system being as in the first embodiment of the invention, when the hydroponic growing system further comprises the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, as mentioned above, and the vertical hydroponic growing system further comprises a reservoir containing a nutrient fluid and a pump for pumping said nutrient fluid, the reservoir being connected to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet, in which the method comprises the steps of: planting at least one plant or plant seed in the hydroponic growing medium material; orienting the housing such that the elongate aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction; locating the frame in the aperture by inserting a rear portion of the housing into the aperture such that said second side of said material faces in towards the interior volume of the housing and said first side of said material faces away from the housing, such that, in use, a growing plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material; and then with the frame so located in the aperture, using said engagement feature to removably secure the frame to the front wall and to hold the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction; using the pump to circulate said fluid nutrient in a circuit from the reservoir to said fluid dispenser via the fluid inlet, whereby nutrient fluid is dispensed into the interior volume proximate the exposed rear side of the growing medium material; collecting nutrient fluid from a lower portion of the interior volume of the housing and directing said nutrient fluid via the fluid outlet back to the reservoir; and using artificial and / or natural light to grow said plant or plant seed such that a stem of said plant grows outwards from said first side of said material and roots from said growing plant extend through said material and into the interior volume of the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vertical hydroponic growing system in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising a housing, a front wall, a plurality of parallel elongate apertures in a front wall of the housing, the apertures leading to an interior volume of the housing, and with a plurality of hydroponic growing modules being removably secured to the apertures, each in a substantially vertical orientation; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the hydroponic growing modules when disassembled to permit sowing of seeds or plants in a gap between two elongate blocks of hydroponic growing medium material, the growing medium material being positioned between a pair of elongate side members and a pair of opposite end members; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hydroponic growing module of Figure 2 when assembled, the side members being connected at their ends to the end members whereby the end members hold the side members parallel with each other to form a frame around the growing medium material; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vertical hydroponic growing system in a second preferred embodiment of the invention, in which two housings are suspended, one above the other by wires to which each housing is clipped each housing having a plurality of parallel elongate apertures in a front wall and each aperture holding the assembled hydroponic growing module of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a vertical hydroponic growing system, similar to that of Figure 4, but with the front walls above and below one another and being joined together along horizontally extending seams, whereby the height of the housing is increased; Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the housing and hydroponic growing modules, taken along lines VI-VI of Figure 5, showing how the housing has a rear wall with the same form as the front wall, but facing in an opposite direction, and also how each module can be moved to be inserted and secured within an aperture, or moved to be released and withdrawn from an aperture; Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the housing and hydroponic growing modules, taken along lines VII-VII of Figure 6, showing how the ends of the side members are joined to the end caps and the hydroponic growing medium material is held between the side members with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from the frame; Figures 8 and 9 show, respectively plan and end views of the front wall of the housing; Figure 10 show an assembled frame support of the housing, the frame support having a pair of parallel elongate rails joined at each end to an end cap, and the rails each having grooves along their length for receiving and holding the front and rear walls of the housing and to which are connected an internal fluid dispensing bracket within the internal volume of the housing and an external wire clip for engaging with a wire from which the housing is suspended; Figures 11 and 12 show, respectively bottom and side views of the fluid dispensing bracket of Figure 10; Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views of, respectively, a top end member of the grow module frame and a bottom end member of the grow module frame, each end member having a slot for receiving the ends of the frame side members and a groove for receiving a top or bottom edge of the aperture, the groove of the top end member being deeper than the groove of the bottom end member, as shown also in the section of Figure 6; Figure 15 is an end view of one of the rails of Figure 10; Figures 16, 17 and 18 are, respectively bottom, top and inside views of the end cap of Figure 10; Figures 19 and 20 are, respectively side and front views of the wire clip of Figure 10; and Figure 21 is a perspective view of a plurality of the hydroponic growing modules of Figure 3, each holding a line of immature plants in a slit between the adjacent blocks of growing medium material, and the modules resting horizontally in a tray partially filled with nutrient fluid for establishing the immature plants, prior to securing the modules vertically in the housing apertures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows a vertical hydroponic growing system 1 for plant growing. The apparatus comprises at least one housing 10, that has a front side 2 and a rear side 2’, each of which extends in a substantially vertical direction parallel to a vertical axis 3 that lies in a mid-plane of the housing. The front and rear sides, 2, 2’ are provided by, respectively, front and rear walls 12, 12’ that extend between upper and lower sides 6, 8 of the housing at which the front and rear walls are joined to a top wall or cap 16 and a base wall or cap 18. The top cap 16 is directly above the base cap 18. The apparatus also comprises a nutrient reservoir 4 which can be any suitable tank for holding a water-based nutrient fluid 14. Flow of the nutrient fluid 14 is driven by a mains or battery powered water pump 5. The reservoir 4 and pump are connected to a nutrient fluid inlet 7 and a nutrient fluid outlet 17 that are provided proximate, respectively, the upper and lower sides 6, 8 of the housing 1. Pipes 21, 22, 23 connect, the reservoir 4, the pump 5 and the nutrient fluid inlet and outlet 7, 17 in a fluid flow circuit with the housing. The particular arrangement of the fluid flow circuit from the fluid outlet 17 to the fluid inlet 7, is not central to the invention, and other arrangements may equally well be used, for example, by placing the pump inside the reservoir, or by providing filtration, heating cooling or chemical control apparatus either in line or in parallel with the circuit. The front wall 12 comprises a plurality of parallel elongate apertures 20, two of which are shown empty in Figure 1. The apertures are elongate in a direction parallel with the vertical axis 3. Although not illustrated, optionally, the rear wall 2’ may have a similar arrangement of apertures. The apertures 20 lead to an interior volume 25 of the housing. A plurality of elongate hydroponic growing modules 30 is removably secured to the front wall 2, and optionally also the rear wall 2’, one module in each one of the apertures 20. The modules each have a length and a width that is greater than the corresponding length and width of the apertures, such each module, when secured in its aperture, overlaps a pair of left and right long edges 26, 26’ and a pair of upper and lower short edges 27, 27’ of the aperture 20. The housing 1 of Figure 1 has opposite left and right sides 9. Only the left side 9 is visible in the drawing but the right side is the same as the left side, only reversed to face the in the opposite direction. The left and right sides are provided by, respectively, left and right walls 19. Each of the left and right walls 19 has one fluid inlet 7 and one fluid outlet 17. It may not be necessary to use both fluid inlets at the opposite left and right sides 9 of the housing 1, or it may not be necessary to use both fluid outlets is not necessary to use the fluid inlet at the opposite left and right sides of the housing, in which case any unused fluid inlet or outlet may be blanked off (not illustrated). Between the right and left walls 19, the horizontal length of the housing 10 is extended by joining laterally adjacent portions of the front and rear walls 12, 12’ along vertically extending seams 24. The housing 1, with the modules 30 secured in the apertures 20, therefore preferably extends around all sides of the interior volume 25 of the housing. This helps to contain the nutrient fluid and maintain high humidity within the housing and reduce evaporation, but there is no hermetic seal and air vents may be provided if this is desired. Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the hydroponic growing modules 30’ when disassembled to permit sowing a seeds or plants 31 in a gap or slit 32 between two adjacent, but separate, quantities of the growing medium material. In this example, these are left and right blocks 33, 33’ of hydroponic growing medium material, this material being positioned between a pair of left and right elongate side members 34, 34’ and a pair of opposite top and bottom end members, which in this example are top and bottom end caps 35, 35’, configured to provide a protective cap over end portions 36 of the growing medium material and end portions 37 of the left and right side members 34, 34’. When assembled as shown in Figure 3, the side members 34, 34’ are connected at their ends to the end caps 35, 35’, whereby the end caps hold the side members parallel with each other to form a frame 50 around the growing medium material 33, 33’; As will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 7, the end portions 37 of the side members 34, 34’ are joined to the top and bottom end caps 35, 35’ and the hydroponic growing medium material 33, 33’ is held between the side members such that exposed first and second sides 38, 38’ of this material face in opposite directions away from the frame 50. When the module 30 is secured to the aperture 20, the first side 38 of the growing medium material 33, 33’ faces outwards away from the housing 1 and the second side 38’ of the growing medium material 33, 33’ faces inwards towards the interior volume 25 of the housing. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vertical hydroponic growing system 101 in a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Components of the second embodiment 101 that are same as the first embodiment 1, are indicated using the same reference numerals, and components which are similar and correspond with those of the first embodiment are indicated using reference numeral incremented by 100. The vertical hydroponic growing system 101 has two housings 110, 110’ are suspended, one above the other by wires 42 to which each housing 110, 110’ is clipped. Each housing has a plurality of parallel elongate apertures in opposite front and rear walls 12, 12’. Although these apertures are not illustrated, these are the same as in the first embodiment. Each aperture holds a corresponding hydroponic growing module 30. The front and rear walls 12, 12’ are connected, at upper and lower sides 106, 108 of the housing 110 to a top cap 116 and a base cap 118. This connection is made via a pair of front and back side rails 44, 44’ that run along the horizontal length of the housing. The front and back rails have the same shape and cross section profile (see Figure 15). In Figure 4, the lower one of the housings 110’ is not fully shown as being fully assembled, so that components of the housing, including the interior volume 125 of the housing 110, can be seen more clearly in isolation from adjacent components. As will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 6,10 and 15, the rails 44, 44’ are connected by means of a tongue and groove arrangement to both the front and rear walls 12, 12’ and the top and base caps 116, 118. The rails are also joined at left and right horizontal ends to a corresponding left and right end caps 46, 46’ to form a frame support 60 (see Figure 10). The end caps 46, 46’ secure left and right walls 119 of the housing 110. Between the left and right walls 119, the horizontal length of the housing 110 is extended by joining laterally adjacent portions of the front and rear walls 12, 12’ along vertically extending seams 24. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a vertical hydroponic growing system 201, similar to that 101 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a sectional view through Figure 5. Components of the third embodiment 201 that are same as the second embodiment 101, are indicated using the same reference numerals, and components which are similar and correspond with those of the second embodiment are indicated using reference numeral incremented by 100. The main difference between the third and second embodiments is that portions of the front and rear walls 12, 12’ above and below one another are, in the third embodiment 201, joined together along horizontally extending seams, to form vertically extended front and rear walls 112, 112’ with two rows of apertures 30, one row above the other row. In this way the height of the housing 210 is increased in a modular manner relative to that of the housing 110 of the second embodiment 101. The modular form of the front and rear walls is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, which show, respectively plan and end views of the basic component for the front and rear walls of the housing, being a plate 40 with a substantially square outline with top and bottom edges 41, 41’ and left and right edges 43, 43’ and a series (in this example five) elongate slots 20, as described above with reference to Figure 1. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the housing 210 and hydroponic growing modules 30 of Figure 5, taken along arrowhead lines labelled VI. Figure 7 is a horizontal section in stepped transverse planes through the housing and hydroponic growing modules, taken along lines VII-VII of Figure 6. Both of these sections illustrate the interior volume 225 of the housing 210. Each module 30 is substantially square or rectangular in a transverse cross-section. Taken together, Figures 5-7 show how the rear wall 112’ of the housing 210 has the same form as the front wall 112, but faces in an opposite direction. Figure 6 also illustrates, with movement arrows labelled with the capital letters A-D, how each module 30 can be moved to be inserted and secured within an aperture 20, or moved to be released and withdrawn from an aperture. Three of the modules 30 are illustrated in an engaged configuration and one module 30 (lower left in the drawing) is illustrated in a disengaged configuration. In all the embodiments 1, 101,201, the elongate frame 50 of the hydroponic growing module 30 is sized to fit in the elongate aperture 20 with the exposed second side 38’ of the growing medium material 33, 33’ facing in towards the interior volume 25, 125, 225 of the housing 10, 110, 210 and the exposed first side 38 of the growing medium material facing away from the housing. In all the embodiments 1, 101, 201, the front wall 12, 112, and optionally the rear wall, 12’, 112’ and the frame 50 of the hydroponic growing module 30 have therebetween at least one engagement feature for removably securing the frame 50, and therefore the module 30, to the front wall. The engagement feature also holds the frame to the front wall when both the frame 50 and the aperture 20 are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction. Therefore, the frame, and therefore the hydroponic growing module do not fall out of, or tip out and fall from, the aperture, even when both are oriented substantially vertically. An example of the use of engagement features is shown in detail in the sections of Figures 6 and 7, in relation to the third embodiment 201, and the same or similar arrangement may be used also with the first and second embodiments 1, 101. As shown in Figures 6, 13 and 14, the top and bottom end caps 35, 35’ of the frame 50 each have a groove 52, 52’ that extends in a direction parallel with the vertical axis 3 of the housing 210 when the hydroponic growing module 30 is vertically aligned with the aperture 20. The groove 52 in the top end cap 35 extends upwards in a vertical direction by a distance (X) between an entrance 53 to the groove and a floor 54 to the groove, while the groove in the lower end cap 35 extends downwards in a vertical direction by a lesser distance (x) between an entrance 53’ to the groove and a floor 54’ to the groove. The lower groove 52’ receives the upwardly directed lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20 and the upper groove receives the downwardly directed upper edge 27 of the aperture 20. The floor 54, 54’ of each groove 52, 52’ acts as an end stop for the corresponding upper or lower edge 27, 27’ of the aperture 20, when the edge is fully inserted into the corresponding groove. A vertical distance (y) between the floor 54 of the groove 52 in the top end cap 35 to the entrance 53’ to the groove 52’ in the bottom end cap 35’ is less than the vertical distance (Y) between the upper edge 27 of the aperture 20 and the lower edge 27’ of the aperture. This permits an upper portion of the frame 50 to be inserted into the aperture 20 at a shallow angle (typically at between 5° and 15°) from vertical and moved upwards, as indicated by arrow A in Figure 6, until the upper edge 27 of the aperture enters the entrance 53 of the upper groove 52 and then relatively downward inside the groove into contact with the floor 54 of the groove. At this stage, the entrance 53’ to the lower groove 52 is at a higher level than above the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20. Since the groove entrances 53, 53’ also define the vertical limits of the frame 50, all the lower surfaces of the frame are therefore above the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20, and so the frame can then be rotated to a vertical orientation, as indicated by arrow B in Figure 6, until the entrance 53’ of the lower groove 52 is directly above the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20. At this stage, the frame is aligned vertically with the front or rear wall 112, 112’ surrounding the aperture 20. This vertical alignment is set by a step or flange 56, 56’ that extends laterally away from each of the left and right elongate side members 34, 34’. The flanges 56, 56’ comes into contact with an external surface 58 of the wall 112, 112’ adjacent the left and right long edges 26, 26’ of the aperture. This contact limits further insertion of the frame 50 into the aperture, such that the frame remains partially inserted into the aperture. These external surface 58 of the wall therefore act as an abutment, preventing further inward movement of the frame 50. This contact also sets the correct vertical alignment of the frame 50 within the aperture 20. A contact interface 57 between each of the flanges 56, 56’ and the wall 112, 112’ is in the same plane as a contact interface 57’ between a forwards side wall of the groove 59, 59’ and the wall 112, 112’. These contact interfaces 57, 57’ therefore set the vertical alignment and ensure that the entrance 53’ of the lower groove 52’ is directly above the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20. The frame can then be moved downwards, as indicated by movement arrow B in Figure 6, until the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20 enters the downwardly facing groove entrance 53’, until the base 54’ of the groove rests on the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20. The lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20 therefore provides a supporting surface on which the base 54’ of the groove rests. The upper edge 27 of the aperture 20 remains partially inserted in the upper groove 52. This is because the distance (Z) between the base of the lower groove 52’ and the entrance 53 to the upper groove 53 is greater than the distance (Y) between the upper and lower edges 27, 27’ of the aperture 20. This arrangement is the same in all the embodiments 1, 101,201. In this way, the engagement features, provided by the grooves 52, 52’ and upper and lower edges 27, 27’ of the aperture 20, secure and continue to hold the frame 50 to the wall 12, 12’, 112, 112’even when both the frame 50 and the aperture 20 are oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction. It should be noted that instead of grooves 52, 52’, i.e. features with substantially parallel opposite front and back groove walls with a base surface at the bottom of the groove, it would be possible to omit the front groove wall (the wall nearest the front face of the hydroponic growing module) so that this part of the engagement feature is in the form of a step. Although not illustrated, the remaining rear wall of the groove would then provide a flange or lip that engages on an inside surface of the tongue provided by the front (or rear) wall. The relative movements (A, B) between the frame 50 and the aperture 20, that are used to insert and secure the frame partially in the aperture, can be reversed to disengage and remove the frame 50 and the aperture 20, as indicated by movement arrows C and D in Figure 6. First, the frame is moved relatively upwards with respect to the aperture, until the lower edge 27’ of the aperture is withdrawn from the lower groove 52’. This frees the lower portion of the frame from engagement with the wall. The lower portion of the frame can then be tilted at a shallow angle, typically 5° to 15°, after which the frame can be moved downwards along the tilt angle until the upper edge 27 of the aperture is withdrawn from the upper groove 52. It should be noted that although the upper and lower edges 27, 27 of the aperture sit snugly inside the respective grooves, the top and bottom end caps 35, 35 are formed from a plastic material, preferably polypropylene, and are suitably thin and therefore flexible enough to bend enough to permit the shallow tilt angle necessary to engage and disengage the upper groove 52 from the upper edge 27 of the aperture 20. The arrangement described above is therefore an example of a system in which a first groove, provided by the lower groove 52’, and a first tongue, provided by the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20, are provided between the frame 50 and the front (or rear) wall 12, 112, (12’, 112’) where a lower end 91’ of the frame is partially inserted into the aperture 20. A second groove, provided by the upper groove 52’, and a second tongue, provided by the lower edge 27’ of the aperture 20, are provided between the frame and the front (or rear) wall where an upper end 91 of the frame is partially inserted into the aperture 20. The arrangement of each of the tongues 27, 27’ and corresponding grooves 52, 52’ is such that the second tongue 27 and the second groove 52 provide more vertical travel (X) than the travel (x) provided by the first tongue 27’ and the first groove 52’ when the frame and front (or rear) wall are relatively moved (B, C) with respect to each other in said substantially vertical direction of movement. With this arrangement, the frame is removably secured to the front wall by: i) partially inserting the upper end 91 of the frame 50 into the aperture 20 and then relatively moving the frame upwards (A) with respect to the front (or rear) wall 12, 112 (12’, 112’),to insert the second tongue 27 into the second groove 50; and then ii) partially inserting the lower end of the frame into the aperture 20; and then iii) relatively moving the frame 50 downwards (B) with respect to the front (or rear) wall to insert the first tongue 27’ into the first groove 52’. The relative movement upwards (A) is of greater extent than the relative movement downwards (B), such that the second tongue 27 remains in the second groove 52 after the first tongue is received in the first groove. In this way, both the upper end 91 of the frame and the lower end 91 ’ of the frame are secured to the front (or rear) wall 12, 112, (12’, 112’) and held to the front (or rear) wall when both the frame 50 and the aperture 20 are oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction. Figure 10 shows the assembled frame support 60 of the housing. As mentioned above, the frame support has a pair of parallel elongate rails 44, 44’ joined at each end to an end cap 46, 46’. As shown most clearly in the end view of the rail 44 in Figure 15, the rails each have two oppositely facing but otherwise identical grooves 47 running along their length. As shown in Figure 6, these are for receiving and holding the either the upper or the lower edges 41,41’ of the front and rear walls 12, 12’, 112, 112’ of the housing, as well as either the top cap 116 or the base cap 118, depending on the location of the assembled frame support 60 in the housing. In the second embodiment 201, there are three such pairs of rails 44, 44’: a first pair along the top side of the housing 210, for holding the top cap 116 to top edges 41 of the front and rear side walls; a second pair along the bottom side of the housing 210, for holding the bottom cap 118 to bottom edges 41 ’ of the front and rear side walls; and a third pair extending along a horizontal mid-plane of the housing 210 for holding together vertically adjacent pairs of the basic component 40 for the front and rear walls of the housing, between the top and bottom edges 41, 41’ of these basic components 40. Each end cap has a port 62 which serves either as a fluid inlet 7 or a fluid outlet 17 or is blanked off (not illustrated) depending on its location in the housing. Each rail 44, 44’ has on opposite sides a pair of connection tracks 64, 66. A first connection track 64 is provided on a surface of rail facing in towards the interior volume of the house, and a second connection track 66 is provided on a surface of the rail that faces outwards from the housing. The first connection tracks 64 of a pair of rails 44, 44’ are connected to an internal fluid dispensing bracket 67 within the internal volume of the housing. In addition to supporting a nutrient fluid supply hose 68 and a spray head 69 for dispensing a spray or mist 70 within the internal volume 225 of the housing. This bracket also provides lateral support between opposite sides of the housing. The fluid dispensing bracket 67 is elongate and has a pair of connection flanges 74 at opposite ends. The flanges have with a pair of opposite sides that are radiused for making a rotation-connection with the first tracks 64. At its mid-point, the bracket has a horizontally extending slot 75 for holding a fluid conveying pipe, and an aperture 76 that extends downwards from the slot though which a fluid connection may be made to the spray head 69. The second connection track 66 of each rail 44, 44’ is connected to an external wire clip 72 for engaging with the 42 wire from which the housing 210 is suspended. The clip 72 has a connection flange 84 with a pair of opposite corners that are radiused for making a rotation-connection with the second track 66. The clip has at its mid point a vertically extending slot 85 for holding one of the suspension wires 42. The wires may be secured to one of more the clips, so that these bear the weight of housing, by means of a bung 82 or other mechanical stop that prevents the wire for being pulled upwards through the slot 85. Alternatively, the wires on opposite sides of the housing may be connected to each other or be continuous, and lap around the bottom cap 118 of the housing (not shown). Because the hydroponic growing module is separable from the housing and joinable to the housing without having to dismantle or disable any components of with the housing or the hydroponic growing module, the module is convenient to use in other ways. For example, the hydroponic growing modules 30 illustrated in Figure 21 each hold a line of immature plants 31 in the slit 32 between the adjacent blocks 33, 33’ of growing medium material. The hydroponic growing modules 30 are resting horizontally in a tray 86 partially filled with nutrient fluid 88 for establishing the immature plants, prior to securing the modules 30 vertically in the housing apertures 20. The various wall panels 12, 12’, 112, 112’ 19, 19’, 119, 119, 16, 116’ 18, 118’ and the module frame components 34, 34’, 35, 35’ are preferably of a polypropylene or a PVC material. Some components, such as the rails 44, 44’ and the module left and right side members 34, 34’ can conveniently be lengths cut from a continuous extrusion of plastic material (not illustrated). Planar wall portions 40 may be a solid sheet material, about 2-4 mm thick, the thickness being increased for portions of greater width and height of the to provide sufficient rigidity. The wall portions 40, which will typically be in the range of 500 mm to 1 m. Optionally, the wall portions 40 may be formed from a partially hollow (e.g. foamed) or corrugated board, to provide greater thermal insulation of the housing interior volume 25, 125, 225. Apertures 20 may be formed by punching the sheet material with a die (not illustrated). The module length should be as long as possible within the vertical extent of the wall portion, typically between about 85% and 90% of the vertical extend. The module width will typically be between about 5% and 10% of the module length. The vertical hydroponic growing system may use sunlight, or artificial light. A plurality of housings may be hung in a close parallel arrangement, as shown in Figure 5, with relatively thin light panels in between, preferably suspended by wires 42, that provide light transversely in opposite direction towards the hydroponic growing modules 30. A wall portion 40 of about 600 mm square may be illuminated with a UV enhanced LED light panel (not illustrated) that consumes about 18 W of electrical power. The light panel may be relatively thin, for example 10 mm to 30 mm thick, The light panel should be as close to the growing plants 31 as possible, depending on the size of the plants. Initially, for seedlings, the spacing from the grow module frame 50 may be 40 mm to 50 mm. The suspension wires 42 may be hung from a movable gantry (not illustrated) that permits the lateral spacing between housings and any light sources between the housings, to be adjusted and to provide access for loading and unloading the housing apertures with hydroponic growing modules. The circulation pump 5 does not, in general, need to run continuously. For example, the pump may be activated for 10 s to 15 s every 15 minutes to 20 minutes, which reduces electrical power consumption, so that the vertical hydroponic growing system can be powered by a rechargeable battery only, if natural light is used to illuminate the plants. Since a goal of hydroponic growing systems is to make more efficient use of land area, especially inside a building or greenhouse, the invention can help to achieve this, with a high density of vertical hydroponic growing modules, laterally side by side, and on closely spaced parallel vertical housings, that may be ready arranged in a series of rows, directly above one another. In an indoor facility, the housings can be arranged in a series of stories or levels, one above another, from the ground level up to the available ceiling height. Apart from these benefits, the invention avoids inconveniences found in some prior art systems. The hydroponic growing modules can be quickly pulled apart and reassembled, without the use of tools, to gain access to the grow medium when planting or harvesting. When the modules are being secured to or released from the housings, the engagement feature of the preferred embodiments has no mechanical components that move as the front wall and the frame are relatively moved with respect to each other between an engaged configuration and a disengaged 5 configuration. The invention therefore provides a convenient and versatile vertical hydroponic growing system and methods of using such systems to grow plants. 10
Claims
1. A vertical hydroponic growing system, comprising:a housing, the housing comprising a front wall, at least one elongate aperture in the front wall, said at least one aperture leading to an interior volume of the housing;at least one hydroponic growing module, said module comprising an elongate frame and a hydroponic growing medium material, the frame holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from the frame, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material;and whereinthe elongate frame is sized to fit in the elongate aperture with the exposed second side of said material facing in towards the interior volume of the housing and the exposed first side of said material facing away from the housing;the front wall and the frame have therebetween at least one engagement feature for removably securing the frame to the front wall and for holding the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction.
2. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the engagement feature is configured to seat the frame in the aperture with a rear portion of the frame extending into the interior volume of the housing and with a front portion of the frame extending proud of the front wall.
3. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively movable with respect to each other between:an engaged configuration in which the frame is inserted into said aperture and secured to said front wall with the frame and held to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction; anda disengaged configuration in which the frame is released from the front wall, and freed to be withdrawn from said aperture.
4. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 3, in which said engagement feature has no mechanical components that move as the front wall and the frame are relatively moved with respect to each other between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.
5. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement feature comprises a supporting feature on the front wall for bearing the weight of said module, and a seat on the frame for resting on the supporting feature.
6. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 5, in which the supporting feature comprises a ledge in the front face that faces upwards when the front face is oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
7. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 6, in which the seat comprises a surface in the frame that faces downwards when the frame is oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
8. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement feature comprises an abutment on the front wall adjacent the aperture and a flange extending from the frame.
9. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 8, in which the contact between the flange and the abutment limits, in use, the insertion of the frame into the aperture.
10. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement feature comprises a contact interface that holds the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
11. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 10, in which the contact interface is provided by a upwardly projecting feature of the frame and adownwardly projecting feature of the front wall, the upwardly projecting feature lapping behind the downwardly projecting feature relative to the interior volume of the housing whereby an upper portion of the frame is, in use, prevented from tipping forwards relative to a lower portion of the frame when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
12. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said engagement feature comprises at least one tongue and groove arrangement between the front wall and the frame.
13. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 12, when dependent from Claim 3, in which said tongue and groove arrangement comprises a first groove and a first tongue, the first tongue being received by the first groove when the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other to the engaged configuration.
14. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 13, in which said tongue and groove arrangement comprises a second groove and a second tongue, the second tongue being received by the second groove when the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other to the engaged configuration.
15. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 14, in which each of said tongues is received in the corresponding groove as the front wall and the frame are, in use, relatively moved with respect to each other in a substantially vertical direction of movement.
16. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in Claim 15 in which the first groove and the first tongue are provided between the frame and the front wall where a lower end of the frame is inserted into said aperture, and the second groove and the second tongue are provided between the frame and the front wall where an upper end of the frame is inserted into said aperture, the arrangement of each of said tongues and corresponding grooves being such that the second tongue and the second groove provide more vertical travel than the first tongue and the firstgroove when the frame and front wall are relatively moved with respect to each other in said substantially vertical direction of movement, whereby, in use, the frame is removably secured to the front wall by:inserting the upper end of the frame into said aperture and then relatively moving the frame upwards with respect to the front wall to insert the second tongue into the second groove; and theninserting the lower end of the frame into said aperture; and thenrelatively moving the frame downwards with respect to the front wall to insert the first tongue into the first groove;wherein said relative movement upwards is of greater extent than said relative movement downwards, such that the second tongue remains in the second groove after the first tongue is received in the first groove, whereby both the upper end and the lower end of the frame are secured to the front wall and held to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
17. A vertical hydroponic growing system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising:a fluid inlet for supplying, to at least one fluid dispenser within the interior volume of the housing, a nutrient solution to said growing medium material proximate said upper end of said housing;a fluid outlet for recovering, within the interior volume of the housing, unused nutrient solution from said growing medium material proximate said lower end of said housing.
18. A method of securing a hydroponic growing module to a housing of a vertical hydroponic growing system, the housing comprising a front wall, at least one elongate aperture in the front wall, said at least one aperture leading to an interior volume of the housing, and said module comprising an elongate frame and a hydroponic growing medium material, the frame holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from the frame, wherein the front wall and the frame have therebetween at least one engagement feature, and wherein the method comprises: orienting the housing such that the elongate aperture is oriented to extend ina substantially vertical direction;locating the frame in the aperture by inserting a rear portion of the housing into the aperture such that said second side of said material faces in towards the interior volume of the housing and said first side of said material faces away from the housing, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material; and thenwith the frame so located in the aperture, using said engagement feature to removably secure the frame to the front wall and to hold the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction.
19. A hydroponic growing module for use in the method according to Claim 18, the frame having a length, a width and a thickness and holding the hydroponic growing medium material with exposed first and second sides of said material facing in opposite directions away from, respectively, opposite front and back sides of the frame, such that, in use, a plant held by said material grows out from the front side of said material, whereinthe elongate frame has:a pair of side members that extend along the length of the frame along opposite left and right sides of the frame, said left and right sides each spanning the thickness of the frame between the front and back sides of the frame and extending the length of the frame between opposite first and second ends of the frame; anda pair of end members that extend across the width of the frame at, respectively the first and second ends of the frame, the end members holding the side members together in a spaced apart configuration; andeach end member is removably connected to both the side members, the side members being free to separate when disconnected from the end members whereby the hydroponic growing medium material is releasably held within the frame.
20. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in Claim 19, in which a first one of said end members has a first groove and a second one of said end members has asecond groove, said first and second grooves facing in opposite directions away from, respectively, the first and second ends of the frame.
21. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in Claim 20, in which a first one of said side members has a first flange and a second one of said side members has a second flange, said first and second flanges extending in opposite directions away from, respectively, the left and right sides of the frame.
22. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in Claim 21, in which the first and second flanges each have a rear face, relative to the front side of the frame, and the first and second grooves each have, within the respective groove, a front wall, relative to the front side of the frame, the rear faces of the flanges and the front walls of the grooves lying in substantially the same plane, whereby said module is adapted to be secured to an aperture in a sheet of material having a thickness appropriate to be received in the first and second grooves by engaging opposite edges of the aperture in said grooves and by abutting the rear faces of the first and second flanges with said sheet of material.
23. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in any one of Claims 19 to 22, in which the pair of side members define a longitudinal axis of the frame.
24. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in Claim 23, when dependent from Claim 21, in which said flanges are each parallel with said axis and with each other.
25. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in Claim 24, in which each of said flanges is a tongue which projects away from corresponding side surfaces of the frame.
26. A hydroponic growing module as claimed in any one of Claims 19 to 25, in which said module is substantially square or rectangular in a transverse crosssection.
27. A method of growing plants using a vertical hydroponic growing system, said system being as claimed in Claim 17 and further comprising a reservoir containinga nutrient fluid and a pump for pumping said nutrient fluid, the reservoir being connected to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet, in which the method comprises the steps of:planting at least one plant or plant seed in the hydroponic growing medium material;orienting the housing such that the elongate aperture is oriented to extend in a substantially vertical direction;locating the frame in the aperture by inserting a rear portion of the housing into the aperture such that said second side of said material faces in towards the interior volume of the housing and said first side of said material faces away from the housing, such that, in use, a growing plant held by said material grows out from the first side of said material; and thenwith the frame so located in the aperture, using said engagement feature to removably secure the frame to the front wall and to hold the frame to the front wall when both the frame and the aperture are oriented to extend in said substantially vertical direction;using the pump to circulate said fluid nutrient in a circuit from the reservoir to said fluid dispenser via the fluid inlet, whereby nutrient fluid is dispensed into the interior volume proximate the exposed rear side of the growing material;collecting nutrient fluid from a lower portion of the interior volume of the housing and directing said nutrient fluid via the fluid outlet back to the reservoir; andusing artificial and / or natural light to grow said plant or plant seed such that a stem of said plant grows outwards from said first side of said material and roots from said growing plant extend through said material and into the interior volume of the housing.