Use of tubular structure to grow plants and corresponding method

Abstract

To provide a method for cultivation of plants that generates less requirements.SOLUTION: The invention relates to the use of a tubular structure (1) for cultivating plants, the tubular structure (1) including a base tubular wall (3), the base tubular wall (3) having a central axis (C) and having first and second closed-contour edges (5, 7) at first and second opposed axial ends, the first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of the respective surfaces thereof. The first edge (5) is placed on a ground (S). The base tubular wall (3) is filled with a growth medium (M), such as potting soil, the growth medium (M) communicating with soil (S) through the first open end. The plants (P) are planted in the growth medium (M).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] It is known to use pots to grow plants therein, the plants having to be watered and fertilised.

[0003] Therefore, maintaining such plants is laborious. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a context, the present invention aims to propose a method for the cultivation of plants which generates fewer requirements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to the use of a tubular structure for cultivating 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, The first edge is disposed above the ground; the base tubular wall is filled with a growing medium, such as potting soil, the growing medium being in communication with the soil through the first open end; The use relates to a plant being planted in a growing medium.

[0006] The tubular wall is filled with a growing medium that communicates with the soil through the first open end, so that an exchange takes place between the soil and the growing medium. In particular, moisture can rise from the ground inside the tubular wall. The earthworms can circulate between the soil and the growing medium.

[0007] This contributes to reducing the requirements associated with the cultivation of plants planted in the tubular structures.

[0008] The system may further comprise one or more of the following features, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0009] the first end is open over at least 90% of its surface, preferably over 100% of its surface.

[0010] The base tubular wall has an opening, and the cup projects radially outwardly from the base tubular wall and is positioned immediately offset towards the first edge relative to the opening.

[0011] The cup is filled with a growing medium and a plant is planted in the growing medium that fills the cup.

[0012] - the tubular structure includes at least one second tubular wall coaxial with the base tubular wall, the second tubular wall having first and second closed contoured edges at first and second opposing axial ends, said first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, and the first edge resting on the second edge of the base tubular wall.

[0013] - the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by a mating relief formed on the second edge of the base tubular wall and on the first edge of the second tubular wall.

[0014] - The base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by a pin, the pin being engaged in a ring which is rigidly attached to the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall.

[0015] - The basic tubular wall is made from terracotta.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for growing a plant, comprising the steps of: - obtaining a 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; - placing the first edge on a ground surface; - filling the base tubular wall with a growing medium, such as potting soil, the growing medium being in communication with the soil through the first open end; - placing a plant in a growing medium; The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of:

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description thereof with reference to the enclosed figures, which are given below by way of example and are in no way limiting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a tubular structure used in the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tubular structure shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The tubular structure 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is used for growing plants.

[0020] The plant may be, for example, a flower, a shrub, or any other type of plant suitable for being grown in a pot.

[0021] The tubular structure 1 includes a base tubular wall 3 having a central axis C and having first and second edges 5, 7 of closed contour at first and second opposite axial ends.

[0022] Advantageously, the tubular structure 1 comprises at least one second tubular wall 9 coaxial with the base tubular wall 3 .

[0023] A second tubular wall 9 is placed on the base tubular wall 3 .

[0024] In the example shown, the tubular structure 1 comprises a third tubular wall 11 coaxial with the base tubular wall 3 .

[0025] The third tubular wall 11 is placed on top of the second tubular wall 9 .

[0026] In a variant (not shown), the tubular structure 1 comprises only a base tubular wall, with no other tubular walls being placed on top of the base tubular wall.

[0027] In another variant (not shown), the tubular structure 1 only comprises a base tubular wall and a second tubular wall, but does not comprise a third tubular wall.

[0028] In yet another variant (not shown), the tubular structure 1 further comprises one or more other tubular walls mounted on the second tubular wall.

[0029] The first and second axial ends of the base tubular wall 3 are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces.

[0030] The first end (bounded by a first closed contour edge 5) is open over at least 90% of its surface, preferably open over 100% of its surface.

[0031] Similarly, the second end (bounded by the second closed contour edge 7) is open over at least 90% of its surface, and preferably open over 100% or more of its surface.

[0032] The base tubular wall is cylindrical in shape. Perpendicular to the central axis C, it has a circular cross section which is constant throughout its axial height.

[0033] It has, for example, a diameter of 500 mm and an axial height of 200 mm.

[0034] A first edge 5 of the tubular base structure 3 rests on the ground surface S.

[0035] The central axis C is perpendicular to the ground surface S.

[0036] As used herein, the terms top, bottom, upper and lower refer to a direction perpendicular to the ground surface S, which corresponds to the central axis C of the base tubular wall when the base tubular wall is placed on the ground surface S.

[0037] The base tubular wall 3 has an opening 13. The opening 13 is cut in the base tubular wall and leaves the internal volume of the base tubular wall 3 in communication with the outside.

[0038] It is distributed throughout the periphery of the base tubular wall 3 .

[0039] For example, the openings 13 are positioned at 90 degrees from each other about the central axis C.

[0040] The base tubular wall 3 further includes a cup 15 projecting radially outwardly from the base tubular wall 3 .

[0041] The cup 15 protrudes from the outer surface of the base tubular wall 3. It is located immediately offset towards the edge 5 of the first closed contour relative to the opening 13.

[0042] In other words, the cup 15 is placed below the opening 13 .

[0043] Each cup 15 then has a concave side facing upwards (i.e., facing towards the opening 13) and a convex side facing downwards (i.e., facing towards the ground surface S).

[0044] Each cup 15 is attached to the exterior surface of base tubular wall 13 along a generally U-shaped line that follows the lower edge of opening 13 .

[0045] Thereby, the lower part of the opening 13 opens directly into the cup 15 and the upper part of the opening 13 is located above the cup 15 .

[0046] The second upper tubular wall 9 is of the same type as the base tubular wall 3 .

[0047] It has the same dimensions (in particular the same diameter and the same height) as the first upper tubular wall and the base tubular wall.

[0048] It also has first and second closed contour edges 17, 19 at first and second opposite axial ends.

[0049] The first and second axial ends are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, preferably open over at least 90% of their respective surfaces, and more preferably open over 100% of their respective surfaces.

[0050] The upper tubular wall 9 includes an opening 13 and a cup 15 of the same type as described with reference to the base tubular wall 3 .

[0051] The third intermediate tubular wall 11 is of the same type as the base tubular wall 3 .

[0052] It has the same dimensions (in particular the same diameter and the same height) as the second tubular wall 9 and as the base tubular wall 3 .

[0053] It also has, at its opposite axial ends, first and second closed contour edges 21, 23. The first and second axial ends are open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, preferably at least 90% open, other preferably 100% open.

[0054] The third tubular wall 11 includes an opening 13 and a cup 15 of the same type as described with reference to the base tubular wall 3 .

[0055] The first closed contour edge 17 of the second tubular wall 9 rests on the second closed contour edge 7 of the base tubular wall 3 .

[0056] The edge 17 of the first closed contour of the second tubular wall 9 exactly follows the edge 7 of the second closed contour of the base tubular wall 3 .

[0057] Similarly, the first edge 21 of the third tubular wall 11 rests on the second edge 19 of the second tubular wall 9 .

[0058] The first edge 21 exactly follows the second edge 19 of the second tubular wall 9 .

[0059] Together, the base tubular wall 3, the second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11 form a hollow cylindrical shaped container without any internal partitions.

[0060] The tubular structure 1 includes means for locking the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall in position relative to each other.

[0061] According to a first variant of embodiment, the means are mating 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 has a closed contour rib 25. The first edge 17 has another closed contour rib 27 arranged radially inside the rib 21.

[0062] According to another variant of embodiment, the means for locking in position comprises a pin 29 engaged in a ring 31 rigidly attached to the base tubular wall 3 and to the second tubular wall 9.

[0063] The second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11 are locked in position relative to each other by the same means.

[0064] Typically, the base tubular wall is made from terracotta.

[0065] The second tubular wall and / or the third tubular wall are made from the same material.

[0066] As shown above, the tubular structure 1 is used to grow a plant P by placing a first edge 5 of the base tubular structure 3 on soil S. The base tubular wall 3 is then filled with a growing medium M, such as potting soil.

[0067] The growing medium M is in communication with the soil through a first open end of the base tubular wall 3. A plant P is planted in the growing medium M.

[0068] When the tubular structure 1 includes one or more other tubular walls (e.g., the second tubular wall 9 and the third tubular wall 11) that are placed on top of the base tubular wall, that or each other tubular wall is also filled with growth medium M.

[0069] The cup 15 is also filled with a growth medium M which communicates through an opening 13 with the growth medium M filling the interior volume of the tubular wall.

[0070] A plant P is planted in the growing medium M contained within the cup 15. It is also planted in the second open end of the top tubular wall.

[0071] When the tubular structure does not have other tubular walls, the second end belongs to the base tubular wall. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Tubular structure 3 Base tubular wall 5 First Edge 7 Second edge 9 Second tubular wall 11 third tubular wall 13 Opening 15 cups 17 First edge 19 Second edge 21 First edge 23 Second edge 25 Ribs 27 Ribs 29 pin 31 Ring C center axis M Growth medium P plant S Ground, soil

Claims

1. Use of a tubular structure (1) for growing plants, said tubular structure (1) comprising a base tubular wall (3) having a central axis (C) and having first and second closed contoured 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 first edge (5) is placed on the ground (S), the base tubular wall (3) is filled with a growing medium (M), such as potting soil, the growing medium (M) being in communication with the soil (S) through the first open end; A use, wherein a plant (P) is planted in said growing medium (M).

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

3. 3. Use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base tubular wall (3) has an opening (13) and a cup (15) projects radially outwardly from the base tubular wall (3) and is positioned directly offset towards the first edge (5) relative to the opening (13).

4. 4. Use according to claim 3, wherein the cup (15) is filled with the growing medium (M) and a plant (P) is planted in the growing medium (M) filling the cup (15).

5. 5. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tubular structure (1) comprises at least one second tubular wall (9) coaxial with the base tubular wall (3), the second tubular wall (9) having first and second opposite axial ends with first and second closed contoured edges (17, 19), the first and second axial ends being open over at least 50% of their respective surfaces, the first edge (17) being located above the second edge (7) of the base tubular wall (3).

6. 6. The use according to claim 5, wherein the base tubular wall and the second tubular wall are locked in position relative to each other by mating 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).

7. 6. Use according to claim 5, wherein the base tubular wall (3) and the second tubular wall (9) are locked in position relative to each other by a pin (29), the pin (29) being engaged in a ring (31) rigidly attached to the base tubular wall (3) and the second tubular wall (9).

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

9. 1. A method for growing a plant, comprising: - 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; - placing said first edge (5) on the ground (S); - filling said base tubular wall (3) with a growing medium (M), such as potting soil, said growing medium (M) being in communication with said soil (S) through said first open end; - planting a plant (P) in said growth medium (M); A method comprising:

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