Plant pot for orchid cultivation

Abstract

The plant pot (1) comprises a pot wall (2) having a profiling (6) made up of a plurality of vertical recesses and / or bulges (7) distributed over the circumference. A lower wall portion (8), which adjoins the pot base (3), has no profiling. The transition from the pot base (3) to the pot wall (2) is also rounded with a radius greater than or equal to 3 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 5 mm, and base holes (14, 15) are surrounded by a rim (17) which is hollow on the underside.

Description

[0001] Plant pot for orchid cultivation

[0002] The present invention relates to a plant pot for the cultivation of plants, in particular orchids, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytic shade plants that obtain nutrients and water from a moist environment through their aerial roots. They are usually cultivated in coarse substrates made from bark and mulch, which allows for aeration of the roots and, after watering, rapid drainage of excess water from the root zone. For good root penetration, plant pots with a profiled side wall and several vertical indentations and / or protrusions distributed around the circumference have proven effective. This profile creates space for better ventilation and simultaneously prevents the aerial roots from growing rounded.

[0004] From NL 2018372 B1, a plant pot is known which has vertical indentations in the pot wall running all the way to the bottom, on which a substrate plug can rest, thus forming a space between the side wall and the plug in which the roots can grow and absorb water and nutrients from moist air.

[0005] The indentations extending all the way to the bottom complicate the mechanical conveying of the plant pots, especially their precise timing and / or positioning, as the plant pots' walls may collide with barriers, which can cause the barriers to sink into the indentations and prevent the transfer position from being reached precisely. Another known problem is that the roots, which grow through the profiling to the bottom of the pot, hit the bottom of the pot and push the root ball upwards out of the plant pot as they continue to grow.

[0006] US 4715144 A shows a plant pot whose side walls consist essentially of concave-convex ribs that are concave on the inside and convex on the outside. A lower wall section adjacent to the pot base has no ribs.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a plant pot for orchid cultivation which can be produced using mass-production technology and used in highly mechanized horticultural processes.

[0008] The object is achieved by a plant pot according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims referring back to this claim as well as in the following description of advantages and figures.

[0009] According to the invention, it is provided that a lower wall section adjacent to the pot base has no profiling, that the transition from the pot base to the pot wall is rounded with a radius greater than or equal to 3 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 5 mm, and that the at least one bottom hole is surrounded by an edge web which is hollow on the underside.

[0010] The profiling above the lower wall section, consisting of vertical indentations and / or protrusions, prevents the aerial roots from growing circularly. The aerial roots are directed vertically downwards on their general path towards light and moisture, whereby a permanently slightly moist environment is maintained, especially in the lower part of the plant pot. The profiling itself ensures sufficiently good ventilation of the root ball. Root growth is not further directed or restricted in the lower, unprofiled wall section, allowing the roots to continue growing unhindered and, in particular, in any direction. The clearly pronounced curve at the transition from the pot wall to the pot base gently guides the roots to the center of the pot. The roots do not hit the pot base vertically, and the root ball is not pushed out of the plant pot.

[0011] The rim prevents the roots growing along the bottom of the pot from growing out of the at least one hole in the bottom of the plant pot and potentially becoming tangled on the mesh tables. The hollow rim on the underside can be thermoformed and not only stabilizes the pot base but also has rounded transitions that lessen the impact on root growth. The rim surrounding the hole creates a shallow water reservoir in the bottom of the plant pot. After a watering and draining cycle, a small amount of water remains in the plant pot to maintain the moist environment in the lower part of the pot.

[0012] The invention is based on the finding that, in orchid cultivation, the circular growth of aerial roots must be hindered, at least in the upper part of the pot, while in the lower part of the pot, better rooting can be promoted by fewer barriers in the circumferential direction and gently rounded transitions to the pot base. The invention utilizes this finding to design the plant pot with a view to cost-effective mass production and its use in highly mechanized horticultural processes.

[0013] This means that the lower wall section, which has no profile, can be printed or labeled more easily to identify the plant in the plant pot. The plant pot is also better suited for transport on conveyor belts, especially on so-called clicker conveyors, where plant pots conveyed one after the other are held at a specific distance from each other by barriers that pivot laterally and engage the lower wall section, allowing several plant pots to be transferred to grid tables at the same time using grippers. The rounded transition from the pot base to the pot wall also makes it easier to move the plant pots on grid tables, on which the plant tables rest during cultivation.

[0014] The plant pot can be round, square, rectangular, or generally polygonal in cross-section, or even have a cross-sectional shape that continuously changes from round to polygonal from the base to the rim, or vice versa. A round plant pot is generally truncated conically. A rectangular plant pot is generally truncated pyramidally, with the transitions between the respective sides of the wall being correspondingly rounded for optimal root growth.

[0015] The plant pot is made of plastic, generally with a thin wall thickness, and can be manufactured by injection molding or, preferably, by thermoforming. The plastic is selected from the group of thermoplastics, which exhibit rigid material properties, such as polypropylene, so that the plant pot remains dimensionally stable and accurate, especially at the end of the cultivation phase, when high internal pressure is exerted on the plant pot due to root growth. This ensures, in particular, proper ventilation of the plants.

[0016] In a preferred further embodiment, the indentations and / or protrusions have a rounded and / or beveled edge at the lower end facing the pot base. The indentations and / or protrusions do not end in a sharp ledge, which would otherwise be a source of friction for the downward-growing roots. The rounded and / or beveled edge gently guides the roots into the interior of the pot. The plant pot is also easier to produce using thermoforming or injection molding, especially when it comes to demolding. The bevel preferably ends in the non-profile wall section.

[0017] In a preferred further embodiment, the bevel extends essentially over the entire height of the indentations and / or protrusions, so that, for example, the inclination of the indentations is less than the general inclination of the side wall. The profiling is thus particularly pronounced in the upper area, where it is especially important to guide the roots to prevent them from growing in circles. The depth of the profiling in the upper wall area is at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4 mm.

[0018] In a preferred further embodiment, the bevel provided at the indentations at the lower end is designed without undercuts in the longitudinal direction of the pot. The plant pot is very well suited to thermoforming. There is no forced demolding in the profiling area, which can lead to undesirable shape deviations if the plant pots are still warm due to the manufacturing process.

[0019] In a preferred further embodiment, the indentations and / or protrusions have a bevel at the upper end facing the pot rim. Thanks to the bevel, the plant pots can be seamlessly inserted into one another and stacked to save space for transport and storage. Plant pots stacked underneath or on top of one another automatically correct their rotational position relative to the other plant pot so that the indentations and / or protrusions of the plant pots interlock seamlessly. The tapered profile forms funnel-shaped inlets for any roots growing at the top rim. The roots are guided along the indentations and protrusions into the slightly moist environment in the pot base and do not continue to grow rounded while resting on the end ledge of the indentations and / or protrusions. Rounding is also minimized by the fact that the pot wall above the profiling is preferably designed to be step-free except for an upper stacking rim.

[0020] In a preferred further embodiment, the pot base comprises a central dome which is connected to at least one channel leading out at the edge. The truncated cone-shaped elevation supports the relatively small initial root ball and creates space for rooting in the lower pot region, wherein the at least one channel leading out at the edge forms a barrier in the circumferential direction which deflects the roots and results in stronger rooting overall. The at least one bottom hole is arranged on the dome, preferably in an inclined wall of the dome, such that its lowermost edge section runs close to the lower installation level and enables the deepest possible drainage. Preferably, a plurality of bottom holes are provided distributed around the circumference of the dome, and additionally a central bottom hole is provided in the lid of the dome.

[0021] In a preferred further embodiment, at least one receptacle for a support rod is formed in a base area that is raised compared to the lower installation level. The panicle of an orchid grown in a plant pot can be supported with a rod that is inserted into the plant pot. However, the rod cannot be securely fixed in the loose substrate used in the cultivation of orchids. The receptacle in the base of the pot can improve the fixation of the rod. Preferably, the base area has a guide surface, preferably in the shape of a funnel, for locating the receptacle. When inserted, the end of the rod is guided via the guide surface to the respective receptacle. This makes locating the rod considerably easier. More preferably, the rod receptacle has at least one slot in a strut that is open at the top.The slotted receptacle widens when the rod is inserted, clamping it firmly into the base of the pot. The open top bar provides additional support to the clamping points, further securing the rod and keeping it upright. To allow for quick and easy insertion of the rod, several base sections can be provided, each with several parallel slots spaced apart from one another.

[0022] Further preferably, the base area with the rod holder is at least partially delimited by an edge web that is hollow on the underside, so that the aerial roots do not grow out of the plant pot so easily through a rod holder designed, for example, as a bottom hole.

[0023] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described exemplary embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and any further claims to form subject matter according to the invention. Where appropriate, functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention in a perspective side view;

[0025] Fig. 2 is another view of the plant pot from Fig. 1;

[0026] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the interior of a second embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention;

[0027] Fig. 4 is an external view of the bottom of the plant pot from Fig. 3.

[0028] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of a third embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention; Fig. 6 is an external view of the bottom of the plant pot from Fig. 5.

[0029] The plant pot 1 shown in Fig. 1 is thermoformed and punched from a thin plastic film. Due to the manufacturing process, it has the shape of a cup with a simple, continuous, unbranched pot wall 2 of a generally truncated conical shape and a pot base 3 with profiles and holes 14, 15 for reinforcement, irrigation and drainage, and ventilation. The upwardly widening shape allows identical plant pots to be nested inside each other and thus stacked in a space-saving manner. The stacking position is defined by a stacking rim 5 integrated into the pot rim 4.

[0030] The plant pot 1 is designed for the cultivation of orchids. A profile 6 consisting of several vertical indentations 7 distributed around the circumference is formed in its pot wall 2. These indentations form ribs inside the pot and grooves between them. These grooves guide the orchids' aerial roots as they grow toward the bottom of the pot, where a moist environment exists from which the aerial roots can absorb nutrients and water. In particular, the indentations 7 prevent the aerial roots from growing round.

[0031] The indentations 7 do not extend across the entire height of the pot wall 2, but leave the upper and lower wall sections 8, 9 free of profiles or smooth. The upper end of the indentations 7, facing the pot rim 4, is provided with a tapered insertion bevel 10. Thanks to the insertion bevel 10, identical plant pots can be more easily nested and stacked to save space for transport and storage. Plant pots stacked underneath or on top of each other automatically correct their rotational position relative to the other plant pot, so that the indentations 7 interlock in alignment.

[0032] The indentations 7, which are on average approximately 6 mm wide, are also formed in such a way that they have the greatest depth of approximately 4 mm at the upper end and are continuously flatter towards the lower end facing the pot base 3, finally terminating in the profile-free lower wall section 8. The indentations 7 therefore have a lower inclination than the inclined pot wall 2, or they are beveled over their entire height and are also formed without undercuts, which benefits production using the thermoforming process.

[0033] The approximately 20 mm high, profile-free lower wall section 8 is provided with a rounded portion of approximately 5 mm at the transition to the pot base 3. In the wall of a truncated cone-shaped dome 12 of approximately 25 mm height, which is arranged centrally in the pot base 3, there are several base holes 14 distributed around the circumference, as well as a central base hole 15 in the lid of the dome 12. The base holes 14, 15 are surrounded by approximately 3 mm high, hollow edge ribs 16 on the underside, which prevent the roots from easily growing out of the plant pot 1 through the base holes 14, 15. The edge ribs 16 also retain a small amount of water in the lowest soil areas after watering, so that a moist environment can be maintained for longer.

[0034] The dome 12 is connected to two channels 13 leading out at the edge for irrigation, drainage, and ventilation. The channels 13 form barriers on the inside of the pot base 3 for roots growing in a circular manner in the circumferential direction of the plant pot 1, which are thereby deflected and thus root more closely together.

[0035] In the second embodiment of the plant pot shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pot base 3 is provided with several raised base areas above the installation level, in which rod receptacles 17 are perforated for inserted support rods. The base areas are designed as funnel-shaped guide surfaces 18 and are provided with edge webs 19 that facilitate the location of the rod receptacles 17. In the third embodiment of the plant pot shown in Figures 5 and 6, the respective base areas are provided with several elongated rod receptacles 20 spaced parallel to one another, which are slotted in struts that are open at the top.

[0036] List of reference symbols

Claims

Patent claims 1. Plant pot (1) made of thin-walled plastic, • for the cultivation of plants, especially orchids, • with a profiled pot base (3) with at least one bottom hole (14, 15) for irrigation and / or drainage as well as ventilation, and • with a surrounding pot wall (2) widening from the pot base (3) to a pot rim (4), • wherein the pot wall (2) has a profiling (6) consisting of several vertical indentations and / or protrusions (7) distributed over the circumference, characterized in • that a lower wall section (8) adjacent to the pot base (3) has no profiling, • that the transition from the pot base (3) to the pot wall (2) is rounded with a radius greater than or equal to 3 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 5 mm, and • that the at least one bottom hole (14, 15) is surrounded by an edge web (17) which is hollow on the underside.

2. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the indentations and / or recesses (7) have a rounding and / or beveling at the lower end facing the pot base (3).

3. Plant pot according to claim 2, characterized in that the bevel ends in the profile-free wall section (8).

4. Plant pot according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the bevel extends substantially over the entire height of the indentations and / or protrusions (7).

5. Plant pot according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the bevel provided on indentations (7) at the lower end is designed without undercuts in the longitudinal direction of the pot.

6. Plant pot according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the indentations and / or protrusions (7) have an insertion bevel (10) at the upper end facing the pot rim (4).

7. Plant pot according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pot base (3) comprises a central dome (12) which is connected to at least one channel (13) leading out at the edge.

8. Plant pot according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one receptacle (17, 20) for a support rod is formed in a base area which is raised relative to the lower installation level.

9. Plant pot according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottom region has a preferably funnel-shaped guide surface (18) for locating the receptacle.

10. Plant pot according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the receptacle has at least one slot (20) in a strut which is open at the top.

11. Plant pot according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the base area with the receptacle is at least partially delimited by an edge web (19) which is hollow on the underside.

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