Devices and methods for growing plants
This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.
1 - 235 . (canceled)
236 - 255 . (canceled)
256 . A seed-support medium comprising:
a) a seed-bearing substrate upon
b) a dry plant growth medium contained within
c) a modular receptacle; and
d) a seal upon said receptacle;
e) wherein said seed-support medium is storable without germination of said seed.
257 . The seed support medium of claim 256 wherein the growth medium is a hydrophilic cellular substrate.
258 . The seed support medium of claim 256 wherein the modular receptacle has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: rigid, porous, and cup-shaped.
259 . The medium of claim 256 wherein the plant growth medium is soil-less.
260 . The medium of claim 256 wherein the seed-bearing substrate is an adhesive.
261 . The medium of claim 256 wherein said seed-bearing substrate comprises two or more types of seeds.
262 . The medium of claim 256 wherein the seal is selected from the group consisting of: at least partially opaque, at least partially transparent, and at least partially translucent.
263 . The seed support medium of claim 256 wherein the modular receptacle is a net basket.
264 . The seed support medium of claim 256 wherein the seal is a germination cap.
265 . The seed support medium of claim 256 wherein the seal is a label.
266 . The medium of claim 256 wherein said seal is plastic.
267 . The medium of claim 256 wherein said substrate is dry.
268 . The medium of claim 256 wherein said seal regulates moisture during germination.
269 . The medium of claim 256 wherein said medium is storable without germination of said seed until a desired time when aqueous solution is applied.
270 . A method for germinating a seed comprising:
a) placing a seed supporting and germinating medium comprising a seed-bearing substrate upon a dry growth medium contained within a modular, rigid receptacle, and a seal upon the receptacle, wherein said seed supporting and germinating medium is storable without germination of said seed;
b) delivering an aqueous liquid to the seed; and
c) allowing the seed to germinate.
271 . The method of claim 270 wherein said seed supporting and germinating medium is placed in a hydroponics device and the aqueous liquid is delivered by turning on the hydroponic device thus allowing aqueous liquid to contact the supporting and germinating medium.
272 . The method of claim 271 wherein the hydroponics device is an aeroponics device.
273 . The method of claim 270 also comprising delivering photoradiation to the seed before step c).
274 . A method for making a seed-bearing support medium comprising:
a) placing a dry plant growth medium within a modular receptacle;
b) placing a seed upon said plant growth medium within said modular receptacle; and
c) placing a seal upon the modular receptacle;
wherein said seed-bearing support medium is storable without germination of said seed.
275 . The method of claim 274 wherein step b) comprises placing a seed-bearing substrate upon said plant growth medium.