Container with plant identification tag slot

1. A plant container comprising:

a frustoconical sidewall extending outwardly and vertically between a bottom and a top of the container;

a lip positioned near the top of the container;

a first nesting step located between the lip and the sidewall, the first nesting step extending circumferentially around the container, the first nesting step including a fixed slot area, the slot area forming a fixed recess in the first nesting step, whereby said recess extends in an inward direction of the container; and,

a tag-accepting slot formed in the lip, the slot being positioned substantially above the slot area, whereby a tag can be inserted into the slot to extend into a portion of the slot area.

2. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nesting step includes a container-stacking stop surface and a surface extending in a vertical direction from the stop surface.

3. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nesting step includes a container-stacking stop surface and a reverse draft surface extending vertically and inwardly toward the container from the stop surface.

4. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nesting step is substantially absent in the slot area.

5. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nesting step is a rotational printing guide.

6. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second nesting step located below the first nesting step.

7. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first nesting step is positioned adjacent to the lip.

8. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slot extends arcuately along the lip.

9. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slot area has a width, the width being substantially equal to or greater than a width of the slot.

10. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slot area has fixed dimensions.

11. The plant container as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slot area has a fixed shape.

12. A plant container comprising:

a frustoconical sidewall extending outwardly and vertically between a bottom and a top of the container;

a lip positioned near the top of the container;

a first nesting step located between the lip and the sidewall, the first nesting step extending circumferentially around the container, the nesting step including a container-stacking stop surface and a surface extending in a vertical direction from the stop surface; and,

a tag-accepting slot formed in the lip, the slot substantially positioned above a fixed slot area such that a tag can be inserted into the slot to extend into a portion of the slot area, the slot area forming a fixed discontinuity along the nesting step.

13. The plant container as recited in claim 12 , wherein the surface extending vertically extends at an inward direction toward the container at a reverse draft.

14. The plant container as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first nesting step is positioned adjacent to the lip.

15. The plant container as recited in claim 12 , wherein the nesting step is substantially absent in the slot area.

16. The plant container as recited in claim 12 , wherein the slot extends arcuately along the lip.

17. The plant container as recited in claim 12 , wherein the nesting step is a rotational printing guide.

18. A method of providing a plant container comprising the steps of:

forming a plant container, the container comprising:

a frustoconical sidewall extending outwardly and vertically between a bottom and a top of the container;

a lip positioned near the top of the container; and,

a first nesting step located between the lip and the sidewall, the first nesting step extending circumferentially around the container, the nesting step including a container-stacking stop surface and a surface extending in a direction vertically from the stop surface; and,

punching a tag-accepting slot with a first die set through a portion of the lip, a portion of the first die set operating within a fixed slot area positioned along the first nesting step when punching the slot, the first die set comprising at least one punch and a corresponding die and the slot area forming a fixed recess in the first nesting step extending in an inward direction of the container.

19. The process as recited in claim 18 , the step of forming includes:

heating a sheet of thermoplastic material to a temperature higher than the material's glass transition temperature;

placing the heated sheet over a thermal forming mold comprising a vacuum, the mold having a forming shape comprising:

a frustoconical sidewall extending outwardly and vertically from a bottom of the container to a top of the container;

a lip positioned near the top of the container; and,

a first nesting step located below the lip and extending circumferentially around the container, the nesting step including a container-stacking stop surface and a surface extending vertically from the stop surface;

using the vacuum to draw the sheet against the mold surface;

cooling the sheet of material; and,

ejecting the formed container from the mold.

20. The method recited in claim 18 , further comprising the step of placing a plant identification tag into the tag slot, the tag also extending with in the slot area.

21. The method recited in claim 18 , wherein the nesting step is substantially absent in the slot area.

22. The method recited in claim 18 , wherein the first nesting step of the container is positioned adjacent to the lip.