PLANT GROWING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A plant growing system comprising a growing panel and a porous air hose coupled to the growing panel. The growing panel includes a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of plant receptacles. The plurality of openings are arranged in a plurality of parallel lines on the growing panel, and the porous air hose extends along the growing panel between at least two of the parallel lines.
1 .- 13 . (canceled)
14 . A plant receptacle comprising:
a gripping collar oriented along an axis and defining an opening for receiving a horticultural plug;
a receptacle portion connected at a proximal end to the gripping collar and defining a first recess extending along the axis in communication with the opening of the gripping collar,
wherein the receptacle portion is connected to the gripping collar so that a distal end of the gripping collar forms a first flange about at least a portion of the proximal end of the receptacle portion; and
a canopy portion connected at a proximal end to the receptacle portion and defining a second recess extending along the axis in communication with the first recess,
wherein the proximal end of the canopy portion has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross sectional area of a distal end of the receptacle portion; and
wherein a top section of the canopy portion extends along the axis a greater distance than a bottom section of the canopy portion.
15 . The plant receptacle of claim 14 , wherein the receptacle portion is substantially cylindrical.
16 . The plant receptacle of claim 15 , wherein the canopy portion defines a hollow truncated cylinder.
17 . The plant receptacle of claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the receptacle portion comprises a annulus within the first recess.
18 . The plant receptacle of claim 16 , wherein the gripping collar further comprises a second flange and a sidewall extending between and coupled to the first and second flanges.
19 . The plant receptacle of claim 18 , wherein the sidewall is polygonal.
20 . The plant receptacle of claim 19 , wherein the first flange comprises a substantially planar edge that is contralateral to the canopy portion's top section.
21 . The plant receptacle of claim 20 , further comprising a retaining tongue on the receptacle portion.
22 . The plant receptacle of claim 21 , wherein the retaining tongue is defined by a U-shaped cut through the receptacle portion.
23 . The plant receptacle of claim 22 , wherein the retaining tongue comprises a detent.
24 .- 35 . (canceled)
36 . A plant receptacle for use in indoor farming, the receptacle comprising:
a receptacle portion defining a first recess for receiving a horticultural plug insertable into a first opening of the first recess at a first end of the receptacle portion;
a canopy portion extending from a second end of the receptacle portion, the canopy portion having a top section and a bottom section, the top section extending a greater distance from the second end of the receptacle portion than the bottom section.
37 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , further comprising a first flange about the first end of the receptacle portion.
38 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , wherein the receptacle portion has a first cross-sectional area and the canopy has a second cross-sectional area, and the first cross-sectional area is different than the second cross-sectional area.
39 . The plant receptacle of claim 38 , wherein the first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area.
40 . The plant receptacle of claim 38 , wherein the receptacle portion and the canopy portion both have a circular cross-section.
41 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , wherein the canopy portion defines a hollow truncated cylinder.
42 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , wherein the second end of the receptacle portion comprises an annulus.
43 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , wherein the first end of the receptacle portion comprises a collar.
44 . The plant receptacle of claim 43 , wherein the collar includes a first flange, a second flange, and a sidewall.
45 . The plant receptacle of claim 36 , wherein the receptacle portion includes a retaining tongue.