Planter container liners

Abstract

A liner, blank or sheet ( 1,11,12,21,30,70 ) of compressed sphagnum moss ( 54 ) having a moisture content such that the liner, blank or sheet is pliable to the extent that it is able to be folded and unfolded with minimal or no degradation to the fiber integrity, wherein the liner, blank or sheet of compressed sphagnum moss is provided with means to minimise moisture loss. A method of constructing such a liner blank or sheet is also provided.

What we claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liner for a plant container, the liner including one or more sheets of compressed sphagnum moss and having a moisture content such that the liner is pliable to the extent that it is able to be folded and unfolded with minimal or no degradation to the fibre integrity, wherein the liner is provided with a moisture retainer to minimise moisture loss.  
     
     
         2 . The liner as claimed in    claim 1    formed from sphagnum moss which is compressed and dry or substantially dried and then partially reconstituted to the desired moisture content.  
     
     
         3 . The liner as claimed in    claim 2    wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by applying a liquid to the compressed sphagnum moss.  
     
     
         4 . The liner as claimed in    claim 3    wherein the liquid comprises substantially water.  
     
     
         5 . The liner as claimed in    claim 4    wherein the liquid is applied by a fine mist spray.  
     
     
         6 . The liner as claimed in    claim 4    wherein the liquid is applied to the exterior of the liner.  
     
     
         7 . The liner as claimed in    claim 6    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 100 to 1020 g/m 2  of the surface area of the exterior of the liner.  
     
     
         8 . The liner as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the amount of liquid added is in the range 113-173 g/m 2  of the surface area of the exterior of the liner.  
     
     
         9 . The liner as claimed in    claim 8    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 143 g/m 2  of the surface area of the exterior of the liner.  
     
     
         10 . The liner as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the moisture retainer is in the form of packaging.  
     
     
         11 . The liner as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the moisture retainer comprises a water-resistant package or wrapping.  
     
     
         12 . The liner as claimed in    claim 10    wherein the packaging is plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The liner as claimed in    claim 11    wherein the package or wrapping is plastic.  
     
     
         14 . A blank configured to form a liner for a plant container, the blank comprised of one or more sheets of compressed sphagnum moss having a moisture content such that the blank is pliable to the extent that it is able to be folded and unfolded with minimal or no degradation to the fibre integrity, wherein the blank of compressed sphagnum moss is provided with a moisture retainer to minimise moisture loss.  
     
     
         15 . The blank as claimed in    claim 14    formed from sphagnum moss which is compressed and dry or substantially dried and then partially reconstituted to the desired moisture content  
     
     
         16 . The blank as claimed in    claim 15    wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by applying a liquid to the compressed sphagnum moss.  
     
     
         17 . The blank as claimed in    claim 16    wherein the liquid comprises substantially water.  
     
     
         18 . The blank as claimed in    claim 17    wherein the liquid is applied by a fine mist spray.  
     
     
         19 . The blank as claimed in    claim 17    wherein the liquid is applied to a first side of the blank.  
     
     
         20 . The blank as claimed in    claim 19    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 100 to 1020 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the blank.  
     
     
         21 . The blank as claimed in    claim 20    wherein the amount of liquid added is in the range 113-173 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the blank.  
     
     
         22 . The blank as claimed in    claim 21    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 143 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the blank.  
     
     
         23 . The blank as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the moisture retainer is in the form of packaging.  
     
     
         24 . The blank as claimed in    claim 17    wherein the moisture retainer comprises a water-resistant package or wrapping.  
     
     
         25 . The blank as claimed in    claim 23    wherein the packaging is plastic.  
     
     
         26 . The blank as claimed in    claim 24    wherein the package or wrapping is plastic.  
     
     
         27 . The blank as claimed in    claim 17    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 960-1020 g/m 2  of the flat area of the blank.  
     
     
         28 . The blank as claimed in    claim 27    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 990 g/m 2  of the flat area of the blank.  
     
     
         29 . The blank as claimed in    claim 27   , in folded configuration and enclosed in a package.  
     
     
         30 . The blank as claimed in    claim 29    including a barrier layer inserted between the folds of the blank.  
     
     
         31 . A sheet of compressed sphagnum moss having a moisture content such that the blank is pliable to the extent that it is able to be folded and unfolded with minimal or no degradation to the fibre integrity, wherein the blank of compressed sphagnum moss is provided with a moisture retainer to minimise moisture loss.  
     
     
         32 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 31    formed from sphagnum moss which is compressed and dry or substantially dried and then partially reconstituted to the desired moisture content.  
     
     
         33 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 32    wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by applying a liquid to the compressed sphagnum moss.  
     
     
         34 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 33    wherein the liquid comprises substantially water.  
     
     
         35 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 34    wherein the liquid is applied by a fine mist spray.  
     
     
         36 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 34    wherein the liquid is applied to a first side of the sheet.  
     
     
         37 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 36    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 100 to 1020 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the sheet.  
     
     
         38 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 37    wherein the amount of liquid added is in the range 113-173 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the sheet.  
     
     
         39 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 38    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 143 g/m 2  of the surface area of said first side of the sheet.  
     
     
         40 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 31    wherein the moisture retainer is in the form of packaging.  
     
     
         41 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 34    wherein the moisture retainer comprises a water-resistant package or wrapping.  
     
     
         42 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 40    wherein the packaging is plastic.  
     
     
         43 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 41    wherein the package or wrapping is plastic.  
     
     
         44 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 34    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 960-1020 g/m 2  of the flat area of the sheet.  
     
     
         45 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 44    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 990 g/m 2  of the flat area of the sheet.  
     
     
         46 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 44   , in folded configuration and enclosed in a package.  
     
     
         47 . The sheet as claimed in    claim 46    including a barrier layer inserted between the folds of the sheet.  
     
     
         48 . A method of fabricating a blank for a plant container including: 
 partially reconstituting one or more sheets of compressed sphagnum moss which is dried or at least substantially dry, until the or each sheet reaches a moisture content sufficient to enable the or each sheet to be pliable to the extent that it is able to be folded and unfolded with minimal or no degradation to the fibre integrity; and    providing the blank of compressed sphagnum moss with a moisture retainer to minimise moisture loss.    
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in    claim 48    wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by applying liquid to the compressed sphagnum moss.  
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in    claim 49    wherein the liquid comprises substantially water.  
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in    claim 50    wherein the liquid is applied by a fine mist spray.  
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in    claim 50    wherein the liquid is applied to a first side of the blank.  
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in    claim 52    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 100 g/m 2  to 1020 g/m 2  of the surface area of the first side of the blank  
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in    claim 53    wherein the amount of liquid added is in the range 113-173 g/m 2  of the surface area of the first side of the blank.  
     
     
         55 . The method as claimed in    claim 54    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 143 g/m 2  of the surface area of the first side of the blank.  
     
     
         56 . The method as claimed in    claim 48    wherein the moisture retainer is in the form of packaging.  
     
     
         57 . The method as claimed in    claim 50    wherein the moisture retainer comprises a water-resistant package or wrapping.  
     
     
         58 . The method as claimed in    claim 57    wherein the packaging is plastic.  
     
     
         59 . The method as claimed in    claim 56    wherein the water-resistant package or wrapping is plastic.  
     
     
         60 . The method as claimed in    claim 50    wherein the amount of liquid applied is in the range of 960-1020 g/m 2  of the flat area of the blank.  
     
     
         61 . The method as claimed in    claim 60    wherein the amount of liquid applied is about 990 g/m 2  of the flat area of the blank.  
     
     
         62 . The method as claimed in    claim 60   , wherein the blank is folded and enclosed in a package.  
     
     
         63 . The method as claimed in    claim 62    including a barrier layer inserted between the folds of the blank.