Method of containing a botanical item

Abstract

A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The upper portion may be detachable from the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

1 . A method of containing a botanical item, comprising: 
 providing a tubular sleeve having a flattened condition and having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface and the tubular sleeve having a tapered shape and having a base portion and a skirt portion extending from the base portion; and    disposing a botanical item or propagule and a growing or support material into the inner retaining space of the tubular sleeve without a pot.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an upper portion which is detachable via a detaching element in the sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the skirt portion of the tubular sleeve comprises a plurality of portions extending from the base portion.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of opening the tubular sleeve to expose the inner retaining space of the tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of disposing a botanical item or propagule and a growing or support material into the tubular sleeve, the growing or support medium comprises soil, humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, organic material, inorganic material, plastic mesh, wire or wire mesh, moss, peat, Spanish moss, bark, plant matter, paper, shredded paper, floral foam, sawdust, fern husks, coconut husks, lambs wool, rock wool, papier mache, styrofoam, synthetic mesh or moss, gel, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the lower end of the tubular sleeve is closed.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is provided from a pad of tubular sleeves.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has an assembly tab thereon.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a bonding material thereon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of securing the tubular sleeve about the botanical item or propagule and growing or support material via a bonding material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has folds therein.  
     
     
         14 . A method of containing a botanical item, comprising: 
 providing a tubular sleeve having a flattened condition and having a closed lower end having at least one gusset therein, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space defined by the inner peripheral surface and the tubular sleeve having a tapered shape and having a base portion and a skirt portion extending from the base portion; and    disposing a botanical item or propagule and a growing or support material into the inner retaining space of the tubular sleeve without a pot.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the tubular sleeve is further defined as constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is further defined as comprising an upper portion which is detachable via a detaching element in the tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the lower end of the tubular sleeve has a drainage hole.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing a tubular sleeve, the skirt portion of the tubular sleeve comprises a plurality of portions extending from the base portion.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  comprising the additional step of opening the tubular sleeve to expose the inner retaining space of the tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of disposing a botanical item or propagule and a growing or support material into the tubular sleeve, the growing or support medium comprises soil, humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, organic material, inorganic material, plastic mesh, wire or wire mesh, moss, peat, Spanish moss, bark, plant matter, paper, shredded paper, floral foam, sawdust, fern husks, coconut husks, lambs wool, rock wool, papier mache, styrofoam, synthetic mesh or moss, gel, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the lower end of the tubular sleeve is closed.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve is provided from a pad of tubular sleeves.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has an assembly tab thereon.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has a bonding material thereon.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14  comprising the additional step of securing the tubular sleeve about the botanical item or propagule and growing or support material via a bonding material.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the step of providing the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve has folds therein.