Apparatus and method for selecting and growing living plants

Abstract

Apparatus for selecting and growing plants includes a housing, sensors and probes at least partially disposed within the housing for measuring at least one of climate and soil parameters. A rechargeable power source and a controller for at least receiving the climate and/or soil parameter measurement are provided. There is a device for communicating the at least one of such climate and soil parameter measurement to a remote device. A display may be provided within the housing for locally displaying such at least one of such climate and soil parameter measurement. A database member containing plant selections and a processing member may be further provided for locally displaying a suitable plant selection in response to the measured at least one of climate and soil parameter.

1 . An apparatus for selecting and growing at least one living plant, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a housing having each of a predetermined shape and predetermined size;    (b) a measuring means at least partially disposed within said housing for measuring at least one of a climate and soil parameter;    (c) a power source connected to said measuring means;    (d) a control means connected to said measuring means and to said power source for at least receiving said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement; and    (e) means connected to said control means for communicating said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement received by said control means.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said power source is one of a battery, solar collector, electrical cord and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said measuring means includes at least one sensor for measuring one of exposure to sunlight, ambient heat generated by said sunlight, temperature, humidity, wind and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said measuring means includes at least one elongated probe extending outwardly from said housing and engageable with a soil for measuring at least one of moisture, acidity, alkalinity, salinity, nutrient content, temperature, ambient heat generated by sunlight and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus, according to  claim 4 , wherein said measuring means includes a predetermined plurality of elongated probes extending outwardly from said housing and engageable with such soil for measuring one of such moisture, acidity, alkalinity, salinity, nutrient content, temperature, ambient heat generated by sunlight and various combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus, according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said predetermined plurality of elongated probes has a different length.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication means communicates said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement to a remote device.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus, according to  claim 7 , wherein said communication means includes at least one of a wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, wireless transceiver, port, cable, removable flash drive, removable flash card, programmable disk and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication means includes a display for locally displaying said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further includes a memory means for storing said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein said apparatus further includes a database having a plurality of plant selections stored therein, each plant selection characterized by at least one of a predetermined climate and soil parameter value and at least one of a climate zone and geographical location.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein said apparatus further includes a comparison means for comparing said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement against said at least one stored value characterizing said at least one plant selection.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus, according to  claim 12 , wherein said apparatus further includes a processing means for determining said at least one plant selection based on a comparison of said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement against said at least one stored value when a user specifies one of climate zone, geographical location, date of measurement, and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A method for obtaining at least one living plant selection, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) measuring at least one of a climate and soil parameter over a predetermined period of time;    (b) storing at least one measurement value of said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measured in step (a);    (c) providing a database having a plurality of plant selections stored therein characterized by at least one of a predetermined climate and soil parameter value and one of a climate zone and geographical location;    (d) communicating said at least one measurement value stored in step (b) to a comparison means capable of at least comparing said measurement value stored in step (b) with values stored in said database;    (e) specifying one of said climate zone, said geographical location, date of measuring said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measured in step (a), and various combinations thereof;    (f) comparing said at least one measurement value communicated in step (d) and parameters specified in step (e) with said values stored in said database;    (g) determining at least one plant selection having said at least one of a predetermined climate and soil parameter value substantially equal to said at least one of said climate and soil parameter measured in step (b) in combination with information specified in step (e); and    (h) communicating said at least one plant selection determined in step (g) to a user.    
   
   
       15 . A method for growing at least one living plant selection, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) specifying one of climate zone, geographical location, date and various combinations thereof;    (b) specifying one of at least one plant name, at least one climate and soil parameter to be measured and a combination thereof, said at least one plant name characterized by a measurement value of said at least one climate and soil parameter and one of said climate zone and said geographical location;    (c) incrementally measuring said at least one of a climate and soil parameter over a predetermined period of time;    (d) comparing an incremental measurement of said at least one climate and soil parameter with said parameter value specified in step (b);    (e) determining a condition wherein said incremental measurement is substantially equal to said parameter value specified in step (b); and    (f) communicating said condition determined in step (e) to a user.    
   
   
       16 . A docking station for at least one apparatus used in selecting and growing at least one living plant, said at least one apparatus having at least a measuring means for measuring at least one of climate and soil parameter, a rechargeable power source connected to said measuring means and communication means for communicating such at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement, said docking station comprising: 
 (a) a housing;    (b) at least one cradle formed within said housing to receive and support at least a portion of such at least one apparatus;    (c) an electrical interface formed within said docking station and adapted to connect with such at least one apparatus;    (d) a display for displaying such at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement and such at least one living plant; and    (e) a power supply coupled to said electrical interface and said display.    
   
   
       17 . The docking station, according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrical interface is at least one connector adapted for coupling one of a power, data signal and combination thereof with such at least one apparatus, said data signal is at least associated with such at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement.  
   
   
       18 . The docking station, according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrical interface is an antenna for remote communication with one of such at least one apparatus, remote device and combination thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The docking station, according to  claim 16 , wherein said docking station includes a data entry means.  
   
   
       20 . The docking station, according to  claim 16 , wherein said docking station includes one of memory means for storing such at least one of climate and soil parameter measurement, database having a plurality of plant selections stored therein characterized by at least one of a predetermined climate and soil parameter value and at least one of a climate zone and geographical location, comparison means for comparing such at least one of said climate and soil parameter measurement against said at least one stored value characterizing said at least one living plant selection, processing means and various combinations thereof.