Floral container and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A flexible floral container comprising an inner membrane for acting as a reservoir or “catch basin” to minimize water spillage when the flexible floral container having a fluid medium therein is tipped over. The stems of a floral grouping disposed in the flexible floral container provide structural support to the flexible floral container and cooperate to maintain the flexible floral container in a substantially erect condition.

1 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one cut flower having a stem;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stem of the at least one cut flower through the at least one opening in the inner membrane within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby the combination of the floral vase and the stem of the at least one cut flower provide an assembly that can support itself in an erect condition.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the at least one cut flower via a securing element. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 
   
   
       5 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one cut flower having a stem;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stem of the at least one cut flower through the at least one opening in the inner membrane within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container; and   disposing fluid within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby the combination of the floral vase, the stem of the at least one cut flower and the fluid provide an assembly that can support itself in an erect condition.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the at least one cut flower via a securing element. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 
   
   
       9 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one cut flower having a stem;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stem of the at least one cut flower through the at least one opening in the inner membrane within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container; and   disposing at least one of a growth medium and a retaining medium within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby the combination of the floral vase, the stem of the at least one cut flower and the growth and/or retaining medium provide an assembly that can support itself in an erect condition.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the at least one cut flower via a securing element. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein, in the step of disposing at least one of a growth medium and a retaining medium, the growth medium is further defined as a granular growth medium. 
   
   
       14 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of cut flowers having stems;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stems of the plurality of cut flowers through the at least one opening formed in the at least one inner membrane of the floral container whereby the stems assume a tripod or tipi shape and provide structural integrity to the floral container and thus cooperate to maintain the floral container in a substantially erect condition.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the cut flowers via a securing element. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 
   
   
       18 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of cut flowers having stems;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stems of the plurality of cut flowers through the at least one opening formed in the at least one inner membrane of the floral container; and   disposing fluid within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby the stems of the plurality of cut flowers assume a tripod or tipi shape and provide structural integrity to the floral container and thus cooperate with the fluid to maintain the floral container in a substantially erect condition.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the cut flowers via a securing element. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible. 
   
   
       22 . A method of providing a plant package, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of cut flowers having stems;   providing a floral container comprising:
 a floral vase formed of a material capable of containing water, the floral vase having a sidewall, an open upper end, a closed lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface encompassing an interior space, at least a portion of the sidewall of the floral vase being flexible; 
 at least one inner membrane extending across a portion of the interior space of the vase, wherein the at least one inner membrane comprises at least one opening formed therein for allowing passage of at least one flower or plant stem therethrough; and 
 wherein the floral vase is incapable of supporting a flower in the absence of the at least one inner membrane; and 
   disposing at least a portion of the stems of the plurality of cut flowers through the at least one opening formed in the at least one inner membrane of the floral container; and   disposing at least one of growth medium and retaining medium within the interior space of the floral vase of the floral container, whereby the stems of the plurality of cut flowers assume a tripod or tipi shape and provide structural integrity to the floral container and thus cooperate with the growth and/or retaining medium to maintain the floral container in a substantially erect condition.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of securing the floral container about the cut flowers via a securing element. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is rigid or semi-rigid. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein, in the step of providing a floral container, the at least one inner membrane of the floral container is flexible.