Method of containing a floral grouping or potted plant

Abstract

A method of containing a floral grouping or potted plant in a sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve has first and second panels, and at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels is constructed of at least two layers of material. At least a portion of the at least two layers of material may be connected.

1 . A method of providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral grouping comprising at least one cut flower or cut plant, the floral grouping having a stem portion and a bloom portion and/or a foliage portion, the floral grouping provided in the absence of a pot;   providing a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a flattened condition and openable to expose an inner retaining space, the sleeve having a first panel, a second panel, a first side edge and a second side edge wherein the first and second panels are connected along at least a portion of the first side edge and along at least a portion of the second side edge, at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels comprising at least two layers of material wherein the at least two layers of material are substantially connected, the sleeve further comprising an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element, and the sleeve being provided with at least one of a decorative pattern, decorative finish, decorative design, decorative color and combinations thereof disposed thereon;   disposing at least a portion of at least one of the stem portion, the bloom portion and the foliage portion of the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and   securing the sleeve about the stem portion of the floral grouping via a bonding material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the at least two layers of material that form at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels are laminated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the lower end of the sleeve is open. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the lower end of the sleeve is closed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the at least two layers of material that form at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels are constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, synthetic fabric, natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, laminations thereof and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with a modification disposed on at least a portion thereof, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, flocking, a metallic finish, etching, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a floral grouping, the floral grouping comprises at least one cut fresh flower or at least one cut fresh plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a floral grouping, the floral grouping comprises at least one artificial cut flower or at least one artificial cut plant. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral grouping comprising at least one cut flower or cut plant, the floral grouping having a stem portion and a bloom portion and/or a foliage portion, the floral grouping provided in the absence of a pot;   providing a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a flattened condition and openable to expose an inner retaining space, the sleeve having a first panel, a second panel, a first side edge and a second side edge wherein the first and second panels are connected along at least a portion of the first side edge and along at least a portion of the second side edge, at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels comprising at least two layers of material wherein at least a portion of the at least two layers of material are connected, the sleeve further comprising an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element, and the sleeve being provided with at least one of a decorative pattern, decorative finish, decorative design, decorative color and combinations thereof disposed thereon;   disposing at least a portion of at least one of the stem portion, the bloom portion and the foliage portion of the floral grouping into the inner retaining space of the sleeve; and   securing the sleeve about the stem portion of the floral grouping via a bonding material.   
     
     
         10 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of containing a potted plant, comprising the steps of:
 providing a potted plant comprising a pot having a floral grouping disposed therein and extending therefrom;   providing a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, and a flattened condition and openable to expose an inner retaining space, the sleeve having a first panel, a second panel, a first side edge and a second side edge wherein the first and second panels are connected along at least a portion of the first side edge and along at least a portion of the second side edge, at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels comprising at least two layers of material wherein a portion of the at least two layers of material are connected and wherein at least a portion of one of the at least two layers of material extends above another layer, thereby providing the upper end of the sleeve with at least two upper edges formed from the at least two layers of material whereby at least one of the upper edges extends above another upper edge, and wherein the sleeve is free of an upper portion that substantially surrounds and encompasses the entire floral grouping extending above the pot; and   disposing at least a portion of the potted plant into the inner retaining space of the sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the lower end of the sleeve is open. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the lower end of the sleeve is closed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve has at least one drainage or ventilation hole formed therein. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the at least two layers of material that form at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels are constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, synthetic fabric, natural fabric, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, laminations thereof and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve has a bonding material disposed on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the connection between the first and second panels along at least a portion of the first and second side edges is a seal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, at least one of the upper edges of the upper end of the sleeve is non-linear. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, at least one of the upper edges of the upper end of the sleeve is linear. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, at least one of the upper edges of the upper end of the sleeve is non-linear and at least one of the upper edges of the upper end of the sleeve is linear. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with at least one of a decorative pattern, decorative finish, decorative design, decorative color and combinations thereof disposed thereon. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17  wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is provided with a modification disposed on at least a portion thereof, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, flocking, a metallic finish, etching, and combinations thereof.