Compressed Growing Medium

Abstract

A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a growing medium, comprising:
 providing a dehydrated bulking agent, including coir; and   compressing said dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, at a volume-to-volume ratio greater than about 10:1;   wherein said compressed growing medium is not hydrophobic and maintains a compressed shape without a water soluble binder until hydrated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated bulking agent comprises less than 20% moisture content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated bulking agent is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio between 10:1 and 15:1. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming said growing medium into a wafer, pellet, brick, slab, cube or triangle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a fertilizer, nutrients, a pesticide, an insecticide, or a fungicide to said growing medium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated bulking agent is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio between 10:1 and 13:1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated bulking agent is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio between 10:1 and 11:1. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said growing medium is maintained below about 35° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming said compressed growing medium into an irregular shape. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding seeds to said compressed growing medium. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a growing medium, comprising:
 providing a coir bulking agent having a grind size between ⅛ inch mesh and 1 inch mesh and having less than 20% moisture content;   compressing said coir bulking agent at a volume-to-volume ratio greater than 10:1;   wherein said compressed bulking agent is free of a water soluble binder; and   wherein said compressed bulking agent is not hydrophobic.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said ground coir comprises coir dust and short coir fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising compressing said coir bulking agent at a volume-to-volume ratio between 10:1 and 15:1. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming said maintained compressed shape into an irregular shape. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said irregular shape comprises a non-symmetrical shape. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming said growing medium into a wafer, pellet, brick, slab, cube or triangle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adding a fertilizer, a pesticide, an insecticide, a fungicide, or a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier to said growing medium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adding seeds to said compressed growing medium. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a growing medium including dehydrated coir having less than 18% moisture content, comprising:
 compressing said dehydrated ground coir bulking agent to a volume-to-volume ratio greater than 10:1; and   forming said compressed growing medium into an irregular shape;   wherein said compressed dehydrated ground coir bulking agent, is free of a water soluble binder material, is not hydrophobic, and maintains said irregular compressed shape until hydrated.