Vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus

Abstract

A growing medium for a plant production apparatus utilized in greenhouse crop production is provided. The growing medium comprises a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material wherein the media material is constructed from a plastic material.

1 . A vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a hollow grow tube; and   a media material insertable into the grow tube;   wherein the grow tube is positionable in either a horizontal position, vertical position, or any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production.   
     
     
         2 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said grow tube has a front face, a back face, an open first end, and an open second end; and   a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, the slot having a width 1/32 to 31-32 nd  the width of the front face.   
     
     
         3 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said grow tube has a back face, an open first end, and an open second end.   
     
     
         4 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein said grow tube has a base, a right side and left side, and an open first end.   
     
     
         5 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the slot allows the front face to expand outward during insertion of the media material and biased inward against the media material once the media material is inserted into said tube. 
     
     
         6 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 ,wherein the grow tube has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially square, rectangular, round, oval, octagon, pentagon and triangular. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said media material is chosen from a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material, smaller media around plugs or potted plants, Styrofoam, polyurethane foam, plastic mesh, rock wool, coconut fiber, vermiculite, and organic soil such as potting soil. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the slot is formed along the entire front face of the grow tube from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for supporting said media within said tube. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said means for supporting said media is chosen from a bolt spanning the width of the media material, rivets, and metal bars. 
     
     
         11 . A method of growing a plant in a vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 providing a hollow grow tube;   providing a media material insertable into the grow tube;
 wherein the grow tube is positionable in either a horizontal position, vertical position, or any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production; 
 inserting one or more plants into said media material and growing said one or more plants in said media material; and 
 harvesting said one or more plants from said media material. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 11 , wherein said grow tube has a front face, a back face, an open first end, and an open second end; and
 a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, the slot having a width 1/32 to 31-32 nd  the width of the front face.   
     
     
         13 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 11 , wherein said grow tube has a back face, an open first end, and an open second end. 
     
     
         14 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 11 , wherein said grow tube has a base, a right side and left side, and an open first end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 12 , wherein the slot allows the front face to expand outward during insertion of the media material and biased inward against the media material once the media material is inserted into said tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 11 , wherein the grow tube has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially square, rectangular, round, oval, octagon, pentagon and triangular. 
     
     
         17 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 11 , wherein said media material is chosen from a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material, smaller media around plugs or potted plants, Styrofoam, polyurethane foam, plastic mesh, rock wool, coconut fiber, vermiculite, and organic soil such as potting soil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 12 , wherein the slot is formed along the entire front face of the grow tube from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 14 , further comprising a means for supporting said media within said tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 19 , wherein said means for supporting said media is chosen from a bolt spanning the width of the media material, rivets, and metal bars. 
     
     
         21 . A method of growing a plant in a vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 providing a hollow grow tube;   providing a slot in the hollow grow tube;   providing a media material insertable into the grow tube;
 wherein the grow tube is positionable in either a horizontal position, vertical position, or any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production; 
 inserting one or more plants between said media material and said grow tube, with the upper portions of the plant protruding through the slot of the grow tube and growing said one or more plants; and 
 harvesting said one or more plants.