Vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus

Abstract

A hydroponic plant production apparatus comprising: a hollow grow tube with a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, and a matrix media insert composed of two halves, where the media is insertable into the grow tube, allowing plants to be inserted and grown between the two halves of the matrix media insert in the grow tube is provided. Methods for use of a hollow grow tube with a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, and a matrix media insert composed of two halves, where the media is insertable into the grow tube, allowing plants to be inserted and grown between the two halves of the matrix media insert in the grow tube are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a hollow grow tube;   wherein said grow tube has a front face, a back face, a right face, a left face opposing said right face, a first end, and an open second end opposing said first end, wherein said grow tube has a length, a width and an internal width, and wherein the length of each grow tube is larger than the width of the front face; and   wherein said grow tube has a slot formed in the front face, wherein said slot is formed continuously along the entire length of the front face of the grow tube;   and   a media material having a thickness substantially half the internal width of the grow tube, wherein the media material is capable of being posited into two equal lengths so that the thickness of both lengths of said media material are approximately equal to the internal width of the grow tube;   wherein said grow tube is adapted to receive said media material, and wherein said media material is supported by the faces of the grow tube; and   wherein said grow tube allows plants to be inserted between both lengths of said media material through said slot;   at least one pump;   one or more nutrient solution conduits, wherein said at least one pump is operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;   one or more nutrient solution emitters, wherein said one or more nutrient solution emitters are operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;   a drain or trough, wherein said drain or trough collects nutrient solutions from said grow tube; and   at least one reservoir, wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the grow tube through said one or more nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solutions from said one or more nutrient solution emitters into the grow tube such that said nutrient solutions pass through the plurality of media material, into said drain or trough and into the at least one reservoir through the open second end of the grow tube;   wherein the grow tube is positionable in a vertical position or semi vertical position.   
     
     
         2 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the slot of said grow tube has a width of between 0.5 inches and 1.5 inches.   
     
     
         3 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the width of the front face of the grow tube is between four inches and six inches.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said two lengths of said media material are contacting each other when inserted into the grow tube. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for supporting said media material within said tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the media are supported by the grow tube and said drain or trough. 
     
     
         7 . A method of growing a plant in a vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 providing a hollow grow tube;   wherein said grow tube has a front face, a back face, a right face, a left face opposing said right face, a first end, and an open second end opposing said first end,   wherein said grow tube has a length and a width and wherein said front face has a width; and   wherein said grow tube has a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, wherein said slot is formed continuously along the entire length of the front face of the grow tube; and   providing a media material having a thickness substantially half the internal width of the grow tube, wherein the media material is capable of being posited into two equal lengths so that the thickness of both lengths of said media material are approximately equal to the internal width of the grow tube and wherein the media material is capable of receiving one or more plants into said media material and capable of allowing one or more plants to root and grow in said media material;   wherein said grow tube is adapted to receive said media material, and wherein said media material is supported by the faces of the grow tube; and
 wherein the grow tube is positionable in a vertical position or semi-vertical position; 
 providing at least one pump; 
 providing one or more nutrient solution conduits, wherein said at least one pump is operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits; 
 providing one or more nutrient solution emitters, wherein said one or more nutrient solution emitters are operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits; 
 providing a drain or trough, wherein said drain or trough collects nutrient solutions from said grow tube; and 
 providing at least one reservoir, wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the grow tube through said one or more nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solutions from said one or more nutrient solution emitters into the grow tube such that said nutrient solutions pass through the media material and into the at least one reservoir through the open second end of the grow tube. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 7 , wherein said slot has a width between 0.5 inches and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the front face of the grow tube is between four inches and six inches. 
     
     
         10 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 9 , further comprising a means for supporting said media material within said tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of growing a plant of  claim 7 , wherein the media are supported by the grow tube and said drain or trough. 
     
     
         12 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising one or more additional grow tubes. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said grow tubes are positioned adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the grow tubes through said one or more nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solution from said one or more nutrient solution emitters into each of the grow tubes such that said nutrient solution passes through the media material and into the reservoir through the open second end of each of the grow tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising one or more additional grow tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the method further comprising positioning the grow tubes adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the grow tubes through said one or more additional nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solution from said one or more additional nutrient solution emitters into each of the grow tubes such that said nutrient solution passes through the media material and into the reservoir through the open second end of each of the grow tubes. 
     
     
         18 . The hydroponic plant growth system of  claim 1 , wherein said binding material coating said media material is a silicone binder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said binding material coating said media material is a silicone binder.