Plant propagating container and method

Abstract

A seedling growing container is illustrated wherein a number of removable partitions or barriers are positioned together in a block. Each of the partitions has interconnected diverging walls forming a series of troughs therebetween open at the top and the bottom so that the partitions may be placed in opposing relation as in a tray forming growing compartments from each of the opposing troughs which are in register with each other, suitable for growing a single seedling. Positioning of the plugs is contemplated such that alternate rows of plugs of growing material, each of which is capable of growing a single seedling, are utilized so that each plug will be surrounded for the most part by a partition with the remainder being surrounded by an air space for preventing roots from growing from one plug to the other through the process of air pruning. The tray is partially open at the bottom, at least to an extent sufficient to provide an opening for heated air to be passed upwardly through the voids formed by the omitted plugs for further encouraging growth of the seedlings. Any suitable means may be utilized for positioning the partition together to form a block.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.growing container comprising: a plurality of removable partitions each partition integrally formed of stiff, bridging material;   each of said partitions being generally sinuous and defining a series of generally outwardly diverging walls connected on adjacent ends forming a plurality of spaced troughs;   said partitions being positioned to form a block with troughs of adjacent partitions in opposed relation and with adjacent partitions having contact points on either side of each said adjoining trough to form respective growing compartments with alternate empty compartments therebetween to provide for air pruning at said contact points, alternating compartments being suitable for growing a single .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant.Iaddend.;   a tray having open bottom portions providing support means removably positioning said partitions; and   each of said partitions being of such length as to extend across said tray for support adjacent opposite ends thereof; there being .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.plugs in said growing compartments such that no two plugs are adjacent the same contact point and such that all plugs within each of said growing compartments are encompassed by a barrier and a contact point which communicates with air for air pruning at the contact point.   
     
     
       2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein adjacent diverging walls of each of said partitions are bridged by a wall extending longitudinally of said partition to form a contact point. 
     
     
       3. The structure set forth in claim 2 including interlocking fastening means carried by respective partitions for removably positioning said partitions to form a block. 
     
     
       4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said interlocking fastening means are carried by opposed walls of respective partitions. 
     
     
       5. The structure set forth in claim 1 including means removably positioning said partitions to form a block. 
     
     
       6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said means removably positioning said partitions comprises a tray having an open bottom. 
     
     
       7. A plurality of generally sinuous partitions, each integrally formed of stiff bridging material, forming a .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.growing container, each partition comprising: a series of interconnected diverging walls forming a series of troughs open on each end;   each of said troughs being formed by an adjacent pair of interconnected diverging walls;   each of said partitions being movably positionable with respective troughs of an opposed partition in registry with each of said troughs and with adjacent partitions having contact points on either side of opposed troughs forming respective growing compartments suitable for growing a single .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant.Iaddend.;   adjacent interconnected diverging walls each being integrally formed and joined by a bridging wall extending therebetween longitudinally of respective partitions said bridging walls of one partition contacting bridging walls of adjacent partitions to form said contact points; and   fastening means carried by respective opposed bridging walls for removably joining said partitions to form a block; there being .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.plugs in said growing compartments such that no two plugs are adjacent the same contact point and such that all plugs within each of said growing compartments are encompassed by a barrier and a contact point which communicates with air for air pruning at the contact point.   
     
     
       8. The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein adjacent diverging walls are bridged by a wall extending longitudinally to form a contact point, and wherein said diverging walls form an angle between them of about 90 degrees more or less. 
     
     
       9. The methd of propagating .[.seedlings.]. .Iadd.plants .Iaddend.comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of opposed elongated removable generally sinuous barriers extending in one direction each having adjacent integrally interconnected diverging walls forming spaced troughs which are in opposed relation with troughs of adjacent barriers and with adjacent barriers having contact points on either side of opposed troughs to define a plurality of volumes for .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.plugs; arranging .[.seedling.]. .Iadd.plant .Iaddend.plugs in said volumes such that no two plugs are adjacent the same contact point and such that all plugs within each of said volumes are encompassed by a barrier and a contact point which communicates with air for air pruning at the contact point.   
     
     
       10. The method set forth in claim 9 including arranging adjacent walls of said barriers so as to diverge at an angle of about 90 degrees. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  The method of propagating plants comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of opposed elongated removable barriers extending in one direction each having adjacent integrally interconnected walls forming spaced troughs and with adjacent barriers having contact points to define a plurality of volumes for plant plugs;   arranging plant plugs in said volumes such that no two plugs are adjacent the same contact point and such that all plugs within each of said volumes are encompassed by a barrier and a contact point which communicates with air for air pruning at the contact point. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       12.  The method of claim 11 further including the step of moving air upwardly past said barriers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A block of interconnected space compartments for propagating plants having tops and root plugs including a plurality of opposed strips constructed of flat plastic material forming respective rows of space compartments, each strip comprising: a plurality of spaced channels for forming with corresponding channels of an opposed strip a row of compartments,   a plurality of spaced connecting members joining adjacent channels in each strip;   said connecting members each further extending into engagement with a strip of the next row of compartments for spacing said strips;   a plurality of plants having root plugs contained in some of said spaced compartments; other of said space compartments being empty and defining open channels enabling air to move through said block. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     An apparatus for growing plants comprising: a plurality of interconnected hollow compartments: said compartments being open on both ends; a predetermined number of said compartments containing a growing medium; said compartments containing growing medium also containing said plants; a predetermined number of said compartments being open providing ventilation to said plants, whereby said interconnections are so constructed and the arrangement of said compartments containing growing medium and open compartments is such that air can move vertically substantially surrounding each of said plants. .Iaddend.