Abstract:
Stacked growing containers. The growing containers are stacked so that they are offset to each other in order to expose their corners to optimum light. Each growing container has a locking mechanism to ensure that the growing containers are locked into their correct offset position. Also each growing container has a drainage hole. A drainage container is positioned below the stack of growing containers and receives the excess water from the stack. Piping may be used to remove and redirect the excess water from the drainage container if required. In a preferred embodiment the growing containers are offset by 45 degrees.

Description:
The present invention relates to planting systems, and in particular, to vertical planting systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hydroponics is known. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in a growing medium, such as perlite, gravel, biochar, mineral wool, expanded clay pebbles or coconut husk. 
     Researchers discovered in the 18th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant&#39;s water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching. 
     Vertical planting systems are known. Vertical planting systems are desirable anywhere intense hydroponic agricultural cultivation is undertaken such as in greenhouses or in areas in which space is an issue, such as on a rooftop, indoors, or on a small piece of land, such as a typical backyard. 
     Existing vertical planting systems include a solid single column that has holes or cups installed at intervals along the column and at various positions around the columns circumference. Another prior art system has stackable units that also utilize holes spaced at various vertical and horizontal intervals. The prior art systems do not disclose a system that allows for easy maturation of cuttings in a final media prior to placement in the column. Also, the prior art systems do not disclose stacking system of planting containers that allows for secure stacking and optimum growing conditions. 
     What is needed is a better vertical planting system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides stacked growing containers. The growing containers are stacked so that they are offset to each other in order to expose their corners to optimum light. Each growing container has a locking mechanism to ensure that the growing containers are locked into their correct offset position. Also each growing container has a drainage hole. A drainage container is positioned below the stack of growing containers and receives the excess water from the stack. Piping removes the excess water from the drainage container. In a preferred embodiment the growing containers are offset by 45 degrees. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a preferred growing column. 
         FIG. 2  shows a preferred growing container. 
         FIG. 3  shows a preferred growing container filled with growing medium and rooted cuttings. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plurality of growing containers laid side to side. 
         FIGS. 5-6  show a preferred drainage container. 
         FIG. 7  shows details of preferred locking slots. 
         FIGS. 8-10  show a preferred method of water delivery to a growing column. 
         FIG. 11  shows multiple growing columns. 
         FIGS. 12-14  show another preferred drainage container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred hydroponic growing column  1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , growing containers  2  are vertically stacked. Each container  2  is rotated 45 degrees with respect to the adjacent container. Column  1  also includes drainage container  3 . By stacking the containers at 45 degrees, optimum growing conditions are achieved. For example, plants are positioned near the exposed corners  4  as they are planted in growing medium contained within each container  2 . Therefore plants are exposed to the appropriate amount of light for optimum growing. In one preferred embodiment a small home grower just utilizes one column  1  to grow plants. In another preferred embodiment, multiple columns  1  are set up near each other and are utilized to grow multitudes of plants. For example,  FIG. 11  shows multiple growing columns  1  set up adjacent to each other. HDPE tubing  83  is utilized to deliver water and nutrients to columns  1 . 
     Preferred Method for Utilizing the Present Invention 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of container  2 .  FIG. 3  shows a top view of container  2 . A significant advantage of the present invention is that growing column  1  is created out of a stack of containers  2 . This allows for the grower the begin the growing cycle by allowing plants to root while containers  2  are placed side by side ( FIG. 4 ). Then after the plants have successfully rooted containers  2  can be stacked as shown in  FIG. 1  to maximize growing potential and efficiently use available space. 
     To begin growing the user obtains multiple containers  2 . In  FIG. 3  the user has filled container  2  with growing medium  5 . The user has then planted rooted cuttings of plants  4  into each corner of container  2 . The user will then provide optimum lighting, fertilizer and water to allow for rooting to complete. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the user has placed multiple plants  4  side by side to allow optimum conditions so that plants are able to complete rooting. After a period of time plants  4  will have successfully rooted and containers  2  will be ready to stack. Alternatively, seedlings in small peat pots may be embedded in soil or other growing medium and be immediately ready to stack. The user then stacks containers  2  so that they are in the positions shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Water Flow 
     As stated above containers  2  are stacked as shown in  FIG. 1 . To water or feed the plants in growing column  1 , water or nutrient solution is preferably pumped through High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tubing  83  ( FIG. 10 ) into the topmost container  2 . HDPE tubing  83  is used to deliver water and nutrients and is clipped or otherwise secured to the top of each column not only to deliver water but also to provide additional column stability. For example,  FIG. 9  shows clips  84  clipped to the upper section of topmost container  2 . Likewise,  FIG. 8  shows rope  85  utilized to tie topmost container  2  to tubing  83  for stability. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , HDPE tubing is preferably a ½″ pipe and is run along the top of all growing columns  1 . Preferably ¼″ HDPE tubing  85  extends downward from tubing  83  at each column to deliver the water/nutrients. These are standard drip system elements. Emitters may also be used on the ends of the ¼″ delivery tubes if preferred. 
     As nutrient water is added, it saturates the growing medium in the topmost container  2  and then flows out through holes  6  ( FIG. 2 ) located in the bottom of each container  2 . In a similar fashion, water continues to flow down growing column  1 , saturating the growing medium in each container and then flowing out holes  6 . This continues until water flows into drainage container  3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 6  shows a top view of drainage container  3 . Drainage container  3  includes hole  7 . Water flows out of holes  6  in the bottom of bottommost container  2  and into container  3 . Water then flows out through hole  7  and through standard PVC piping  8  where it is directed to a drainage system, a recycle system or other location desired by the user. 
     Stacking Mechanism 
     As shown clearly in  FIG. 1 , containers  2  are neatly stacked at a 45 degree offset to each other. This allows for optimum growing conditions in corners  4 . A stacking mechanism is utilized to ensure that the containers are appropriately stacked. For example,  FIG. 2  shows tab  10  and spring loaded tab  9 . Tab  10  slides into slot  12  and spring loaded tab  9  locks into slot  11 .  FIG. 7  shows a detailed perspective view of spring loaded tab  9  and tab  10 . 
     To lock containers  2  into the position as shown in  FIG. 1  the bottommost container  2  is first placed on top of container  3  so that locking tabs  9  and  10  engage slots  11  and  12 . Then this procedure is repeated until the desired number of containers  2  has been stacked. 
     Other Features of the Growing Column 
     Growing column  1  allows for hydroponic plant culture from rooted cutting to maturity. Column  1  can be used in indoor and outdoor hydroponic growing systems, with or without artificial lighting. It should be noted that the size and proportion of containers  2  can be varied by plant species to be grown. The height of stacked units in an individual growing column will also vary by size and height of containers  2  used. Containers  2  may be filled with a variety of types of growing medium. For example, it may be filled with dirt, soil, vermiculite or any other hydroponic growing medium. Direct sunlight or greenhouse applications may allow multiple plants to be positioned out of multiple corners. Conversely, artificial lighting arrangements will determine plant placement along columns and columns positioned for maximum light exposure. It should also be noted that when not in use, or for shipping, containers  2  may be stacked one inside the other for efficiency. 
     Alternate Drainage Container 
       FIGS. 12-14  show a preferred alternate drainage container  3   b.  Container  3   b  includes bottom flared portion  81 . Adding flared portion  81  increases the stability of growing column  1  by providing it with a wider base. Drainage piping  8  is molded into flared portion  81  and allows for the proper drainage of drainage container  3   b.  Container  3   b  also preferably includes flange  82 . Flange  82  may be secured to the floor utilizing appropriate fasteners  83  to even further increase stability of growing column  1 . 
     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in addition to HDPE piping, other types of piping may be utilized such as PVC piping. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.