Abstract:
An apparatus for a vertical or angled arrangement of hydroponic cultivation of plants includes at least one module defining an inner space containing at least one nutritional substrate and plant. The module includes a front wall and a rear wall secured to the front wall. At least the front wall includes at least one opening for the plant to pass through. The front and/or the rear wall includes an attachment area for attaching the module to a mounting. The front wall and/or the rear wall has overlapping edges enabling, when the apparatus is installed on a green roof or a green wall with at least two adjacent modules, overlapping of the modules, at least partially.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns a system for a vertical or sloping arrangement for container plant cultivation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An example of a system for a vertical arrangement for container plant cultivation is known from document FR-A-2 902 602. In this document, the system receives a nutritive substrate positioned vertically, in which the plants are planted horizontally. This layout poses growth problems for the plants, as usually their stems and roots must be planted basically vertically for photosynthesis to function correctly. In addition, when the plants are planted, it is difficult not to lose the nutritive substrate as there is no basically vertical wall to contain the substrate. Moreover, fixing this type of system is difficult because the fixing systems are subject to corrosion, encouraged by the fertilizer and the irrigation of the plants, as it is difficult to stop the irrigation water from flowing onto the fixing systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main aim of this invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the previous art. 
     For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a system for a vertical or sloping arrangement for container plant cultivation, comprising at least one module forming an internal volume intended to receive at least one nutritive substrate and plants and delimited by a front wall and rear wall joined to the front wall, with at least the front wall having at least one opening for the plants to pass through and at least one out of the front and rear walls having a fixing area intended for fixing the module to a mounting. In this system, at least one out of the front wall and the rear wall comprises overlapping edges which, when the system is installed as a roof garden or plant wall comprising at least two adjacent modules, enables the modules to overlap at least partially in the roof or wall. 
     In several embodiments of the system according to the invention, recourse may also be made to one and/or another of the following systems: 
     a water drain opens out at a lower part of the internal volume; 
     the water drain extends into the bottom edge of the module, with the bottom edge comprising a least one front notch for this purpose; 
     the water drain is a slot between the front wall and rear wall; 
     there is a gutter to collect the water passing through the drain; 
     the gutter is built into the bottom edge by means of a suitable shelf of the bottom edge of the front wall; 
     there is a water inlet hole between the front wall and rear wall; 
     the system according to the invention is suitable for being installed as a roof garden or a plant wall and can comprise at least two adjacent modules which overlap at least partially in the roof or wall, with at least one out of the front wall and the rear wall comprising overlapping edges; 
     the rear wall comprises vertical stops projecting forward on which a lower edge of an adjacent module positioned on top can rest; 
     the edges of the front wall and the edges of the rear wall are joined together and form the fixing area of the module; 
     a water tank is located between the front wall and the rear wall; 
     the water tank consists of a removable tank; 
     the front wall comprises at least one basically horizontal part which delimits the opening; 
     the front wall comprises a sloped part connected to the front of the horizontal part and extending towards the bottom and towards the rear; 
     the system comprises a water inlet opening between the front wall and the rear wall; 
     the rear wall comprises a rib for partitioning or retaining water which is basically horizontal, projecting into the internal volume; 
     the partitioning rib is positioned slightly below the bottom edge of the opening; 
     the fixing area is on at least one portion of the periphery of the module, on the perimeter of the internal volume; 
     the rear wall comprises vertical stops projecting forward on which a lower edge of an adjacent module positioned on top can rest; 
     the system comprises a removable mounting and is equipped with lateral connections suitable for forming jointed connections when two modules or sets of modules are assembled horizontally. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
       Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will be revealed during the course of the following description of several embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with regard to the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention, installed vertically on a wall of a building; 
         FIG. 2  is a three-quarter perspective frontal view technical drawing of a front wall of the module of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a three-quarter perspective frontal view technical drawing of a rear wall of the module of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the top of the system of  FIG. 1 , installed on the wall; 
         FIG. 5  is a technical drawing of a view of the underneath of the system of  FIG. 1 , not installed on the wall; 
         FIG. 6  is a three-quarter perspective frontal view of a front wall of an alternative embodiment of the module of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a three-quarter perspective frontal view technical drawing of a rear wall of the module of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  are technical drawings of the modules of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , front, top, bottom and side views respectively; 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical section according to the XII-XII line of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15  are technical drawings of a system with several modules of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , front, top and side views respectively; 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are sections of an alternative embodiment of the modules of  FIGS. 8 to 11 ; 
         FIGS. 18A ,  18 B,  18 C,  18 C,  18 E and  18 F are technical drawings of a gutter of the system according to the invention, side view, exploded three-quarter perspective front view, assembled three-quarter perspective front view, view of front assembled on a module according to  FIG. 8 , and top and bottom views respectively; 
         FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21  and  22  are technical drawings of a third embodiment of the system according to the invention having several triangular modules, exploded perspective view, and assembled front, top and side views respectively; 
         FIGS. 23 to 27  are schematic views of other embodiments of the system according to the invention, mainly intended for use inside a building; 
         FIGS. 28A ,  29 A and  30 A on the one hand and  FIGS. 28B ,  29 B and  30 B on the other hand, show respectively, in top and frontal views, variants of mountings for the systems of the invention; 
         FIG. 31  shows a variant of the layout of the watering pipe; 
         FIGS. 32A ,  32 B and  32 C show, in a section view, top view and frontal view respectively, another alternative embodiment of the means of supplying water to the system of the invention; 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a water tank; 
         FIGS. 34A ,  34 B show, in a lateral view and a frontal view respectively, an alternative embodiment of realization of a gutter; 
         FIGS. 35 to 37  show systems of the invention as space dividers; and 
         FIGS. 38A ,  38 B show, in a frontal view and a side view respectively, a system of the invention as an entrance decoration. 
     
    
    
     In the different figures, the same references indicate identical or similar components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the figures, the reference  10  indicates a system, or device, according to the invention for a vertical or sloping arrangement for container plant cultivation, in order to form a plant wall or roof garden respectively. 
     In the description below, the vertical direction designated V is understood considering the system in an assembly position in which it is in use to form the plant wall or roof garden. The horizontal direction designated L follows the length of the system and the horizontal direction designated T follows the width of the system. For modules intended to be mounted on a surface mounting, for example on a wall, the front is the decorated side of the plant wall, corresponding to the visible face of the wall covered by the plants, and the rear is on the non-decorated side of the plant wall, so facing the mounting. And for modules intended to be used as dividing components with two opposite decorated sides, the front is either decorated side without distinction and the rear is the other decorated side. 
     The system  10 , or device, comprises at least one module  12  determining an internal volume  14  intended to receive at least one nutritive substrate and plants  16 , in this instance the roots and the lower part of the stems. In practice, the system  10  comprises several modules  12  mounted on vertical mountings  18  joined to a wall  20  or a structural framework. 
     In the first embodiment of the system  10  represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as installed vertically parallel to the wall  20  of a building, each module  12  is about 80 centimeters tall and 130 centimeters long. The module  12  is designed for four horizontal rows  22  of plants, distributed evenly along the height of the module. 
     The plants  16  have parts, in this instance stems and foliage, which pass through at least one opening  24 , for their exposure to light. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rows  22  can each receive eight bundles of plants  16 , each bundle corresponding to an opening  24 . The openings  24  are distributed into two groups  24 A of four. 
     The internal volume  14  ( FIG. 4 ) is delimited on one side by a front wall  30  comprising openings  24  suitable for plants  16  to pass through. 
     Each group  24 A of four openings  24  is made in a basically horizontal part  32  of the front wall  30 , this part enabling the nutritive substrate to be securely retained during planting of the plants. Each basically horizontal part  32  slopes slightly forwards and downwards, for example by ten to twenty degrees. This slight slope avoids retention of water and dead leaves. It facilitates the manufacture of the front wall  30  in a mould. 
     The front wall  30  also comprises a sloping part  34  connected to the front of each horizontal part  32  and extending towards the bottom and the rear. 
     The internal volume  14  is delimited on the other side by a rear wall  35  joined to the front wall  30 , with the said walls  30  and  35  being different pieces. 
     On their periphery, the front wall  30  and the rear wall  35  are joined to each other in a water-tight manner, for example by gluing or laser welding, to prevent undesirable leaks of irrigation water, fertilizer and nutritive substrate. 
     Between the rear wall  35 , the basically horizontal part  32  and the sloping part  34  of the front wall  30 , one level of the internal volume  14  of basically triangular section corresponds to each row  22  of plants  16 , the said levels of internal volume  14  communicating with each other. 
     Moreover, at the top of the walls and between the latter, each module  12  comprises a water inlet opening or slot  36 , visible in  FIG. 4 . A top lip  36 A delimits the front of the slot  36  being located above the highest rear end of the basically horizontal parts  32  of the front wall  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , as the modules  12  are designed to be installed adjacent, one on top of the other and one beside the other to form the plant wall, the edges of the modules  12  overlap, for example over three centimeters, at the junction between the modules to prevent water leaking towards the rear of the system  10  forming the plant wall. 
     Thus the top edge  41  and the left edge  43  of each module  12  are flush with the rear face of the module. And the bottom edge  42  and the right edge  44  of each module  12  project forward with regard to the rear face of the module, with the projection being at least equal to the thickness of the top edge  41  and the left edge  43 . The projections result from recesses  45  in the corresponding edges. Therefore, when modules  12  are positioned adjacent to each other along the wall  20 , the right edge  44  of one of the modules  12  overlaps the left edge  43  of the laterally adjacent module and the bottom edge  42  of one of the modules  12  overlaps the top edge  41  of the vertically adjacent module. It is therefore difficult for the water to leak towards the rear of the modules  12 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , for example, the recess  45  between the right edge  44  and the rest of the rear face of the rear wall  35  is clearly visible. Other recesses  45  are visible in  FIG. 3 , for example above the bottom edge  42 B of the rear wall  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear wall comprises vertical stop lugs  41 A which enable two adjacent modules to be wedged together in the vertical direction, with the bottom edge  42  of the top module resting on the stop lugs  41 A of the bottom module. This arrangement avoids incorrect overlap of the edges of the modules. 
     Moreover, the vertical edges  43  and  44  of the modules  12  form fixing areas which are fixed onto the mountings  18 , for example by screws  46  ( FIG. 1 ). Plates  47  serve as washers and trim for protecting the edges of the modules. The mountings  18  here consist of wooden vertical uprights, themselves fixed to the wall  20  by screws  48 . As a variant, the mountings are metal sections  18 A with a basically omega section ( FIGS. 28A ,  28 B) or metal sections  18 B with an open rectangular section ( FIGS. 92A ,  29 B), themselves fixed to the wall  20  by screws  48 . The first variant will be chosen when adjacent modules have to be mounted overlapping each other, but the second variant will be chosen when adjacent modules have to be mounted—for whatever reason—laterally spaced from each other. In this case, the width of the section  18 B must be determined in accordance with the desired spacing between the modules. Optionally, the open section  18 B can be closed by a plate  49  shown in  FIG. 29A  by a dotted line. 
     According to a third variant, shown in  FIGS. 30A ,  30 A, the mounting is built into the modules. In fact by forming in the front wall and rear wall fixing blocks  11  projecting towards the rear of the modules, the modules can be fixed directly to the wall  20  by screws  48  while maintaining a natural ventilation space between the wall and the modules. 
     The system  10  also comprises a horizontal drip watering pipe  50 , which is positioned opposite the slot  36  so as to distribute water into the internal volume  14  through the said slot  36 . The pipe  50  rests on the top end section  52  of the side walls of each module  12 , passing in a lateral notch  54  of said walls. According to the alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 31 , the pipe  50  is diverted downwards by at least one block  51  situated between the front wall  30  and the rear wall  35  halfway between the side notches  54  of the side walls and formed for example integrally with the rear wall  35 . Because they are diverted downwards, the water drops do not go back up again towards the side walls of the module  12 . At the left and right ends of the system  10 , vertical ramps  53  are connected to the pipes  50  by known connectors to form the water circuit which also comprises a pump and known filters, if necessary connected to a water tank. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , each module comprises, in addition to the water inlet slot  36 , arrangements to manage the water circulation in the internal volume  14  and the discharge of excess water through the bottom edge  42 . These arrangements are used to advantage to enhance the mechanical strength of the modules  12 . 
     To control the internal flowing of the water along the rear wall  35 , the latter wall comprises horizontal ribs which partition the internal volume  14 , projecting towards the front in this volume. The horizontal partitioning ribs are referenced  60  in  FIG. 3 . Each partitioning rib is positioned in such a way as to be opposite the rear end edge  32 A of each basically horizontal part  32  of the front wall. 
     In the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , each partitioning rib  60  comprises a basically square section and its width is such that it does not come into contact with the front wall  30  so as not to partition the internal volume  14 , while allowing water to flow by run between the levels corresponding to the rows  22  of plants  16 . However the partitioning ribs  60  slow down this flow. They comprise a top face  62  sloping forward and downward, for example by a few degrees. 
     The module comprises a central column, between the segments of the horizontal part  32  of the front wall  30  which corresponds to the groups  24 A of openings  24 . On the front wall  30 , the central column, reference  30 A in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , consists of segments set back in relation to the horizontal parts  32  and sloping parts  34 . On the rear wall  35 , the central column, reference  35 B in  FIG. 3 , consists of bosses with a top face  64  parallel to the horizontal part  32  of the front wall  30  and sloping faces parallel to the segments set back with reference to the sloping parts  34 . 
     The front wall  30  and the rear wall  35  are fixed, for example by laser welding, to the segments set back and the bosses of the central column respectively. In addition, the said walls  30  and  35  are fixed by the same technique to their front left edges  43 A and  43 B, their front right edges  44 A and  44 B and their bottom edges  42 A and  42 B respectively. The bottom edge  42 A of the front wall  30  fits into the space  45 B situated between the bottom edge  42 B of the rear wall part  35  and an internal horizontal edge  72 . 
     In addition to the horizontal ribs  60  which partition the internal volume  14  of the module, the rear wall  35  comprises on the perimeter of this volume  14 , ribs projecting forwards forming internal vertical edges  70 , connected to the lateral edges of the partitioning horizontal ribs  60 . The basically horizontal internal edge  72  is connected to the bottom edge  42 B of the rear wall  35  and at its lateral ends to the internal vertical edges  70 , at the bottom corners of the rear wall  35 . 
     Rear notches  75  are made in the internal horizontal edge  72 , on the right and on the left at one quarter of the length of the modules  12  ( FIG. 3 ). Corresponding to these, front notches  76  are made in the bottom edge  42 A of the front wall  30 , on the right and on the left at one quarter of the length of the modules  12  ( FIG. 5 ). These notches  75  and  76  allow water to be discharged, for example if there is rain causing overwatering. 
     In addition to the notches  75  and  76 , the front wall  30  and the rear wall  35  comprise bosses  77  and cut-outs  78  respectively which are intended to stop the lateral flow of water or runoff arriving from the notches. 
     In the embodiment described above, the front wall  30  and rear wall  35  are separate parts made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) based polymer for example obtained from thermoforming or injection. As a variant, especially when the module has only one row  22  of plants or only one place for plants, these walls may come from the same piece obtained by blowing. 
     The invention enables a plant wall to clad a building, while improving its thermal insulation, and comprising the following advantages: 
     robustness of the modules which are fixed independently, simplicity of manufacture, in particular without needing an intermediate mounting frame; 
     water-tightness of the modules; 
     control of internal water flow and flow from the modules to the outside, good water management; 
     secure plant retention because of the basically horizontal position of the plant passage holes; 
     quality and reliability of the seal between the modules, achieved by the overlapping edges of modules accepting splashes and without risk of incorrect assembly; 
     simplicity of installation, with the possibility of compensating for irregularities in the flatness of the building wall; 
     ventilation between the rear of the plant wall and the building to avoid condensation problems, by using mounting uprights; 
     ease of planting and plant maintenance operations, creation of additional green spaces. 
     A second embodiment of a module according to the invention, which is a variant of the embodiment described above, is shown in  FIGS. 6 to 14 . 
     In this embodiment, the modules are of different sizes, in other words 1 meter high by 80 centimeters long. The openings  24  are larger and there are four per row, still divided into two groups, to permit wider spacing between plant bundles. 
     The stop lugs are not there, but the stop function is achieved by the top edges  41  abutting as necessary against the recess resulting from the offset  45 C ( FIG. 11 ) between the bottom edge  42 B and the rear face of the rear wall  35  close to the space  45 B situated between the bottom edge  42 B and the internal horizontal edge  72 . The assembly of the edges is kept as it is, as may be clearly seen in  FIGS. 13 to 15 . 
     The differences mainly concern the partitioning ribs  60 . 
     Each partitioning rib  60 , at the top and bottom of the levels, comprises a basically triangular section. It comprises a top face  82  sloping forwards and downwards, for example at 30 degrees. This top face  82  comprises indents  84  which serve as a canal for the passage of water between two rows  22  of plants  16  in the module  12  or between the water inlet slot  36  towards the internal volume  14 . Between the indents  84 , the front end edge  86  of the rib  60  is fixed, for example by laser welding, to the rear end edge  32 A of each basically horizontal part  32  of the front wall, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     A single notch  75  and a single notch  76  are located halfway along the length of the module. The central column is omitted as the partitioning ribs  60  are longer and strengthen the entire length of the module. 
     A first variant of this second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 32A to 32C . This variant mainly concerns the position of the partitioning rib  60 . 
     In order to ensure better water distribution of irrigation water for each row of plants, the water coming from the watering pipe  50  or from the top row  22  is directed towards the top of the plant balls by a rib  60  positioned slightly, in other words about 1 to 3 cm, below the bottom edge of the openings  24  of each row  22 . 
     This variant moreover concerns the presence of a block  51  at the top of the module. The block  51  is positioned so as to hold in place the watering pipe  50 , to advantage but not necessarily with a downward deviation, and to form at the same time a means whereby the module can be gripped for any maintenance of the latter. 
     A second variant of the second embodiment of the module according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 16 to 17 . 
     In this variant, water tanks  90  are positioned at the bottom of each row  22  resting on the one hand on the internal face of the sloping parts  34  and on the other hand on the upper face  82  of the partitioning ribs  60  or on the horizontal internal edge  72 . These water tanks are formed with an overflow pipe  92  enabling both water to be kept in the tank  90  and water to be discharged when the said tank is sufficiently full. 
     This variant of the second embodiment is particularly suited to hot countries, where the water is required in larger quantities and is not likely to freeze in the tank  90 . 
     According to a third variant of the second embodiment of the invention, the water tank consists of a removable tank  94  shown in  FIG. 33 . The tank  94  is an elongated basin with external dimensions adapted to the internal dimensions of the bottom of the rows  22  and presenting a sloping front wall  95  and a sloping rear wall  96 , these two walls being in contact with the front and rear walls of the module. The rear wall  96  is formed with recesses  97  which ensure space for surplus water. 
     In  FIGS. 18A to 18F , a gutter  100  is designed to be installed between two vertically adjacent modules  12 . This gutter  100  also comprises a top edge  41  and an overlapping bottom edge  42 , on the same principle as the overlapping edges of the modules  12 . The water flowing through the notches  75  and  76  is collected by the gutters  100  to be sent via vertical discharge pipes  100 V to, for example, a tank which feeds water to the system according to the invention. 
     Each gutter  100  comprises a horizontal pipe  100 L equipped with a water guide rim  101  which is open opposite the top edge  41  and a notch  76 , being longer than the latter and the distance separating the cuts  78 , and which surrounds three sides with a water inlet channel  101 A. 
     During assembly, for example in the factory, before assembly along a wall, the bottom edge  42  of the adjacent module which is on top is inserted between the top edge  41  of the gutter  100  and its guide rim  101 , the latter being opposite the notches  75  and  76  of the said module  12 . Thus, the water can flow from the notches  75  and  76  to the channel  101 A, without spilling onto the sides. 
     Advantageously, between the lip  42  of the gutter and the bottom edge  42  of the latter, a rear horizontal wall  102  of the gutter, shown in  FIGS. 18A and 18F , comprises ventilation holes  103  forming air passages between the outside and the rear of the system, to avoid condensation between the system and the building supporting it. 
     The horizontal pipes  100 L and vertical discharge pipes  100 V are connected by coupling sleeves  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 18B and 18C . 
     According to a variant shown in  FIGS. 34A ,  34 B, the gutter—reference  110 —is built into the overlapping assembly of the module  122  by means of an appropriate ledge in the front wall. The gutter  110  is formed with a slope so that the water flows towards one side of the module. In the example of  FIG. 34B , the water flows towards the left side of the module  122 . 
     In a third embodiment represented in  FIGS. 19 to 22 , the modules are of a general triangular shape instead of rectangular, in order to be positioned in a lozenge configuration on a wall, as decoration and thermal insulation partially covering a façade. The rows of plants are adapted to the shape of the modules. The overlaps of the vertical and horizontal walls are made in accordance with the same principle as that described above, with the overlapping edges covered by judicious recesses  45 . 
       FIGS. 23 to 27  show an embodiment of the system of the invention mainly intended for internal use, for example to divide a large space into several workplaces and thus obtain a “landscaped office”. 
     The system of the invention comprises several modules  112  fixed to vertical mountings  118  joined to a base  120  possibly mounted on wheels  121  so as to be mobile. 
     Each module  112  comprises two horizontal rows  122  of two compartments  123  connected to each other. However each compartment  123  comprises its opening  124  for inserting a substrate and plants. 
     Thus the system shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24  comprises, on each side of the mountings  118 , four modules  112  each having four compartments  123  for receiving plants. 
     It goes without saying that the design shown in the drawings is in no way limiting with regard to the number of rows and, for each row, the number of compartments. Thus each row may also comprise either a single compartment  123  or two, three, four or even more compartments  123 . The example of embodiment of two rows with two compartments is entirely arbitrary but could constitute a practical solution depending on the dimensions decided for the modules. In fact, the number of rows and compartments will depend not only on the requirements with regard to combining modules for a given space, but also on the weight of each module and so the maneuverability of these modules by the workmen, which is generally more limited inside a building than out in the open. 
     Each row  123  comprises a volume  114  delimited by a front wall  130  and a rear wall  135  joined to the front wall  130 . The front wall  130  comprises a basically horizontal part  132  with openings  124 , a part sloping downwards and towards the rear  134  giving the volume  114  a basically triangular section and two lateral walls  133 , right and left respectively. Each basically horizontal part can be made with a forward slope of between 0° and about 10°, depending on manufacturing constraints, aesthetic criteria or other reasons. As for the first embodiment, this slight slope makes it possible to avoid retention of water and dead leaves on the perimeter of the openings  124 . 
     The walls  130  and  135  can be made independently from each other and then assembled in a water-tight manner, for example by gluing, and presenting an area  140  for fixing the module to the mountings  118 . However, in particular depending on the material from which the modules are made, the modules can also be formed from a single piece, with the front and rear walls then being joined to each other by forming. There may be a gauge  150  (see  FIG. 24 ) to make it easier to check the moisture of the substrate filling the volume  114 . 
     As the system according to this embodiment is designed for manual watering, there is no inlet for the irrigation water and fertilizer. The water, if necessary comprising fertilizer or nutritive additives, is inserted into the volume  114  through the openings  124 . However, for special applications, there may be openings for the insertion of irrigation water, for example on the horizontal part  132  of the front wall  130 . 
     Thus, according to the variant of realization of the system of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 25 to 27 , the system comprises, mounted on a mounting  218 , four modules  212  each having four compartments  223  positioned in two horizontal rows  222 , for receiving plants. The modules  212  are each formed with a single piece, but they may also be made of several pieces, for example in a front wall and a rear wall, formed separately and then assembled. 
     Each row  222  comprises a volume  214  delimited by a front wall  230  and a rear wall  235  joined to the front wall  230 . The front wall  230  comprises a basically horizontal part  232  equipped with openings  224  for the plants and extending towards the rear by means of a part  231  equipped with an opening  225  for inserting substrate and for watering, a part sloping downwards and towards the rear  234  giving the volume  214  a basically trapezoidal section and two lateral walls  233 , right and left, extending towards the rear by means of two parts  236 . Each basically horizontal part  232  may be made with a slope towards the front of between 0° and about 10°, depending on manufacturing constraints, aesthetic criteria or other reasons. As for the first embodiment, this slight slope makes it possible to avoid the retention of water and dead leaves on the perimeter of the openings  224 . 
     As is visible in  FIG. 27 , each row  223  is formed with a water drain  250 . The water outlets from these water drains are positioned so that the water coming out of a row enters the row positioned underneath, and so on until the last row, in other words the row closest to the ground. There will then have to be a gutter underneath this row for discharging the water to a collection place or any other means of collecting and discharging the water or re-inserting the water in the top row. 
     As may also be seen in  FIG. 27 , each of the rows  223  is to advantage equipped with a tank  260  for the irrigation water which enables watering to be carried out at less frequent intervals. In this case, the water drain from the row  223  takes the form of an overflow  250 . 
       FIG. 27  also shows that the front wall  230  and rear wall  235  have their respective top and bottom edges arranged so that, when two modules are fitted one on top of the other, the bottom edge of the top module covers the top edge of the bottom module. 
     With regard to the practical aspect, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the rear wall  235  comprises a top edge  241  formed on the same place as that defined by the wall  235  and the front wall  230  comprises a bottom edge  242  formed on a parallel plane and further forward in relation to a plane of assembly of the front and rear walls. 
     It goes without saying that this design is valid, similarly, when the modules or at least the rows are made in a single piece. 
     Although  FIG. 27  shows module  212  with two rows  223  connected to each other by at least one water drain, it goes without saying that, when a module  212  has only one row  223 , the water drain can be designed and positioned on the module so that the water does not necessarily come out through the bottom of the row but, for example, through an opening formed in part  236  of one of the lateral walls  233 . 
     While  FIG. 25  shows the system of the invention with four modules  212  mounted on a flat mounting  218 ,  FIG. 26  shows the same system mounted on a mounting  218 A shaped to receive the insulation material. 
     In fact, the mounting  218 A is formed, like the mounting  218 , like a parallelepiped body or a thick panel, compared to the thickness of the walls of the system  212 . The mounting  218 A also comprises, opposite mounting  218 , three ribs  219  for fixing the system at a distance from the mounting. The space thus created between the rear wall  235  of the module  212  and the mounting  218 A allows a panel of heat and/or sound insulation  300  to be laid between the mounting and the system. 
     With regard to the practical aspect, when the mounting is for example a wall to be decorated, the ribs are rails, battens or any other appropriate component which enables the modules of the system according to the invention to be mounted at a distance from the wall. The rails etc. can also be used to fix the insulation material. 
     While most of the examples of embodiments of the system of the invention described above and shown in the drawings concern the application of the invention on a surface such as a wall of a room or a façade of a building, the system shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24  is designed so as to be able to serve as a fixed or mobile divider of spaces with plants on both sides of the system. For this purpose, the system comprises, on each side of the mountings  118 , four modules  112  each having four compartments  123  for receiving plants. 
     According to a variant shown in  FIG. 35 , the system is made so as to be able to serve as a fixed or mobile divider of spaces with plants on both sides of the system but without a mounting between the two sides. The system, reference  410 , comprises four modules  412  mounted on top of each other, with each having, on each of the two opposite sides formed by a front wall  430  and a rear wall  435 , a row of openings  424  through which plants can be inserted and planted in the module. Thus both walls may be considered equally well as the front wall or the rear wall. Moreover, the modules  412  may be designed with or without an overflow. 
     The system according to this invention is designed in a modular manner. It is thus possible to cover areas of all sizes and with variable geometries. For this purpose, the modules are formed so as to be able to be assembled with each other with the corresponding top, bottom and side edges overlapping when they cover or form a flat surface. 
     However, when the system of the invention is used as a space divider and the division is not made, or not fully made, along a straight line, the modules or assemblies of modules must nevertheless be able to be connected to each other. 
     The modules or assemblies of modules are then connected by joints, of which  FIGS. 36 and 37  show only two examples of realization. 
     According to the example of  FIG. 36 , four assemblies  200 A to  200 D each comprising two modules  212  one on top of the other, are connected to each other by hinges of which each is formed by four tubes joined to each side of the modules and by a rod  274  passing through the tubes. Thus each assembly of modules comprises on the left side two rear tubes not shown and so without reference and two front tubes  273 . The tubes on the left side and the tubes on the right side are positioned offset from each other in terms of height in order to form hinges as explained below. By positioning to advantage but not at all necessarily, the left rear tubes  271  vertically offset in relation to the left front tubes  272  and, in a similar manner but inversely offset, the right rear tubes in relation to the right front tubes  273 , the assemblies of modules are reversible with regard to their attachment. The rod  274  is joined to a platen  275  which forms a support for the system. 
     The tubes  271  to  273  to be connected to each other are selected in accordance with the direction of the joint to be made. According to the example shown, the assembly  200 A is connected to the assembly  200 B by hinges formed by the rear tubes with no reference (because they are not shown) on the right side of the assembly  200 A and the rear tubes  271  of the left side of the assembly  200 B to form an angle opening towards the rear of the system. The assemblies  200 B and  200 C are connected to each other either by the rear tubes or by the front tubes to be kept aligned with each other. And the assembly  200 C is connected to the assembly  200 D by the front tubes  273  of the right side of the assembly  200 C and the front tubes  272  of the left side of the assembly  200 D to form an angle opening towards the front of the system. 
     The example shown in  FIG. 37  differs from that of  FIG. 36  in so far as the tubes forming the hinges are positioned in the middle of the side faces of the assemblies or modules  212 A,  212 B. Thus, the modules  212 A and  212 B have on their left side a tube  281  and on their right side a tube  282 . The tubes  281  and  282  are positioned at different levels to be able to be assembled to form hinges. When the assembly  212 A is connected to assembly  212 B, the tube  282  of the assembly  212 A and the tube  281  of the assembly  212 B form the hinge  280  in conjunction with a rod  283  which passes through the two tubes. 
       FIGS. 38A and 38B  show, as the final embodiment of the invention, a decorative arrangement for example forming part of the urban furniture and intended to be placed for example at the entrance of a town or park. 
     The decorative arrangement comprises a system of the invention with modules  12  mounted on a metal structure with a framework  618  embedded in the ground. The decorative arrangement is completed by a pole  619  positioned beside the system of the invention and carrying leaves  620  and a sign  621  stating the name of the town or park. As shown by  FIG. 38B , the system of the invention can comprise modules  12  on one side or both sides of the structure  618 .