Abstract:
A plant growing media and a method to make the media is disclosed. The disclosed media allows improved water absorbance, even distribution of nutrients and a constant pH.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/154,753, filed on Apr. 30, 2015, and the content of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of plant growing substrates and growing methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Current polyurethane based stabilized growing substrates do not provide a carcass which would last physical damage or environmental conditions. Also polyurethane-based substrates can contain free isocyanates which are possibly dangerous and therefore regulated by the law. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The aim of the present invention is to provide a strong material which can be used as support for plants with no negative effects and a scalable, modular automated gardening system that allows consumers and professionals to effortlessly grow fruit, herbs and vegetables indoors, at any time of the year. 
         [0005]    The present invention uses cutting-edge research in plant biology for higher yields, denser growth (up to 30 percent) and more nutritious produce—all with zero pesticides, non-GMO seeds and up to 95 percent less water use compared to traditional farming methods. The seed cartridges of the present invention with proprietary growth medium, grow lights and electronic precision irrigation (EPI), the present invention automatically provides plants with the perfect amount of water, light and nutrients at up to 80 percent less than the cost to set up a comparable hydroponic or aeroponic system. The present invention also comprises a connected mobile app, allowing users to easily adjust growth parameters through its EPI technology to meet custom growing needs. 
         [0006]    The present invention uses low-cost, ultra-efficient technologies to remove the hurdles known from prior art, so anyone can grow hyperlocal, fresh food in their home, school, restaurant or community center with minimal management and easy scalability. The result is higher quality herbs, fruit and vegetables (for example strawberries, tomatoes, basil, lemon balm, thyme, salad rocket, chili peppers, and stevia, lettuce, parsley, cilantro etc.) at a lower cost to the consumer and the environment. 
         [0007]    With various options, the present invention can be set up to fit in any space. In alternative embodiments the present system comprises for example a smaller freestanding enclosed unit to grow 64 plants at once on four shelves and fit a space similar to a small refrigerator unit and for heavier demands, a larger freestanding enclosed unit for the prosumer will allow people to grow as many as 250 individual plants at once. The shelves of the present invention will work independently, allowing for use in open-design projects to customize any space. 
         [0008]    An object of the invention is to provide a method for producing plant growing substrate comprising the steps of a) preparing a polyvinyl formal (PVF) solution; b) mixing starch into the solution and the stirring obtained mixture; c) pouring aldehyde into the mixture and stirring the mixture; d) mixing concentrated sulfuric acid with water and adding it to the mixture of step c) while constantly stirring; e) heating the mixture of step d) and adding coir, peat, and mineral components; f) pouring the mixture of step e) into molds and heating the molds; g) removing the acid from material obtained in step f); and h) drying the material. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a plant growing media comprising 1-50 w % of Polvinyl formal (PVF); 1-25 w % of aldehyde solution; 1-25 w % of concentrated sulfuric acid; 1-80 w % of distilled water; and 1-50% of starch and optionally coco coir sphagnum peat, fertilizers and minerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The preferred embodiment of present invention is explained more precisely with references to appended figures, where 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the method to produce plant growing substrate; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2 a   - FIG. 2 d    illustrates the substrate according to the present invention in comparison with earlier known substrates. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    A method to produce stabile and crumble free plant growing media blocks comprises natural fibers (for example sphagnum peat, coco coir, etc.) which are chemically bound by a polyvinyl formal polymer. 
         [0014]    To prepare a plant growing media with better elasticity and strength properties than polyurethane-based plant growing substrates, the media comprises by active ingredient weight:
   Polvinyl formal (PVF) [1-50%]   aldehyde solution, preferably formaldehyde (solution) [1-25%]   concentrated sulphuric acid [1-25%]   distilled water [1-80%]   starch, preferably potato starch [1-50%].   
 
         [0020]    In the alternative embodiments coco coir up to 95% or sphagnum peat is added to the composition. 
         [0021]    In another alternative embodiment the crowing media comprises fertilizer. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment the crowing media comprises limestone to adjust pH. 
         [0023]    In alternative embodiments formaldehyde is partly replaced with acetaldehyde, glutaraldehyde or glyoxal to yield material with different physical properties. Altering the aldehyde can affect temperatures and process times for manufacturing. 
         [0024]    PVF and coir are used to fasten and support the plants roots. Minerals and limestone are used to make the environment suitable for plant growth. Other compounds are used for the polymer forming reaction and are afterwards removed from the mixture. 
         [0025]    A method for producing plant crowing substrate comprises the steps of
   a) Placing PVF granules into distilled water and mixing at 70° C.-95° C., preferably 80° C., in a controlled water bath for 0.5-6 hours, preferably 1.5 hours, to prepare a stock solution with a concentration between 5 to 15%.   b) Mixing the starch into the solution and stirring the received mixture.   c) Pouring the aldehyde, in preferred embodiment formaldehyde, into the mixture and stirring the received mixture.   d) Mixing the concentrated sulphuric acid with water and adding to the mixture while constantly stirring.   e) Heating the mixture to approximately 30° C.-70° C., preferably 50° C., and optionally adding the coir, peat, mineral components such as lime stone.   f) Pouring the mixture into molds and heating the molds 55° C.-95° C. for 1-24 hours preferably at 75° C. for 4 hours.   g) Taking the blocks out from the molds and vacuum washing with water until the excess acid is removed from the material. Sodium hydroxide can be used to neutralize the acids before the washing procedure.   h) Afterwards drying the blocks under normal conditions.   
 
         [0034]    Regulation of the necessary amount of water, air, nutrients is based on the following:
   a) Water based on flow meter readings, soil moisture readings, plant age and size, temperature, user input.   b) Air by altering substrate porosity (amount of coir or peat) and by fans and cooling element.   c) Nutrients are dependent on substrate manufacturing process or can also be added during growth by automatic or manual means.   
 
         [0038]    Substrates can be recycled and possibly reused to some extent. Also the material can be composted and burned contrary to rock wool based growing substrates. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2 a    to  FIG. 2 d    compare prior art potting soil and growing substrate according to the present invention. The growth substrate according to present invention comprises nutrients that are realized according to the plant growth cycle and therefore there is no need to add fertilizers or other additives. The growth medium according to present invention is made of natural renewable sources only and contains no pesticides, fungicides, hormones or other potentially harmful substances. With prior known potting soils frequent watering is needed which leaches nutrients away. With the present growth substrate nutrients and water are distributed evenly, and plant roots also have access to oxygen at all times. Unlike the known potting soils, the growth medium according to present invention keeps a consistent pH level. 
         [0040]    According to the present invention the water absorbency is even in two ways, when the growing substrate is irrigated by watering the upper part of growing substrate and when the lower part of growing substrate is dipped into water.