The present invention relates to a plate-like plant carrier for purposes of cultivating layers, i.e. plants in their very early growth, and to have seeds germinate; and particularly the invention relates to a plant growth structure on or as part of plant tables in horticulture, or to be used directly in the ground, or in flower boxes or other open growth systems or in closed systems (glass houses), all for cultivating plants in their early stages.
It is known to cultivate plants in boxes, in flats, i.e. in flat boxes made of wood or synthetic material. The flat configuration may also be the result of a small, usually square or rectangularly-shaped and usually plastic flower boxes. What happens to the boxes after planting has obtained is often not deemed a factor, but for reasons of ecology it is. Reference is not made here to the situation of the direct re-use of the boxes after emptying them for planting; of course such boxes can be used over and over again for the same purpose. But presently it is of interest here are that there are situations in which, for some reason, it is not desirable to disturb the seedlings or plants but to leave the container in place, i.e. the plants are just planted in their container. This may readily result in ecological problems.
The principle of containing a plant and root system in a small, box-like container carries with it the following problem: a certain amount of water retention is required so that the root system and surrounding soil will not dry out too quickly. On the other hand, if insufficient drainage is provided, then the plant system may begin to rot or be prone to other forms of sickness.
It is also known to use very finely ground peat and to press a certain portion into a rod-like configuration. This peat rod is then surrounded by and held in a net made of synthetic material which is configured in this case in that it can deform elastically. Such a rod or strand is then cut into a suitable length and is used for individual cultivating and planting of seeds and small plants. If the pressed strand is watered it will swell as the surrounding synthetic net expands. The finely ground peat, however, has a very small pore volume when compressed, which has an effect on the growth of the plant. In addition, any capillary action is rather poor in compressed peat. Hence, such finally ground peat is a poor agent as far as rewetting is concerned.
Certain greening flats are known, for example, for use as roof covers or as embankment covers. In the latter case, the task is to have the roots of the plants traverse their container as fast as possible so that the roots physically combine with the underlying soil. In this way one makes sure that the entire arrangement is rapidly and so-to-speak naturally anchored to the ground.
On the other hand, roof covers are usually made of mats which contain both plant food and grass seed. These mats are constructed such that the cover on which the mat rests should not receive much moisture, that is, the mat is comprised, for example, of a synthetic layer upon which are deposited layers of nutrients and other plant food to enable the grass to germinate and grow. These mats are constructed for exactly that particular purpose, namely, for providing a green cover on a roof, and these rather highly, specialized mats are usually not useful in a different environment.