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US 12,274,213 B2Granted
Horticultural hydrogels
AssigneeVelocigro Inc.
InventorsTimothy Cuthbertson, Jonathan Romo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to horticultural hydrogels for growing plants and/or fungi, and more particularly to hydrogel-based substrates for the germination, growth, and/or sporulation of those plants and/or fungi.
Claims10
A method of preparing a horticultural hydrogel plug comprising the steps of:
- mixing carrageenan, fertilizer, and, optionally, carbon and microcrystalline cellulose to form a mixture;
- heating the mixture to at least 85° C. while mixing to form a homogeneous mixture;
- cooling the homogeneous mixture to less than 70° C.;
- and
- pouring the homogeneous mixture into a gel plug mold to form a horticultural hydrogel plug,
- wherein the horticultural hydrogel plug includes:
- 0.8% to 1.7% carrageenan;
- 96% to 99% water;
- 0.1% to 0.2% fertilizer;
- optionally, 0.01% to 0.1% microcrystalline cellulose;
- and
- optionally, 0.005% to 0.015% acid
- wherein the horticultural hydrogel plug includes:
- hardness of more than 150 g/cm2;
- electrical conductivity of 2.3 to 8.5 mS/cm;
- and
- a pH between 5.2 and 8.5.
14 more elements
A horticultural hydrogel plug prepared according to a method of comprising the steps of:
- mixing carrageenan, fertilizer, and, optionally, carbon and microcrystalline cellulose to form a mixture;
- heating the mixture to at least 85° C. while mixing to form a homogeneous mixture;
- cooling the homogeneous mixture to less than 70° C.;
- and
- pouring the homogeneous mixture into a gel plug mold to form a horticultural hydrogel plug,
- wherein the horticultural hydrogel plug includes:
- 0.8% to 1.7% carrageenan;
- 96% to 99% water;
- 0.1% to 0.2% fertilizer;
- optionally, 0.01% to 0.1% microcrystalline cellulose;
- and
- optionally, 0.005% to 0.015% acid
- wherein the horticultural hydrogel plug includes:
- hardness of more than 150 g/cm2;
- electrical conductivity of 2.3 to 8.5 mS/cm;
- and
- a pH between 5.2 and 8.5.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.