Automated planter box system

An automated planter system comprising a planter unit including an outer container open at the top;

• an inner container open at the top, supported interiorly of, and spaced away from the sides of, the outer container, the bottom portion of the inner container having a series of apertures formed therethrough adapted to permit the flow of liquid between the outer container and the inner container, the apertures being spaced above the bottom of the outer container, the outer lateral surface of the inner container and the inner lateral surface of the outer container defining an intermediate space extending from the bottom of the outer container to the top of the outer container, providing a water table volume and humidifying space and being open to the inner space above the inner container;
• the outer container extending vertically above the inner container, the upper portion of the outer container, above the inner container, extending inwardly towards but spaced above the inner container, whereby the gap formed between the top of the inner container and the portion of the outer container directly above the inner container faces towards the space above the inner container, the intermediate space being continuous with the space above the inner container via the gap;
• fluid conduit means extending into the outer container for placing the intermediate space in fluid flow connection with a reservoir of water under pressure;
• valve means in the conduit means designed and adapted to open and close the conduit means to fluid flow into the intermediate space;
• sensing means within the intermediate space to sense the level of liquid in the intermediate space;
• and
• adjustable operating means for opening and closing the valve, activated by the sensing means, whereby the valve is open when the liquid level in the intermediate space is below a predetermined level and the valve means is thereafter closed when the liquid level reaches a different higher, predetermined level, thereby to effect alternating wetting and drying cycles for any soil contained in the inner container, while maintaining a humid atmosphere above such soil.