Plant propagation system and apparatus

An apparatus for propagating plants comprising

• (a) a first plant nutrient reservoir,
• (b) a second plant nutrient reservoir disposed at an elevation above said first plant nutrient reservoir,
• (c) a conduit interconnecting said first and second plant nutrient reservoirs,
• (d) said first plant nutrient reservoir being sealed so as to contain liquid nutrient within said first plant nutrient reservoir and to permit said liquid nutrient to be moved from said first plant nutrient reservoir upon the establishment of increased gas pressure within said first plant nutrient reservoir,
• (e) said second plant nutrient reservoir being so constructed as to retain plant nutrients within said second plant nutrient reservoir when said plant nutrients are forced into said second plant nutrient reservoir upon the establishment of increased gas pressure within said first plant nutrient reservoir and to permit said plant nutrients to drain from said second plant nutrient reservoir under the force of gravity when said established increased gas pressure is removed,
• (f) said conduit having one end disposed proximate the bottom of said first plant nutrient reservoir and another end disposed within said second plant nutrient reservoir in a position to permit movement of said liquid nutrient from said first plant nutrient reservoir and draining of said liquid nutrient from said second plant nutrient reservoir whereby said established increased gas pressure within said first plant nutrient reservoir causes liquid nutrient to flow from said first plant nutrient reservoir to said second plant nutrient reservoir through said conduit until the level of liquid nutrient in said first plant nutrient reservoir reaches the level of the end of said conduit disposed proximate the bottom of said first plant nutrient reservoir,
• (g) at least one plant propagation module in liquid communication with the interior of said second plant nutrient reservoir,
• said plant propagation module comprising means defining a generally rigid, water impervious housing having means defining a pair of openings disposed at opposite ends thereof, one of said pair of openings being outside said second plant nutrient reservoir and the other of said pair of openings being within said second plant nutrient reservoir,
• (h) a removable, chemically neutral, generally water insoluable, plant support media disposed within said housing,
• said media comprising a generally low water retention porous foam plastic material having a plurality of elongated, interconnecting cellular channels providing liquid communication between said pair of openings at opposite ends of said housing,
• (i) and means for periodically transferring said liquid nutrient from said first plant nutrient reservoir to said second plant nutrient reservoir and from said second plant nutrient reservoir to said first plant nutrient reservoir to periodically place said liquid nutrient adjacent to said opening in said housing within said second plant nutrient reservoir,
• said means comprising a compressed gas supply and means for fluidly communicating said compressed gas supply with said first plant nutrient reservoir at a controllable gas pressure and gas flow rate,
• (j) and said first plant nutrient reservoir including a bleed valve fluidly communicating the interior of said first plant nutrient reservoir with the exterior of said first plant nutrient reservoir, said bleed valve having a gas flow rate less than said gas flow rate of flow of compressed gas flowing into said first plant nutrient reservoir from said compressed gas supply.