Growing medium for plants
OwnerFrank W. Moffet, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a plant growth media which comprises small tufts of mineral wool having dispersed therein, particles of acidic phenolic resin for pH control and particles of vermiculite. The ingredients and structure of the product results in a lightweight growth media having a suitable pH for growing certain plants while also providing for flowability, enhanced water adsorption and cohesiveness which prevents the composition from spilling out of certain types of plant containers. The composition also provides enhanced root anchorage without sacrificing the properties of flowability and water adsorption. The composition also optimizes other features which makes the composition and ideal plant growth media.
Claims15
In a method of growing plants which comprises planting a plant in a composition and feeding fertilizer and water to the plant in a growth stimulating amount;
- wherein the improvement comprises planting the plant in a composition comprising a blend of mineral wool fibers;
- particles of cation exchange material selected from the group consisting of vermiculite and perlite;
- and powdered phenol-formaldehyde resin;
- said resin having an acidic pH and said fibers being in the form of tufts having interstitial space contained therein;
- and said resin powder being substantially dispersed in the interstitial space in the tufts.
A plant growth composition which comprises a blend of mineral wool fibers;
- particles of cation exchange material selected from the group consisting of vermiculite and perlite;
- and powdered phenol-formaldehyde resin;
- said resin having an acidic pH and said fibers being in the form of tufts having interstitial space contained therein;
- and said resin powder being substantially dispersed in the interstitial space in the tufts.
A plant growth composition which comprises a blend of mineral wool fibers;
- particles of cation exchange material selected from the group consisting of vermiculite and perlite;
- and particles of phenol-formaldehyde resin;
- said composition being formed by mixing mineral wool fiber with expanded vermiculite particles and powdered phenol-formaldehyde resin having an acidic pH;
- said mixing being continued until the mineral wool forms tufts of about 1 inch in diameter having interstitial space therein and thereafter subjecting the mixture to a milling procedure to reduce the size of the tufts and disperse the resin powder within the interstitial space in the tufts.
A plant growth composition which consists essentially of a blend of mineral wool fibers;
- particles of cation exchange material selected from the group consisting of vermiculite and perlite;
- and powdered phenol-formaldehyde resin;
- said resin having an acidic pH and said fibers being in the form of tufts having interstitial space contained therein;
- and said resin powder being substantially dispersed in the interstitial space in the tufts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.