Aquatic planting process and related apparatus

A process for planting aquatic plants underwater in an estuary having a bottom which comprises the steps of

• a. forming a holder which comprises a compressed peat moss button, having a central aperture, which is secured to a thin ferrous metal disc;
• b. placing an aquatic plant having a stem in the central aperture of said peat moss button;
• c. placing the holder containing the aquatic plant in a hollow nipple, the outer extremity of which incorporates a magnet, the stem of the aquatic plant being placed in the hollow nipple, said hollow nipple being part of an apparatus whereby the nipple can be brought into contact with the bottom of said estuary;
• d. operating said apparatus in such a manner that the nipple with the holder attached thereto is brought into contact with the underwater estuary bottom, in such a manner that the ferrous disc engages the underwater estuary bottom such that it is removed from the nipple, thereby planting the aquatic plant in the underwater estuary bottom.

An underwater planter for aquatic plants comprising

• a. a hull which has sufficient bouyency for transporting and positioning the planter to an area where the aquatic plants are to be planted underwater;
• b. a planting wheel which is supported by said hull wherein said planting wheel is adapted to roll underwater over an estuary having a bottom wherein spaced on the periphery of said planting wheel are nipples which are adapted to receive aquatic plants where said aquatic plants are further supported on sheet sections which can be engaged by said nipples;
• c. a means for varing the distance that the planting wheel extends below the waterline of said hull;
• d. a means for propelling the hull through the water thereby causing the wheel to roll along the estuary bottom causing the aquatic plants to be planted thereon.