Support for vertical hydroponic plants matrix

Apparatus for mechanically supporting growing plants in a vertical orientation, wherein:

• the apparatus incudes a plant-supporting matrix-mat;
• the apparatus includes a backing-structure;
• the apparatus includes a set of fasteners, by which the matrix-mat is mechanically fastened to the backing-structure;
• the fasteners are pitched on a grid of such spacing that no point in the matrix-mat is more than a distance L away from one of the fasteners;
• where L is no more than about ½ meter, and preferably is no more than about ¼ meter;
• the matrix-mat includes at least one unitary panel of mat material, having an area of between two and ten sq. meters;
• the material of the matrix-mat is of such structure, and of such thickness, as to possess the following physical characteristics:
• (a) the material of the matrix-mat is such that the roots of a plant can be inserted into the matrix-mat, and, when the matrix-mat is orientated vertically, the plant is mechanically firmly supported in and by the matrix-mat;
• (b) the matrix-mat is semi-structural, in that the material thereof is inherently capable of supporting itself and plants embedded therein, but only when the matrix-mat is supported by the fasteners pitched on the said grid-pattern;
• and
• (c) the material of the matrix-mat is inert, and non-biodegradable with respect to plant growth and associated micro-biological action;
• the apparatus includes a backing-structure support, which is effective to support the backing-structure, with the matrix-mat fastened thereto, in a vertical orientation.
• the materials of the apparatus are non-degradable with respect to a humid indoor environment;
• the plants have been inserted by their roots into the material of the matrix-mat;
• and
• the apparatus includes a hydroponic watering system, comprising a water-depositor, a water-collector, and a water-circulator, wherein:
• (a) the water-depositor is structured to so deposit water onto an upper location of the matrix-mat that the water trickles down through the matrix-mat, wetting the roots of the plants;
• (b) the water-collector is structured to collect water that emerges from a lower location of the matrix-mat;
• and
• (c) the water-circulator is structured for circulating the water collected in the water-collector back to the water-depositor.