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US 7,726,070 B2Granted
Hydration maintenance apparatus and method
OwnerTommy K. Thrashinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A material for maintaining hydration in plants, whether potted or in natural soils may include a substrate treated with a binder, securing a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Typical binders may include lignicite, or other naturally occurring materials such as sugars, molasses, corn syrup, gelatin, or the like. A byproduct of wood, lignicite has been found to be very effective. Various materials can serve as a hydrating, particulate coating. Polyacrylamide has been found to serve well and provide relief from the stress of dehydration that normally occurs in plants between waterings.
Claims20
A method for treating plants, the method comprising:
- providing a plant having roots defining a root region;
- providing a cavity having soil prepared to receive the plant;
- placing the plant on the soil in the cavity;
- providing an amendment, acting as a hydration-maintenance composition;
- the providing the amendment, further comprising providing a substrate formed as granules of a first material;
- the providing the amendment, further comprising coating each granule with a binder thereon;
- providing a second material comprising a polymer selected to be hydrophilic;
- the providing the amendment, further comprising comminuting the polymer to form a powder thereof comprising particles;
- the providing the amendment, further comprising coating a portion of the binder on each granule with the powder;
- surrounding the root region with a quantity of the granules;
- covering the root region and granules with a covering layer;
- providing water to the plant;
- hydrating of the hydrophilic polymer by the water;
- maintaining a portion of the water by the hydrophilic polymer until after the soil becomes too dry to sustain the plant;
- sustaining the plant by the hydrophilic polymer providing the portion of the water to the root region of the plant.
12 more elements
A method of preparing a plant bed, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate formed as granules, each having an exterior surface;
- providing a hydrophilic material
- comminuting into powder the hydrophilic material to a size smaller than the size of the granules;
- coating the granules with a binder in an amount effective to bind the powder to the granules and ineffective to bind the granules to one another;
- coating the granules with the particles resulting in the granules containing the particles on the exterior surfaces thereof;
- providing a plant having roots a root region
- preparing a cavity to receive the granules proximate the root region;
- distributing the granules into the cavity to maintain hydration of the root region;
- and
- providing water into the second soil and the granules therebelow.
7 more elements
A method of soil amendment, the method comprising:
- providing a carrier, distinct from the soil, and formed as granules, each granule acting as a substrate;
- the providing the carrier, wherein each granule has an exterior surface and an effective diameter, the granules collectively having a mean effective diameter;
- selecting a hydrophilic polymer;
- comminuting the hydrophilic polymer to a powder comprising particles;
- selecting a binder;
- adhering to the granules the binder
- coating the binder on the granules with the particles of the powder
- adhering the powder to the granules by the binder;
- stabilizing the powder coating to fix the powder on the granules by curing the binder;
- the stabilizing, wherein curing comprises at least one of drying and chemical reaction;
- providing a plant having roots defining a root region;
- preparing a cavity to receive the plant, the cavity comprising a first quantity of soil located proximate the root region;
- selecting a quantity of the granules;
- pouring the quantity of granules over at least a portion of the root region;
- covering the root region and granules with a second quantity of soil;
- and
- providing water into the second quantity of soil and percolating to the granules therebelow;
- hydrating the granules by absorbing into the powder on the granules at least a first portion of the water provided;
- providing to the roots by the hydrated granules, a second portion of the water out of the first portion thereof;
- continuing to provide to the roots a third portion of the water out of the first portion thereof after the first and second quantities of soil have ceased providing water to the roots.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.