Light-weight modular adjustable vertical hydroponic growing system and method

A light-weight, initially in-organic media-ponic modular hydroponic grow tube system for cultivation of a plurality of plants and beneficial soil organisms in symbiotic combination, including a plurality of dimensionally standardized modular grow tube assemblies that receives liquid nutrient fertigation, each of the dimensionally standardized modular grow tube assemblies comprising:

• a) a suspended grow tube comprising a single elongated thermoplastic poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC) pipe of dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe dimensions having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, an outer surface and a media-filled hollow interior filled with a 100% inorganic granular grow media,
• b) a single elongated tubular, insulating filter-fabric media casing, to retain the granular grow media, that fits within and closely against the hollow interior of the elongated PVC pipe grow tube,
• c) a plurality of plant ports formed in the grow tube outer surface, each of the plant ports defining an aerating plant-pocket void formed within the granular media-filled grow tube by penetration of the media casing and inward displacement of the granular grow media proximate to the plant port to provide a plurality of such voids within the media-filled grow tube for planting and nurturing of plants and to aid in aeration of fertigation flowing through the granular grow media, and
• d) a fertigation inlet reservoir, conforming to dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe and fitting dimensions, an upper inlet end of the grow tube having an upwardly-opening inlet reservoir for receipt and temporary storage of fertigation from an overhead fertigation distribution subsystem, and a removable perforated fertigation inlet basin, that is recessed and that conforms to dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe and fitting dimensions, for graduated dispersal of fertigation into the granular grow media;
• and
• e) a lower outlet assembly, fabricated of PVC pipe and PVC pipe fittings of dimensionally standardized modular dimensions, at the outlet end of the grow tube and directed into an inlet of a fertigation return subsystem positioned lower than the grow tube,
• wherein the lower end outlet assembly is formed by a dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe reducer bushing in combination with an open-ended dimensionally standardized modular PVC extension pipe, the open-ended extension pipe being of lesser diameter than a diameter of the elongated dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe of the grow tube, and whereby the extension pipe terminates within, but is not in contact with, the inlet of the fertigation return subsystem which has a greater diameter than the diameter of the extension pipe, thereby being both freely rotatable and horizontally restrained.

A light-weight, initially inorganic media-ponic modular hydroponic grow tube system for cultivation of a plurality of plants and beneficial soil organisms in symbiotic combination, including a plurality of dimensionally standardized modular grow tube assemblies that receives liquid nutrient fertigation, each of the dimensionally standardized modular grow tube assemblies comprising:

• a) a vertically suspended, vertically-oriented grow tube comprising a single elongated thermoplastic poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC) pipe of dimensionally standardized modular dimensions having an outer surface and a media-filled hollow interior filled with a 100% inorganic granular grow media, the grow tube being fully and freely rotatable about its vertical axis, the grow tube having an upper grow tube hanger that is easily demountable by lifting, without disassembly of the grow tube, from an overhead swivel support by simply lifting the grow tube,
• b) a single elongated tubular, insulating filter-fabric media casing, to retain the granular grow media, that fits within and closely against the hollow interior of the elongated PVC pipe grow tube, has an open upper end for filling with the granular grow media and a closed lower end to retain the granular grow media,
• c) a plurality of plant ports formed in, and flush with the grow tube outer surface, each of the plant ports defining an aerating plant-pocket void formed proximate to the outer surface within the media-filled grow tube by penetration of the media casing and inward displacement of the granular grow media proximate to the plant port to provide a plurality of such voids within the media-filled grow tube for planting and nurturing of plants and to aid in aeration of fertigation draining by gravity-flow through the granular grow media,
• d) an open upper end fertigation inlet reservoir fabricated of dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe and fittings, for receipt and temporary storage of liquid nutrient fertigation from an overhead fertigation distribution piping subsystem, and a removable perforated fertigation inlet basin that is recessed and that conforms to dimensionally standardized modular PVC pipe and fitting dimensions, for graduated dispersal of the liquid nutrient fertigation into the granular grow media,
• e) an open lower end outlet assembly, fabricated of PVC pipe and PVC pipe fittings of dimensionally standardized modular dimensions, directed into and both loosely engaged and horizontally restrained by an inlet of a fertigation return subsystem positioned below the grow tube, thereby permitting the grow tube to be both rotated freely and easily demounted from the inlet by simply lifting the grow tube;
• wherein the plurality of grow tube assemblies are mounted within a climate-moderating greenhouse installed adjacent to an insulated and air-conditioned head house, the greenhouse including:
• f) at least one centering rotational momentum, vortex induction device installed downstream of each fertigation inlet basin to impart a centering rotational momentum to a fertigation flow to improve flow characteristics by rotating the flow within the overhead fertigation distribution piping subsystem to help avoid clogging, and
• g) the overhead fertigation distribution piping subsystem having insulated, pressurized thermoplastic pipes within the climate-moderating greenhouse to maintain fertigation at near ground water temperatures maintained within the insulated, air-conditioned head house, and to deliver the fertigation to the upper end fertigation inlet reservoirs of the grow tubes.