The growing of plants in vessels such as plant pots has been common for decades. However the design of plant pots in recent years has more to do with the aesthetics of the pot and the cost effectiveness in terms of the materials from which the pot is manufactured than any real consideration of the prime purpose of a pot namely its role in assisting in the growth of healthy plants.

Healthy plants require a combination of natural light, aeration of roots structure, moisture, fertilisers and a medium in which to grow, usually potting mix.

It has been discovered that the design of the vessel that houses the plant can contribute substantially to the improvement in plant growth. It is this discovery that has brought about the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a vessel for growing plants having an interior, an open top and a base, a spacer member adapted to support a growing medium in the interior, wherein the spacer has at least one apertured projection adapted to extend into the growing medium.

Preferably the vessel is manufactured from any material. In a preferred embodiment the base is

perforated. The apertured projection is preferably a perforated longitudinal ridge on the base wherein the underside of the ridge is open to an underside of the vessel. The ridge may be A-shaped or trapezoid in cross- section. Preferably, there are two ridges provided perpendicularly to one another on the base wherein one ridge extends further into the growing medium than the other. Alternatively, there may be one major ridge and smaller minor ridges provided in a series perpendicularly to the major ridge.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vessel for growing plants, comprising an enclosure having a wall structure, an open top and a base, a spacer member arranged in the base, the spacer member having a platform positioned above the base to define a water reservoir at the base, the wall structure having an aperture positioned below the platform, the platform being adapted to support a growing medium, the platform having at least one apertured projection adapted to extend into the growing medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a plant pot containing an insert that is subject to the present invention ; Figure 2 is a plan view of an insert for use with the pot of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insert taken along line A-A of Figure 2 ; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an insert for use in a rectangular pot ; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pot in

accordance with a second embodiment of the invention ; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional end view of a first embodiment of a pot according to the present invention having an integrated insert forming the base of the pot ; Figure 7 is a plan view of Figure 6 ; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the pot of Figure 6 ; Figure 9 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a pot with an integrated insert forming the base of the pot ; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional end view of the third embodiment of the pot ; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the third embodiment of the pot; and Figure 12 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a pot with an integrated insert forming the base of the pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings concern terracotta and plastic plant pots that have a spacer member that is either positioned in the base of the pot as an insert (illustrated in Figures 1-5), or that have the spacer member integrated with the base of the pot (illustrated in Figures 6-11).

Where an insert is used, the insert is positioned in the base of the pot and a water compartment is defined in the base underneath the insert. Plant pots having an integrated spacer member in the base of the pot are adapted to be placed on a tray. A water compartment is provided between the tray and the spacer member.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, a pot 10 of conical shape has an open top 11 and a closed base 12. The pot may be manufactured in plastics or terracotta.

The pot 10 has a single elongate slot 15 provided around its periphery at a position that is approximately a sixth of the way up the pot. A spacer 20 of elliptical cross- section fits inside the pot 10 to define a platform surface 21 which, in use, supports the growing medium. The platform 21 has a substantially horizontal upper central section 40. Side edges of the platform extend down to form two supports 41 for the platform. The spacer 20 is manufactured in terracotta or a porous material and as such is able to absorb liquid. The supports 41, therefore, operate both to space the upper central section from the base 12 of the pot as well as a means to take up water for transfer to the root structure of the plant.

The central section 40 of the platform has a centrally positioned and upwardly standing conical spike 22. Concentrically located around the spike 22 is a circular raised strip 42 of triangular cross-section.

Longitudinal slits 28 are provided on the inclined sides of the conical spike 22. Perforations (not shown) in the platform allow oxygen underneath the platform to reach directly to the root system of the growing medium. As mentioned above, supports 41 act as capillary channels for water uptake to the platform. Sides 43 of the platform are adjacent to the supports 41 but extend to the inner walls of the pot to form lower, smaller platforms 44 relative to central section 40.

The spacer 20 sits in the pot 10 at a position in which the platform 21 is slightly higher than the elongate slot 15 in the wall of the pot 10 to divide the pot into a growing zone and a water reservoir. The growing zone is above the platform 21 and the water reservoir underneath.

In use, the spacer 20 is inserted into the base of the pot 10 and the pot is filled with a suitable potting mix which surrounds and covers the insert. Water is poured into the base 12 of the pot 10 via the elongate slot 15 in the side.

The perforated platform of the insert extends into the potting mix with the hollow central spike 22 extending into the base of the root structure of the plant (not shown), thus providing aeration and water access into the growing zone.

The spacer illustrated in Figure 4 is a variation of the embodiment of Figures 1-3 in that it is adapted for use in rectangular pots rather than the round pot of Figure 1. The longitudinal cross-section of the spacer of Figures 1 and 4 are substantially the same. In essence, the spacer of Figure 4 is an elongated version of that of Figures 1-3 to accommodate a rectangular pot.

In the embodiments of Figures 1-4, the compartment defined between the underside of the platform and the base of the pot is adapted to contain water up to the level of the slot 15 in the pot wall and air between the water level and platform 21.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the pot 80 which can be either plastics or terracotta has a small ledge 81 on its interior at a position approximately a third of the way up the pot from the base 82, a spacer member 85 in the form of a terracotta or plastic circular disc is arranged to sit on the ledge as shown in Figure 5.

The disc has its surface perforated with the perforations being approximately 50% of the surface area. The center of the disc has an upstanding cone 85 that it also slotted or perforated. Four trustocronical legs 86 are positioned through holes 88 in the platform to extend down to the base of the pot. The legs 86 are slotted or perforated. The pot 80 has a slot 87 towards the base of the wall structure defining the top of the water reservoir in the same manner as the first embodiment. When the growing medium is placed into the pot it fills the trustocronical legs 86 and sits above the platform 85 with the perforated cone 85 extending

upwardly into the growing medium. The slotted or perforated structure of both the platform 85 and the legs 86 means that there is direct contact between the water in the base of the pot and the growing medium and this assists the capillary action drawing the water up into the growing medium and the root structure. The perforated nature of the spacer and in particular the projecting cone of the spacer ensures excellent aeration of the root structure of plants growing in the growing medium.

The single slot 15 or 87 is provided in the reservoir to facilitate air/water entry but also to ensure against a draught in the reservoir which can cause air pruning of the plant's root structure. The water reservoir is about 25% of the volume of the growing medium and the air space is about 12.5% to 25% of the water reservoir.

Soluble nutrients can be added to the water to be fed to the root system in an aerobic atmosphere.

Figures 6-12 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the spacer member is integrated, such as by moulding or attachment, with the pot and forms part of the base support of the pot. The pot is therefore suitably manufactured from a plastics material but it is understood that the invention is also applicable to terracotta, compressed wood products or other suitable materials. The pot is designed to stand directly on the ground or in a tray which can contain water. Often a porous mat is placed in the tray to absorb and hold the water. The pots are then positioned directly on the mat. The spacer member allows for capillary based watering of plants by drawing water upward through the spacer member to the plant growing zone from the ground or water tray.

Referring specifically to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6-8, the pot 50 is of conical shape with an open top 51 and a perforated spacer member 52

formed integrally with the base. The spacer member 52 is similar in nature to the inserts described above but is integrally formed with the pot. The spacer member 52 has raised ridges 54 and 55 perpendicularly arranged on the base 53. The ridges 54 and 55 are A-shaped in cross section and the underside of ridges 54 and 55 are open to allow the through flow of air. The ridges have the same purpose as the projections and spikes of the earlier described inserts, that is, to provide aeration and water access to the root structure of the plant. Ridge 54 is larger than ridge 55 and projects further into the root structure. Both ridges and the platform 53 are perforated to allow water intake by capillary action and provide air inlets to the plant roots. The planar base sections 53 are also perforated as shown in Figure 6.

In use the growing zone is provided above the base 53 which sits on the ground or in a tray. Water under the base 53 is drawn up by capillary action into the soil resting above the base and also through the A-shaped ridges to the soil higher up in the root zone. Air under the ridges can access the root zone through the perforations 57 in the ridges.

Figures 9-12 illustrate further embodiments of rectangular pots wherein the spacer member is integral with the base. Specifically referring to Figures 9-11, the rectangular pot 60 has a spacer member 59 defined by two mutually perpendicularly arranged ridges above a perforated base 61. The larger ridge 62 is of A-shaped cross-section and the underside of ridge 62 is open to allow the through flow of air. The smaller ridge 63 is trapezoid in cross- section and its underside is too open to allow the through flow of air. The perforated base allows water to enter the growing zone 54 of pot 60 by way of capillary watering through the spacer member 59.

Figure 12 illustrates a variation on the spacer member of Figures 9-11. Rectangular pot 66 has a spacer member 65 having one large perforated ridge 67 extending along the long axis of the spacer member. The ridge is of A-shaped cross-section. Smaller perforated ridges 68, also of A-shaped cross-section, extend perpendicularly to the large ridge 67 and across the width of the spacer member 65. The base of the pot 66 is divided into base sections 70, also perforated, and which occupy the area between the large ridge 67, smaller ridges 68 and walls 69 of the pot 66. The potting mix is supported by the base sections 70 and ridges 67,68. The growing zone is capillary watered through the ridges as well as the base sections. The space underneath the ridges allow oxygen to flow through the perforations in the ridges to the growing zone.

Pots having an integrated or moulded spacer member, can be top watered or capillary watered from a water supply in a tray. Whichever method of watering is used, a supply of air is available directly to the root system through the underside of the ridges.

It is understood that the arrangement of cones and ridges on the spacer member need not be confined to the examples provided herein, but may form any combination of ridges and/or cones which project into the growing zone of the pot to assist in greater plant growth.

It is understood that the spacer member need not be manufactured from the same material as the pot, but may be moulded or attached to the pot by other means to accommodate suitable spacer material including terracotta, steel, cement, or the like.

In all the embodiments at least one projection extends from the upper surface of the insert to penetrate the potting mix. In an established plant the root ball of

the plant is pushed down onto the projection to enable penetration into the growing medium. Thus, the projection has to be strong enough to resist the downward force whilst sharp enough to facilitate penetration.

In all the embodiments described above, the water reservoir in the base of the pot, or the area underneath the ridges, is provided with air access either through the elongate slot in the wall structure or through open ends of the ridges in the pot walls. With respect to the embodiment of the pot having an insert and own water reservoir, the porous structure of the platform and the pot coupled with the roots of the plant that might extend through the platform cause the water to be drawn up into the root structure of the plant. The projecting cones or ridges that penetrate into the root structure encourage aeration and water access to the root structure and encourage healthy growth. The perforations and slots in the insert structure of the platform of the insert cause a capillary action and have the effect of drawing water out of the reservoir and up into the base of the root structure.

Similarly with the embodiment of the pot with the integrated spacer member, the perforated structure of the base, ridges and the pot coupled with the roots of the plant that might extend through the ridges cause the water to be drawn up into the root structure of the plant. For plastic pots, the plastic is a perforated-type plastic.

The projecting ridges that penetrate into the root structure encourage the aeration and water access to the root structure which encourages healthy growth. The perforations and slots in the structure of the base, including ridges, cause a capillary action of drawing water out of a tray, or off the ground, up into the base of the root structure by the soil.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.