초록

A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: blending a dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and a dry water-retentive polymer to make a growing medium; andcompressing said growing medium at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 3:1 to about 10:1;wherein said compressed growing med

1. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: blending a dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and a dry water-retentive polymer to make a growing medium; andcompressing said growing medium at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 3:1 to about 10:1;wherein said compressed growing medium is not hydrophobic and maintains a compressed shape without a water soluble binder until hydrated. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising packaging said growing medium. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said packaging comprises vacuum-packing, pillow packing, controlled atmosphere packing, modified atmosphere packing or desiccant packing. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said packaging comprises enclosing said growing medium in a grow-bag. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: mixing seeds throughout said dehydrated bulking agent prior to said compression of said growing medium. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising flushing said grow-bag with nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, helium, argon, xenon, neon or a combination thereof. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said dehydrated bulking agent comprises less than 20% moisture content. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said dehydrated bulking agent comprises less than 18% moisture content. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said dehydrated bulking agent is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio of about 3:1 or less prior to said blending with said dry water-retentive polymer. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming said growing medium into a wafer, pellet, brick, slab, cube or triangle. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing seeds throughout said dehydrated bulking agent prior to said compression of said growing medium. 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a fertilizer, nutrients, a pesticide, an insecticide, or a fungicide to said growing medium. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said compressing further includes agitating said growing medium prior to said compression. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling said growing medium to between 20° C. and 25° C. during said compression of said dehydrated bulking agent. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said growing medium is maintained below about 35° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said growing medium is maintained below about 30° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said growing medium is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 5:1 to about 10:1. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said growing medium comprises coir. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said coir comprises low compressed coir. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said low compressed coir comprises coir dust and short coir fibers. 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising grinding said coir to pass through a mesh screen ranging in size from between 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch. 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming said maintained compressed shape into an irregular shape. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said irregular shape comprises a non-symmetrical shape. 25. A method for making a growing medium, comprising: blending a bulking agent and a dry water-retentive polymer to make a growing medium;contacting seeds with a granulation pan;contacting said growing medium with said granulation pan; andgranulating said seeds and said growing medium into pellets;wherein said granulated growing medium forms a matrix and maintains a compressed shape without a water soluble binder until hydrated. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising packaging said pellets. 27. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: dehydrating a ground low compressed coir bulking agent having a grind size between ⅛ inch mesh and 1 inch mesh and a compression ratio of less than 3:1 to less than 18% moisture content;blending said dehydrated ground coir bulking agent and a dry gel-forming water-retentive polymer to form a growing medium;adding a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier to said dehydrated ground coir bulking agent and water-retentive polymer;agitating said growing medium prior to said compression;compressing said growing medium at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 5:1 to about 10:1;wherein said compressed growing medium is free of a water soluble binder;wherein said growing medium is maintained below about 30° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: mixing seeds throughout said dehydrated bulking agent prior to said compression of said growing medium; andmaintaining said growing medium at a temperature between 20° C. and 25° C. during said compression of said dehydrated bulking agent. 29. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: dehydrating a ground coir bulking agent including coir dust and short coir fibers having a grind size between ⅛ inch mesh and 1 inch mesh and a compression ratio of less than 3:1 to less than 18% moisture content;blending said dehydrated ground coir bulking agent and a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier to form a growing medium;agitating said growing medium;compressing said growing medium at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging greater than about 2:1;wherein said compressed growing medium forms a matrix, is free of a water soluble binder material, and maintains a compressed shape until hydrated. 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising forming said compressed growing medium into an irregular shape. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising adding seeds to said compressed growing medium. 32. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: blending a dehydrated bulking agent and a dry water-retentive polymer to make a growing medium; andcompressing said growing medium at a volume-to-volume ratio greater than about 5:1;wherein said compressed growing medium is not hydrophobic and maintains a compressed shape without a water soluble binder until hydrated.