| 主权项 |
1. A cultivation unit for growing plants, comprising:
(a) a base, the base comprising:
(i) a pair of drain conduits, each conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, an upper surface, a lower surface, a medial side, a lateral side, and a drain hole in an upper surface of the drain conduit, the drain hole being in communication with an interior of the drain conduit; and(ii) a supply conduit, the supply conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, an upper surface, a lower surface, and two lateral sides, and an outlet; (b) a solution compartment positioned above the base, the solution compartment comprising an upper end, a lower end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, vertically extending sidewalls, an upper opening, and a bottom, the bottom comprising at least one outlet in communication with one of the pair of drain conduits and an inlet in communication with the outlet of the supply conduit; (c) an interior drain pipe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a medial portion disposed above the proximal end and the distal end, the medial portion comprising a vertex, the proximal end and distal end having fluid openings, the proximal end being in fluid tight engagement with the drain hole of the drain conduit, wherein the distal end of the drain pipe is disposed higher than the proximal end, and wherein the medial portion of the drain pipe is disposed higher than the proximal and distal ends, so that fluid from the interior of the solution compartment enters the fluid opening in the distal end of the drain pipe and exits through the fluid opening in the proximal end of the drain pipe when an upper surface of a fluid in the solution compartment reaches the vertex of the drain pipe; (d) a riser pipe having an upper end and a lower end with a lower opening, the lower opening being in fluid communication with the supply conduit, the upper end comprising a nozzle having nozzle openings to allow the passage of fluid therethrough; (e) a root compartment having an upper end, a lower end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, an upper opening, a lower opening, and a downwardly extending circumferential wall between the upper end and the lower end of the root compartment, wherein the lower end of the root compartment is supported on the upper end of the solution compartment, wherein the circumferential wall comprises one or more stem openings, each stem opening having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior surface, and a passage to allow a portion of a plant being grown in the compartment to pass therethrough; (f) a cover for the root compartment having an upper surface and a lower surface, the cover contacting the upper end of the root compartment; and (g) a filter attached to the lower opening of the root compartment, the filter having an upper end, a lower end, and circumferential walls extending from the lower end to the upper end, wherein the filter walls comprise openings to allow the passage of fluid therethrough, such that fluid in the lower end of the root compartment drains into the solution compartment through the filter. |
