Environmental conditoning system for cut flowers and other flora

摘要

An environmental controlling system to better preserve cut flowers and other flora in vase water. The system uses thermoelectric modules, heat exchangers, fans, power supply, and a thermal conductor to cool and/or heat the water in a flower vase as required. By cooling the water, formation of algae and formation of a callus on the cut stem is reduced. In addition, keeping the stems in water of optimal temperature controls production of ethylene and other phytohormones. These effects prevent premature wilting, leaf abscission, flower senescence, and reduces the care required to maximize the life of cut flowers and other flora. In the event of cold ambient conditions that might cause freezing, the flow of heat can optionally be reversed, warming the water in the vase to avoid freezing the stems and/or maintain optimum temperature and other conditions for a specific variety of flora.

主权项

1. A temperature control system for plants comprising:
a temperature control device contained within a housing and including at least one thermoelectric module having a first, cold module surface and a second, hot module surface; a cold plate positioned in a top opening of the housing, said cold plate having a first cold plate surface in heat exchange contact with said first, cold module surface of said at least one thermoelectric module, and an exposed second, generally planar, cold plate surface; a heat sink having a first heat sink surface in heat exchange contact with said second, hot module surface of said at least one thermoelectric module and a second heat sink surface configured as a heat dissipation surface; at least one fan for directing a flow of air across said heat dissipation surface of said heat sink; a plant container adapted to receive plants and to provide temperature control to said plants, said plant container having a base and walls and containing a volume of water, with the walls of the plant container being in direct contact with said volume of water; and, a thermal conductor having a base portion positionable above the housing and directly on said exposed, second, generally planar, cold plate surface, and having an elongated rod portion which is perpendicular with a center of the thermal conductor base portion, said elongated rod portion extending upwardly into said plant container through an opening in the base of said plant container, said elongated rod portion of said thermal conductor being placed into direct physical and heat exchange contact with said water in said plant container, said elongated rod portion of said thermal conductor being removed from said plant container when said thermal conductor is separated from said plant container, said thermal conductor base portion being substantially the same size as said base of said plant container.