US Patent 7415796 Method and apparatus for growing plants

Method and apparatus for growing plants includes an enclosed vessel having a growth medium containing a plant seed or seedling in the upper part thereof and a free space below into which plant roots can enter, a mechanism to feed water and nutrients to the vessel to saturate the growth medium, a mechanism to remove excess water and nutrients after reaching saturation, and a mechanism to regulate the amounts, intervals and rates of water and nutrients being fed for optimum plant growth.