Hydroponic Plant Display System

Abstract

A hydroponic plant display that allows consumers to select and harvest fresh produce while shopping at their local market. The display system maintains the health and vitality of the produce until it is selected by the end consumer for harvesting. As such, the display system includes (i) a plant display, (ii) plant growth media that provides a suitable support system for each plant's root structure, and (iii) a moisture and nutrient transport system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydroponic plant display system, comprising:
 at least one columnar receptacle, each columnar receptacle of said at least one columnar receptacle comprising:
 a central columnar body portion, said central columnar body portion comprising a cavity, said cavity extending between an uppermost end region of said central columnar body portion and a lowermost end region of said central columnar body portion, and wherein an axis corresponding to said cavity and extending between said uppermost end region and said lowermost end region is vertical; 
 a matrix media contained within said cavity of said central columnar body portion; 
 a plurality of casing receivers, said plurality of casing receivers integrated into a front face of said central columnar body portion of each columnar receptacle of said at least one columnar receptacle, wherein each casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers extends out and away from said front face of said central columnar body portion of said at least one columnar receptacle, wherein each casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers further comprises an aperture, and wherein each casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers further comprises at least one slot adjacent to said aperture; 
   a plurality of plant plug casings, each plant plug casing of said plurality of plant plug casings configured to fit within said aperture of a corresponding casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers, wherein each plant plug casing of said plurality of plant plug casings further comprises a first casing wing that extends out and away from an exterior surface of a portion of said plant plug casing, wherein said first casing wing is sized to fit within a first slot of said at least one slot of said corresponding casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers, wherein said first casing wing orients and locates said plant plug casing within said corresponding casing receiver, and wherein each plant plug casing of said plurality of plant plug casings is configured to hold a portion of a growing medium and a plant; and   an irrigation system configured to supply a water/nutrient mix to each of said plants contained within said plurality of plant plug casings mounted within said plurality of casing receivers of said at least one columnar receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , said irrigation system further comprising a wicking medium, said wicking medium contained within said cavity of said central columnar body portion of each columnar receptacle of said at least one columnar receptacle, said irrigation system configured to supply said water/nutrient mix to an upper portion of said wicking medium, and said wicking medium configured to transport said water/nutrient mix to each of said plants contained within said plurality of plant plug casings mounted within said plurality of casing receivers of said at least one columnar receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one columnar receptacle is extruded, and wherein said at least one columnar receptacle is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastics and metals. 
     
     
         4 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , said matrix media comprised of a fibrous material composed of plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , wherein each plant plug casing of said plurality of plant plug casings further comprises a second casing wing that extends out and away from said exterior surface of said portion of said plant plug casing, wherein said second casing wing is sized to fit within a second slot of said at least one slot of said corresponding casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers, wherein said first and second casing wings orient and locate said plant plug casing within said corresponding casing receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 5 , wherein said second casing wing is located opposite of said first casing wing, and wherein said first and second casing wings limit orientation of said plant plug casing within said corresponding casing receiver to either a first orientation or a second orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one slot corresponding to each casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers is angled upwards at an angle between 5 and 85 degrees off of said axis, and wherein said at least one slot corresponding to each casing receiver orients a corresponding plant plug casing upwards at an angle between 5 and 85 degrees off of said axis. 
     
     
         8 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one slot corresponding to each casing receiver of said plurality of casing receivers is angled upwards at an angle between 10 and 45 degrees off of said axis, and wherein said at least one slot corresponding to each casing receiver orients said corresponding plant plug casing upwards at an angle between 10 and 45 degrees off of said axis. 
     
     
         9 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , said irrigation system further comprising a wicking medium, said wicking medium contained within said cavity of said central columnar body portion of each columnar receptacle of said at least one columnar receptacle, said irrigation system further comprising a pump configured to supply said water/nutrient mix to an upper portion of said wicking medium, said wicking medium configured to transport said water/nutrient mix to each of said plants contained within said plurality of plant plug casings mounted within said plurality of casing receivers of said at least one columnar receptacle, said hydroponic plant display further comprising a reservoir configured to collect said water/nutrient mix remaining after said wicking medium transports said water/nutrient mix to each of said plants. 
     
     
         10 . The hydroponic plant display system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light integrated into said hydroponic plant display system and configured to supply light to each plant contained within said plurality of plant plug casings.