Process and apparatus for providing durable plant tags for horticultural organization

Abstract

A system and method for selecting plants based on climate data and plant data. The system receives climate data and plant data and selects plants for a geographical division based on the climate data and plant data. The system generates durable plant tags with for the plants that have an icon that identifies the lighting level and watering level of the plants using a color and a number.

1 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a substrate;   a set of information, related to a plant, printed on the substrate;   the set of information including a location specific set of instructions for care of the plant, a plant guide number and a picture of the plant;   wherein the plant guide number includes a unique numerical component and a corresponding unique graphical component;   wherein the graphical component is one or more of the group of a color and a shape; and,   wherein the numerical component includes one number of a finite set of numbers, and   wherein each number of the finite set of numbers is encoded with a unique combination of a light requirement related to the plant and a water requirement related to the plant.   
     
     
         2 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein the light requirement and the water requirement are location dependent. 
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  further comprising a machine readable graphic code for electronically accessing location specific information regarding care for the plant. 
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  further comprising a code for accessing information related to the plant guide number. 
     
     
         5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 4  wherein the code is one or more of the group of graphical code and a numerical code. 
     
     
         6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic communications element having a memory location in which is stored an identifier representing one or more of the group of a plant type and a geographic location. 
     
     
         7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein the plant guide number further comprises one or the group of:
 tag number  1 , representing water level low and light level high; 
 tag number  2 , representing water level high, and light level high; 
 tag number  3 , representing water level medium, and light level high; 
 tag number  4 , representing water level low, and light level medium; 
 tag number  5 , representing water level high, and light level medium; 
 tag number  6 , representing water level medium, and light level medium; 
 tag number  7 , representing water level low, and light level low; 
 tag number  8 , representing water level high, and light level low; and, 
 tag number  9 , representing water level medium, and light level low. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a durable plant tag on a substrate comprising:
 obtaining a plant type data set;   obtaining a location based temperature data set; obtaining a location based precipitation data set;   assembling a tag file including a first plant guide number derived from the plant type data set, the temperature data set, and the precipitation data set; and,   printing the tag file on the substrate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of printing further comprises the step of printing the tag file on a substrate chosen from the group of polyethylene sheet and polyvinylchloride sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 attaching an electronic data element to the durable plant tag; 
 programming the electronic data element with a unique number representing a plant type; 
 accessing the unique number; and, 
 delivering a first set of information associated with the unique number. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further wherein the step of delivery further comprises: embedding a second set of information in the first set of information;
 wherein the second set of information includes information related to a plant having a second plant guide number; and, 
 wherein the second plant guide number matches the first plant guide number. 
 
     
     
         12 . In a computer system including a server connected to a plastic tag printer, a method of making and using a durable plant tag comprising the steps of:
 obtaining, by the server, a location based temperature data set;   obtaining, by the server, a location based precipitation data set;   identifying, by the server, a plant type;   identifying, by the server, a plant location;   deriving, by the server, a target temperature based on a comparison of the plant location to the temperature data set;   deriving, by the server, a target precipitation based on a comparison of the plant location to the precipitation data set;   entering, by the server, the target temperature into a temperature light relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a light requirement;   entering, by the server, the target precipitation into a precipitation water relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a water requirement;   encoding, by the server, the light requirement and the water requirement into a plant guide number; and,   printing, by the plastic tag printer, the plant guide number on a durable substrate to make the durable plant tag.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 physically attaching the durable plant tag so made to a plant of the plant type. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of entering the target temperature further comprises entering the target temperature into the equation:
     L ( T )= L   0   e   −λT    
 where L 0  is a light intensity;
 T is the target temperature; and, 
 λ is an exponential decay constant. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of entering the target temperature further comprises using a λ of between about 1.3 and about 3.7. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of entering the target precipitation further comprises entering the target precipitation into the equation:
     W ( R )= W   0   e   −λR    
 where W 0 =a recommended watering level;
 R=the target precipitation; and, 
 λ=an exponential decay constant. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of entering the target precipitation further comprises using a λ of between about 0.3 and about 1.7. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 locating a fertilizer type based on a correlation table of a set of fertilizer types for the plant type and the plant location; and, 
 printing the fertilizer type on the durable substrate to make the durable plant tag. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing a location based information table related to the plant type; 
 deriving a target information from the information table based on the plant location; 
 printing the target information on the durable substrate to make the durable plant tag. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: deriving a graphic code unique to the plant type;
 printing the graphic code on the durable substrate; and, 
 using the graphic code to electronically access information about the plant type. 
 
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)