Florafelt Compact Living Wall Kit - Instructions
Placement Considerations
Lighting
Adequate lighting is important to grow plants
Consider adding halogen or High Power LED spot lights
Place the plant wall across from a windowed wall
Choose plants appropriate for the existing conditions
Learn about plant lighting requirements online
Waterproof the area
For the most part the system will not drip however, leakage is possible so be prepared
Choose location with a waterproof flooring
Provide a tray below the garden
Safety Notes
Children and Pets
Tank spillage
Electric shock
Some plants are poisonous
Drowning hazard
Parts List
Florafelt 8-pocket planter (folded)
Water tube, attached to panel
Pump connection fittings, at hose end
3-gallon tank
Water pump, with 6’ cord
Timer, 110v grounded
Mechanical type
Instructions included in packaging
Interior use only
2 Wall Mollies
Screw into drywall with phillips screwdriver
2 L Hooks
screw into drywall mollies
Or use directly when mounting to wood
8 Florafelt Root Wrappers
8 rubber bands
Wall Mounting
Measure
Measure from the floor up 62 inches
Measure 5 inches each side from the center
Mark hanger location, total 10 inches apart
Make as level as possible by eye, or with a level
Wall Mollies
For installation in drywall only
L-hooks can be installed directly in wood
Concrete will require another type of connector
Use provided Wall Mollies
Place pointed end on drywall mark
Use a hammer to partially start
Use a phillips head screwdriver to screw into wall
Push in with force, turn screwdriver to the right
Stop when flush with drywall
If drywall is weak or damaged molly will not hold
May require drywall repair
May require another type of wall molly
L-Hooks
Screw L-hook into wall molly
If wood, drill 1/8” hole then screw in L-hook
Other types of hangers may be used
Hang Planter
Locate nylon hanging tabs at the top of the planter
Place the hoops over the L-hooks or other hanger
Make sure planter is hanging straight up and down
Relocate wall mounts if necessary
System Preparation
Stretch Open Pockets
The planter ships with the pockets flat
Reach in each pocket with your fist and stretch open
You may pull very hard to stretch open completely
Use the handle of a hammer for leverage to make stretching easier
Place Tank
Place tank below the planter
Position the planter inside the tank
Planter should hang inside the tank 1-2 inches
If planter is above the tank it will cause leakage
You may need to adjust planter height
Add a drip tray under tank in water sensitive areas
Connect Water Tube to Pump
Locate the tube and connector at the base of the planter
Note the tube inside the connector is open and free of blockage
Attach to the threaded connector on the pump
Turn to the right and carefully not to strip the threads
Place the pump into the tank
Push extra tubing into the tank being careful not to cause kinks
Set Timer
Open the timer packaging with scissors
Locate the timer instructions, on the timer itself
Read the instructions carefully
The timer provided is for indoor use only
Outdoor timers can be purchased separately
Weekly timers and digital timers might work better for your situation
Watering System
Timer Tips
Use a grounded plug or extension cord for safety
Use switch to manually turn the timer on and off
Turn the dial to set the current time
Note the dial pins can be snapped out and in
Out is for OFF
In is for ON
Each pin represents 30 minutes
Use a pencil to set an individual pin
To set the timer to run once a day for 30 minutes
Pull all pins out to OFF
Then push a single pin in for ON
Choose a time to water when you are home
For manual watering
Pull all pins out to OFF
Then switch for pump on when needed
Plug In
Plug the timer into a grounded outlet or plug into grounded extension cord
Provided timer is intended for indoor use only
Fill Tank
Add fresh clean water to the tank
Fill to just below the bottom edge of the planter
Do not add water to the tank while the pump is on
Wait 30 minutes after watering cycle to add water
Wait for water to be finished dripping from the planter
Otherwise, water may overflow from tank
Check Flow
When the water tank is full
Turn on the manual timer switch
Observe water flow from the top of the planter
Peek behind the felt at the top edge
Locate the tube that is taped in place about halfway down the pocket
Notice that water is flowing from the tube
Feel inside each pocket to make sure the bottom crease feels moist
If water is not flowing from the tube
Make sure the timer is plugged in
Check that the the plug is working
Check the timer is turn to the manual on position
Check there are no obstructions in the tube
Feel the tubing behind the felt for kinks, pinch to unkink
Check the pump is working properly while disconnected
Still no luck?
Call us so we can help (770) 406-6330
Planting
Wrap Plants
The fun part!
A Florafelt Root Wrapper is provided for each pocket
You can combine multiple plants in each wrapper
See our online how to videos: http://florafelt.com/video-library
Use the box it shipped in as a tidy place to wrap
We strongly recommend using Root Wraps
Contains the soil to prevent air gaps
Much less messy
Makes changing plants easy
Roots grow through the felt preventing root binding
Plants breathe which is better for the soil and roots.
Using Root Wrappers
Start with a diamond shape
Fold the top corner down to create your top soil line
Place your plant facing forward and spread the root ball flat
Fold the bottom corner up
Fold the bottom edge up
Hold down the edges and fold in the tips
Use a rubber band to hold it together (optional)
See our How-to-Videos at plantsonwalls.com/videos
Root Wrap Tips
Hold the felted bundle together and secure with a rubber band. Like putting a diaper on the root ball.
If you don’t get it right the first time, try again.
Pre-moisten the Root Wrapper for sensitive plants
Plant Your Garden
Simply insert the wrapped plant into the pocket
Make sure the pocket is stretched open completely
Stuff it down nice and tight so it touches the bottom of the pocket
If it’s too large, unwrap and remove some soil
If it’s too loose, unwrap and add some soil
It’s easiest to start at the bottom and work up
The planter tends to be wetter at the bottom and dryer at the top, plant accordingly
Run the water when you first plant to help moisten new roots
Maintenance
Top off tank as needed
Do not fill when running or dripping
Keep plugged in
Observe plants and act quickly
Check water flow
Clean pump regularly
Unplug and detach tube connector
Remove from tank
Wipe pump clean
Remove pump cover by pulling from the sides
Remove impeller cover by twisting with pliers
Remove floating impeller, pull out with pliers
Clean all parts with fresh water and vinegar
Reassemble
Reconnect tube connector
Insert into tank
Plug in to timer
Remove debris from tank
Maintenance Tips
Don’t Overwater
In low light plants use very little water
Soaking plants will cause root rot and mold
Most interior plants should slightly wilt before needing water
Turn off timer / switch on manually as needed
Use a weekly timer
Hard Water Deposits
A white stain will appear on the felt
Spray with vinegar/water solution to dissolve
Fertilizer
Add small amounts of fertilizer to the tank
We prefer organic fertilizers such as MAXSEA
Less salts build up
Keeps soil alive
Use very little fertilizer
Only add when plants look pale
Too much will cause excess sugars and attract insects
Share Your Garden
Email us photos: info@florafelt.com
Hashtag on Social Media: #florafelt