Living Wall Basics
Lighting
Natural Light Outdoors
A deck with full day of sun is perfect for growing herbs and vegetables, flowers and succulents. Partial sun is great for lettuce or ferns and most other plants. Ferns also do well on shady walls.
Natural Light Indoors
Bright indirect light from a bank of windows is an indoor tropical favorite. The plants will reach for the light and align their leaves to the source, making a perfect display. Direct light may cause burning, but can be workable if it is limited to a few hours a day.
LED Lighting Indoors
Without bright windows, existing room light provides the minimal illumination for growing plants, so you may want to add a track lighting system. Halogen bulbs project a wide spectrum of light, which makes it ideal for any number of different plans. Metal halide and fluorescent lights are also excellent. New LED lights may also work for some situations. Indoor tropicals that are native to the forest floor are ideal for low artificial lighting.
Water and Nutrients
Regular Irrigation
Daily watering, along the top row only, is normally required when using Florafelt planters. For most living walls where a water source and drain is nearby, we recommend connecting the planters to an automatic irrigation system. Add a typical line of drip emitters across the top, then set to water 4 times day for short 10 minute run cycles. Moisture moves through the system so you may choose to add a gutter at the base to direct water to a drain, or water can drip to the garden below. Indoors, where no drains are available, you might consider to set up a recirculating system with a tank, pump and timer set to run once-a-day for 30 minutes for most situations.
Fertilize
Light fertilizing is preferred for vertical gardens. We recommend the use of an organic based fertilizer such as Maxsea to minimize salt buildup and promote active microbiology within the soil and felt. Fertilizer can be added manually or by use of an injector in your irrigation system. For recirculating systems simply add fertilizer when you top off the water tanks.
Northern Climates
Winter Exposure
Most plants will go dormant in the winter. Planted in the ground, they are protected from extreme freezing temperatures. In walls, as with planters, only certain rugged natives will survive a hard freeze. Consult with a landscaping professional in your area for advice on specific plants that can make it through winter.
Seasonal Plantings
Flowering annuals are an excellent choice for seasonal plantings. In early spring, Florafelt pockets can be planted with small starts, seeds and cuttings for a dazzling display of color all summer long. When growing season has ended, the Root Wrapped plants can be removed, cleaned and stored for next year, along with the lightweight panels.