Beautiful, welcoming, and colourful: it’s no surprise that green walls, installed on a residence’s interior wall or as an element of landscaping, have become so popular over the past years. Are you interested in having one in your house?
You could hire a specialist company to set one up for you. Or you could tackle this project yourself. If you prefer the DIY approach, read our tips.
The Best Spot
Ideally, you should determine your green wall’s position according to your decor needs. Which wall in your residence is in desperate need of a makeover? Is there a damaged area you might like to improve by covering it with this type of decorative panel?
Remember as well that you don’t have to cover the entire wall. Sometimes, a group of smaller panels (three, for example) is far more attractive than blanketing the surface floor to ceiling with plants. Here’s a tip: use an interior decor app to see how the completed project will look beforehand!
Right Plant, Right Place
As you no doubt already know, each plant species comes with its own specific care needs. Therefore, the ones you pick to live on your wall must suit the location’s growing conditions, such as light exposure levels.
As a general guideline, keep the following in mind:
- Succulents require very little water but must have plenty of sun. Herbaceous plants, on the contrary, thrive in a shaded area and must be watered regularly.
- Moreover, not all plants look good growing vertically. It’s best to select low-growing varieties with lots of foliage.
To ensure you choose wisely, talk to a florist or an employee at a garden centre.
What to Do About a Shady Location
One thing’s for sure: your plants will need a minimum amount of light and water to stay looking beautiful, even those that grow well in the shade! So, what can you do when your chosen wall receives almost no sunlight? Try adding an artificial light source to help your plants photosynthesize despite challenging conditions.
The Design
If you’ve decided to build your vertical garden yourself, draft a plan of the design you want to make. You’ll find plenty of photos online to inspire you! It could be a model that combines colours, imitates a geometric shape, or features gradations of different greens. You can also focus on a single cultivar for a uniform look. Do you want to get creative? Incorporate various natural elements into your design, such as branches, flowers, or stones.
A Good Irrigation System
Because the plants grow at a vertical angle, it’s harder to water them and, crucially, ensure adequate humidity levels. Which is why including an irrigation system to keep the plants well watered is so important. As is using a hydroponic substrate to guarantee the green wall’s longevity. Of course, this all has to be done according to best practice! Plenty of tutorials are available online for you to consult.
The Benefits of Green Walls
While not maintenance-free, this living work of wall art offers several advantages which make it well worth the effort. For example:
- A green wall improves air quality by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.
- It brings life to the room.
- It can increase soundproofing.
- It’s a pleasing focal point on which to rest one’s eyes.
- It can serve as a visual room divider, without having to construct a wall.
So, what are you waiting for? Get growing!