Living walls have become well-known and popular in cities where space is limited, and people wish for a greener environment. They improve air quality and also serve as fantastic insulation. Indoor plant walls are said to be one of the new gardening techniques that started in 2018. Over the past two years, apartment living in Australia has increased. The 2016 census demonstrated that about 2 million Australians rented apartments. In urban centres like Alexandria, New South Wales, they are smaller and cramped.
Apartments don’t have enough space for a garden, so indoor plant walls are becoming such a huge trend. The rise of green walls has become higher with the rise of indoor plants. Whether filling in a dull space or inviting greenery to a background, the indoor plant walls have become a centrepiece for modern homes.
It is a challenge to keep indoor plants alive, and there are some significant factors to look into before setting up an indoor plant wall. They are mentioned below:
1. Location Requirements
You can build an indoor plant wall on a fence or a concrete wall. A custom made wooden wall will give you the freedom to move it from room to room. But wherever you place it, just make sure it receives enough light. The best option is to look for a place with natural light through a nearby window or a skylight. The north-facing walls will stay in the shade throughout the day, whereas south-facing walls will receive sunlight. The east or west-facing walls will receive partial sunlight. The location of the wall will narrow down your search in plant selection.
2. Display options
There are many options to decide how to display or set it. You can buy a pre-made frame from things like:
- Steel with felt pockets
- Wood
- Recycled synthetic material
- Other reliable support
3. Plant Selection
The next process is to choose your plant selection. It is the key to the longevity of your design. For your plant wall, you can choose to display just one species or create a pattern with a plethora of colourful flowers. It would help if you kept in mind that your plant wall isn’t limited to ornamental plants. It is necessary to work with a local nursery to determine the best plants for your climate. If you are going for annual plants, they have to be replanted every year, but they will give you more variety and brighter colours. The shallow root plants, such as succulents and herbs, will be the right choice in most climates.
4. Basic Maintenance
Having a self-watering system will not require much maintenance. You need to occasionally clean your wall to make sure they stay clean because plants get bugs. You need to trim them periodically, wipe the plant leaves with soap and water to prevent any issues.
If you’re watering the plants manually, you need to make sure not to overwater it. It’s also essential to stick to the plant’s requirements and micro-climate conditions to grow and thrive.
Best of all, having an indoor plant wall means bringing nature to your house. This establishes a positive feel or connection between plants and people that offer a much-needed touch of green to the human-made environments and urban areas.
