A green wall, also called a "living wall" (from the English "living wall"), is a vertical composition of plants and other organisms used to naturally remove toxins and contaminants from the air we breathe. Green walls can be complete ecosystems or simpler configurations of plants that, as they grow, help decontaminate urban environments. Many are found indoors, but others can also be built outside, such as along the facades of buildings.
Steps
Step 1. Decide if you want to place your green wall indoors or outdoors
Having a green wall in your home will help remove toxins from the air. Indoor air, in fact, can contain a high percentage of pollutants and toxins: considering that generally people spend most of their time indoors, this can have dramatic consequences for health. Green walls built outside, on the other hand, can help improve the external environment, but are mainly used to reduce energy costs during the summer months. However, also take into account the appearance your wall would have in winter. While indoor green walls can be relatively simple and modest in size, outdoor green walls can also be very large and cover a large area of a building. Also, the former are easier to water and care for, while it will be more complicated with the latter, which will likely require special building permits and community members' permission. A simple external green wall can consist of a climbing plant that grows enveloping itself along a facade of the building. However, it can take quite a while for it to grow.
Step 2. Choose suitable plants and organisms
The green walls are mainly composed of plants that absorb and filter the toxins present in the air. All plants are capable of removing toxins, but some are more suitable than others for filtering out these harmful substances. Particularly suitable plants include: azalea, bamboo palm, chrysanthemum, spider plant, aloe vera, ivy, elephant ear, philodendron, golden pothos, and peace lily. Different plants are used to remove different types of toxins, so you may want to use a mix of different plants. Choose the ones that best suit the environment in which they will have to live. Take into account factors such as light intensity (indoors, outdoors, shade, full sun), available water, humidity, and temperature. Other organisms you can use are soil microorganisms and aquatic animals. Even soil microorganisms, in fact, help to remove toxins, so use natural fertilizers rich in microbial flora. Some aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and molluscs, which feed on algae, can help make the green wall a complete and essentially self-sufficient ecosystem.
Step 3. Make a framework for your green wall
While developing mainly vertically, in fact, it may also have a lower base suitable for hosting any additional plants or an aquatic area. A simple structure can consist of a series of shelves or shelves. Various plant pots can also be fixed to the wall or hung from the ceiling. A more complex structure, on the other hand, can consist of a vertical wall and a horizontal base. A reinforced layer of the culture medium can be suspended vertically on a waterproofed wall with plastic sheeting. In this case, the plants will grow horizontally on the vertical growing medium. Make sure you arrange the structure so that each plant, from its location, receives adequate lighting and can be watered properly and easily. To do this it may be necessary to stagger the shelves or individual vases in some way, perhaps horizontally. The vertical wall must be permeable so that air passes through it. At the very least, air should be able to pass freely over or beyond the wall. Keep in mind that the growing medium must also be at least permeable to air (so it shouldn't be too dense or completely impermeable), because the roots of the plants need oxygen. Air should circulate through or over the wall so that the toxins present can be absorbed and removed. If you intend to make a complex or large green wall, use an irrigation system (such as a drip irrigation system). The walls made up of a vertical layer of growing medium must be watered with a special irrigation system that supplies water from above, so that it can then drip to the bottom. For the vertical wall it is important to use small plants, or even just moss. The base of the wall can instead contain larger plants and a possible aquatic area.
Step 4. Set up an air recirculation system
If the green wall is indoors, then contaminated house air must be circulated over and ideally through it. This will allow the wall to absorb toxins from the air and at the same time ensure that the plants remain healthy. If air is actively induced to pass through, the green wall can be considered a biofilter. To circulate the air you can use a fan, or a more complex system of fans and air ducts.
Step 5. Provide lighting for the plants
Plants need light, whether artificial or natural, so make sure they get enough. If possible, place your green wall near a window where it receives direct sunlight. Natural light can be integrated with artificial light. Traditional incandescent bulbs don't provide enough light for plants, but basically any fluorescent light will do. Normal compact fluorescent bulbs can be focused or directed towards the wall to provide high quality artificial light. There are also other more specialized lights that are used specifically for plants. You can use a timer to turn artificial lighting on and off during the day and night. Always take into consideration any animals that live in the wall and provide them with adequate shade and shelter.
Step 6. Arrange the plants on your green wall
Plants can live in the ground or in a hydroponic environment. If the green wall is primarily intended to be a self-sufficient ecosystem, it will be much easier for you to use the land. The wall may be partially hydroponic, but be aware that hydroponic chemical nutrients can destroy or damage the non-hydroponic component of your living wall.
Step 7. Water and fertilize your plants
Different plants have different needs for water and fertilizers. Watering too much or too little can pose health risks to plants and the likely formation of harmful molds. Use organic fertilizers to introduce beneficial microorganisms into your green wall. If animals also live there, be careful not to contaminate their environment and their water and food supplies with potentially toxic fertilizers. In general, use fertilizers in moderation, as they risk killing the plants and other organisms that make up your wall.
Advice
- To begin with, set up a plain green wall with various potted plants and then determine which of them thrive best in your chosen environment. Then you can try your hand at creating a more complex green wall, making use of those plants that have proven to be the most suitable.
- If you intend to make a green wall in an office environment, you can have each employee bring a plant.
