sulation, thus reducing energy costs for heating the building.
In addition to creating insulation, green walls have many other ben- efits. Green walls create habitats for birds and insects, increasing biodi- versity, and can be used for grow- ing food. Further, one of the lesser known benefits of green walls is that they can reduce noise.
The benefits of green walls are im- mediately realized since there is no waiting for plants to mature. The pots clip in and out with a very sim- ple connector. This gives complete design flexibility in an instant. You can redesign a wall for each season or change it to a combination of an herb, vegetable or fruit wall. I rec- ommend a soil-based system for as- sociations rather than a hydroponic system, but both types have their benefits. Let’s explore the differences between the two.
A hydroponic wall system is a non- soil system and relies on an electric pump to circulate water from the base of the system, carrying nutri- ents in the water to feed the plants. Large-scale irrigation on a hydropon- ic green system is rather complicat- ed. You’ll need to maintain optimal temperatures and the right pH bal- ance to maintain your plants’ health, which requires an understanding of the science of hydroponics.
Hydroponic systems expose the roots of your plants, opening them up to greater risk of disease. The recir- culation of water can also cause algae and bacteria to grow, which can lead to root rot. A hydroponic wall also requires constant monitoring and maintenance, including cleaning parts and carefully balancing nutri- ent mixes. Depending on the size of your green wall, it may take a team of professionals to keep up with the necessary maintenance of hydropon- ics. Hydroponic systems are best suited for large-scale projects with
8 | May / June 2018
the skills and resources to keep up with the necessary maintenance.
Conversely, a soil-based wall system is an organic system. Organic grow- ers say the core philosophy is “feed the soil not the plant.” The soil- based system is considerably less complicated than the hydroponic system and reduces maintenance, adding to the sustainability of the wall. The wall includes a pump and timer to irrigate your plants, and it doesn’t rely entirely on electricity to run. Water is stored in the soil for a longer period of time and the soil
ensures the longevity of the plants by providing nutrients through the soil. You can also add liquid fertilizer to the irrigation system as an added source of nutrients if necessary.
Te soil-based system uses flood ir- rigation - which is how plants were designed to be watered in nature (i.e., rainfall, then dryness between rains). Tis reduces any waste of water and eliminates the need to manually wa- ter your green wall. You can set the timer to switch on at strategic times and for set periods. Additionally, it should be noted that soil based green
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