Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Living Walls are vertically spaced plants and other organisms that naturally flush toxins and unhealthy pollutants out of the air we breathe. A living wall can be made up of entire ecosystems or simple plant combinations that thrive and help cleanse the environment. Many living walls are made indoors, but they can also be made outdoors, such as on the outer walls of buildings.

Steps

1. 1 Decide if the living wall will be indoors or outdoors. A living wall indoors will help remove toxins from the air. Indoor air can be very saturated with pollutants and toxins, and given that most people spend most of their time indoors, this can dramatically affect your health. Open living walls can help improve the environment as well as reduce energy costs during the summer months. It is worth considering how a living wall will look in winter. Indoor living walls can be relatively small and simple, while outdoor walls can be very large and cover a large area of ​​the building. In addition, interior walls are easy to maintain, while outdoors will be more difficult to care for and may require special building permits and community permits. A simple outdoor living wall can be made up of climbing plants that grow up the wall from the ground. However, creating such a wall can take a decent amount of time.
2. 2 Choose appropriate plants and other organisms. The interior walls are mainly composed of plants that absorb and filter out toxins in the air. All plants are capable of removing toxins, but some plants filter out some harmful substances better than others. Plants that are especially helpful in eliminating toxins include azalea, bamboo palm, chrysanthemums, climbing plants, aloe vera, English ivy, begonia, golden scindapsus and peaceful lilies. Different plants can remove different types of toxins, so use a variety of plants. Choose plants that are well adapted to the environment, taking into account light, temperature and humidity (indoors, outdoors, in the shade or in the sun). Other organisms that can be used include soil microorganisms and aquatic animals. Soil microorganisms also help to get rid of toxins, therefore it is recommended to fertilize the soil with a fertilizer rich in natural microorganisms. Certain aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians, and shellfish that consume algae can make your living wall an enclosed, essentially self-sustaining ecosystem.
3. 3 Creation of the structure of a living wall. The living wall is located primarily vertically, but it can also have a horizontal area, which serves to accommodate additional backwater and water area. A simple structure can consist of a series of shelves. An array of plant containers can also be attached to a wall or ceiling. A more complex composition can consist of a vertical wall with a horizontal base. A reinforced layer of culture medium with intact living pools can be hung vertically on a wall, which is recommended to be covered with a waterproof plastic wrap. In this case, the plants will grow horizontally towards the vertical nutrient medium. Be sure to level the structure so that each plant receives the required amount of light and so that each plant can be watered correctly and easily. Horizontal wobbling of shelves or containers may appear. The vertical wall must be permeable enough so that air can pass through it. At the very least, air should pass freely through or along the wall.Also keep in mind that the nutrient medium must be permeable to air, as the roots of the plants require oxygen. Air must be circulated through the living wall so that toxins in the air can be absorbed and removed. If you are making a large or complex wall, the irrigation system (such as drip irrigation systems) should be part of the wall. Walls that consist of a vertical layer of growth media should be watered with an irrigation system and water should be placed on top so that it can trickle down to the base. It may be important to use many small rigs, and perhaps only mosses, for a vertical wall. The base of the wall can contain large plants in the water area.
4. 4 Setting the recirculation air system. If the wall is indoors, the polluted domestic air should circulate as much as possible through the living wall. This will allow the wall to absorb toxins from the air and also help keep the plants healthy. If air is actively drawn in through the wall, the living wall can be referred to as a biofilter. A single fan box or a more complex fan and duct system can be used to circulate air.
5. 5 Arrange lighting for your plants. Plants require light, so make sure they get enough artificial or natural light. If possible, place a living wall next to a window or glass dome that lets in direct sunlight. Natural light can be supplemented with artificial lighting. Regular incandescent light bulbs will not provide enough light for plants, but essentially any fluorescent light will work. Regular CFLs can be directed against the wall to provide high quality artificial lighting. There are other, more specialized incandescent bulbs that are used for plants. The timer can be used to turn artificial lights on and off during the day and night. Be conscientious with animals that may live in the wall and provide them with shade and shelter.
6. 6 Place the plants on a living wall. Plants can live in a soil or hydroponic environment. If the wall is primarily a self-sustaining ecosystem, it should be much easier to use soil as a planting medium. The wall may be partially hydroponic, but be aware that hydroponic chemical nutrients can destroy or disrupt the non-hydroponic component of a living wall.
7. 7 Watering and fertilizing plants. Different plants have special needs for water and fertilization. Over-watering or dry soil can lead to plant disease and possibly harmful mold. Use live, organic fertilizers that contain beneficial microorganisms. If animals live in the wall, make sure not to contaminate their immediate environment, water supply and food with potentially toxic fertilizers. Use fertilizer sparingly, as it can easily kill plants and other organisms that make up the living wall.

Tips

• Start with a simple living wall first with a variety of potted plants and determine which plants thrive best in your chosen environment. Then build a more sophisticated living wall using plants that thrive well in the environment.
• If you decide to make a living wall in the office, have each of the staff bring a plant.

Warnings

• Indoor irrigation systems can cause serious water damage.