Green infrastructure, especially plant walls, bring greenery and nature to the very places we need them the most. Growing plants indoors brings us in close proximity to the natural world, bringing about many benefits for workplaces and homes.
Indoor plants engage our senses, bring about airflow, and increase our sense of well-being. A plant wall makes a bold and fresh statement – bringing your house or workplace to the cutting edge of cool.
Having a green wall does all that and more!
What Is A Plant Wall?
In essence, plant walls are vertical structures of foliage grown on a solid wall or fence. This is a great way to turn an empty wall into the focal point of any space.
Growing plants vertically can be achieved indoors and outdoors using only simple floor-standing planters for plants to grow up, or wall-mounted planters for plants to cascade down.
Creating a living wall is a great way of gardening that can be done even in the absence of space. Green walls simply create a big wow factor, and it is easy to see why.
Top 5 Reasons To Opt For Living Walls
Living walls are part of climate-conscious construction and they bring about many benefits for those around them. These positives far outweigh the time and cost to install and maintain the green plant wall.
1. A Green Wall Purifies Air
An indoor plant wall creates a healthier and fresher environment for your home, restaurant, or office. Research has shown that plants and soils together currently absorb an estimated 30 percent of the CO2 emitted by human activities each year. Your green wall will be part of this exchange of gasses that turns CO2 into oxygen.
2. A Plant Wall Decreases Ambient Temperature And Noise
A living plant wall acts like an insulation wall in terms of temperature control. It absorbs and reflects sunlight to create a cooler and more pleasant climate during summers, which have been becoming hotter in recent years. The natural cooling effect of an indoor plant wall also makes cooling and air-conditioning more efficient.
Likewise, plant leaves from the plant wall system absorb sound vibrations rather than reflecting them back into the room as an empty wall would. An indoor plant wall absorbs approximately 41% more noise than a traditional wall.
Outdoor planters and plants also help to enclose private areas such as around pools helping to shield noise from your guests and increasing their comfort and satisfaction.
3. An Indoor Plant Wall Can Increase Moral
It has been well studied that green environments have an overall positive effect on the well-being of people. People like to interact and engage with plants.
Whether it is an indoor or outdoor space, plants are essential to helping people relax, decrease our blood pressure, increase our tolerance to pain, and increase our productivity.
Having a living wall around will improve mood and morale, helping people to focus on the task at hand and make better decisions.
Get inspired by 5 biophilic design ideas.
4. A Living Wall Encourages Customers To Spend More Time
A vertical garden is such a unique touch, more so than potted plants on the ground, creating an environment that people enjoy being in. This is crucial, particularly for shops and restaurants, where greenery encourages people to linger longer.
A living wall is not only aesthetically pleasing but also mentally delightful, hence making it a space that your customers feel comfortable in.
5. A Vertical Garden Adds Value To Your Brand
The natural look of an indoor plant wall is simply attractive. This automatically adds value to your premises. It also shows customers where you stand on biophilia and on environmental issues. A living wall also adds to the community feel of your area, encouraging socialization rather than vandalism. Hence, a great boost to your brand.
3 Types Of Plant Walls
Green walls, living walls, plant walls, vertical gardens, etc, are generally used interchangeably. For most people, there are few differences between such terminology. However, in the industry there are generally 3 terms used, let’s take a look at them:
1. Living Wall
This is the most used and generic term, and a living wall refers to vegetation growing on or against any type of vertical surface, and can be indoors or outdoors. The living wall can be rooted in or off the ground, and the irrigation system can be manual or automated.
2. Green Facade
Green facades typically refer to climbing plants that grow, usually outdoors, on a wall with either no additional infrastructure or with the use of stainless steel, wooden trellis, or meshwork as plant supports. They are usually rooted in the ground and as such do not require irrigation. An example of this would be a garden fence covered in English ivy.
3. Green Wall
A green wall is more of a recent development that uses completely artificial systems made out of continuous or modular planted-up units. This can come in the form of hydroponic panels, wall planters, wood pallets, and more.
While such distinctions are not normally used by the general public, this may be useful when it comes to discussing your project with a plant wall specialist.
5 DIY Plant Wall Ideas And Best Planters For An Outdoor and Indoor Plant Wall
Now that all the talk about plant walls has got you excited, it’s time to create your own living wall. Here are 5 ideas and planter suggestions that make a DIY indoor plant wall simple, especially for a small space.
1. Mini Hanging Plant Wall With Wire Mesh
The most straightforward and simplest way to create a vertical garden without any major work is by using a wire frame. Start by making sure the wire mesh is firmly attached to the chosen wall before adding wire pot holders to the wireframe to hold your display pots
This low maintenance method also allows you to use delicate flowers or seasonal flowers in the planters, as it is easy to take the plant pots down to care for them or to switch them out seasonally. This is also a great indoor plant wall for a small space.
Best Planters For A Hanging Plant Wall
The Tonto Small Cube Planter is perfect for a mini plant wall using shelves. The square shape sits flush against the walls to offer a sleek and minimalist style.
It is adorable and modern, suitable for all design needs. The Tonto can accommodate a 6-inch growth pot and act as a watering saucer to prevent dampness issues.
2. Create A Succulent Wall Frame
Succulents require little soil, little watering, and little maintenance making them a great plant for an indoor plant wall. Get a sturdy low pot for the planting, and choose a bunch of succulents that go great together, including some flowering plants to complete the look.
Once the plants are firmly planted, attach the foliage frame to the wall with some basic tools.
Best Planters For A Small Succulent Plant Wall
You will want a low but durable and reliable pot to do this job. Of all the planters, the Salon Narrow Low Rectangular Planter or the Short Hayden Round Planter are the most suitable!
With a low profile perfect for succulent roots, these planters can also be installed easily on brackets, be placed on a table, or sit comfortably on the floor – so easy to arrange!
Made from commercial-grade fiberglass, all of our planters are both lightweight and strong – great for building a large plant display in a professional and stylish way.
Check out the 5 best succulents for bathrooms.
3. Get Creative With Wall Planters
There are already planters in the market that are specially made for attaching to walls, just make sure that the wall will be able to withstand the additional weight, such as a brick wall and not drywall.
Choose a plant that is suitable for the wall with overhanging foliage. A bright wall can support plants that need a lot of light like the maidenhair fern, or electric grow lights can be used for the space.
Best Planters For Hanging Plant Walls
The Nile Wall Planter comes in three versatile sizes. If you have the space, go for the complete set for a unique and creative project. They feature reinforced plates on the rear of the planter for easy wall mounting.
The Nile Wall Planter is also great for edging balconies and rooftops. Our previous projects have used the Nile to border the entrance of homes.
With no drainage holes drilled as standard – rest assured the Nile won’t drip all over your incoming guests!
4. Create A Privacy Screen
Trailing and creeping plants not only add greenery to your space but can also create a privacy wall. The easiest way to do this is by starting with planters on the top of the wall or fence. Over time, the plants will creep downwards covering the entire space with foliage. Real plants are of course the way to go for this project, go for scented plants like Wisteria or Honeysuckle for a fragrant touch.
Related article: Fence line landscaping
Best Planters For Creating A Fenceline Privacy Screen
We love the Tiergarden Railing Planter for its efficiency and sleek style – a great addition to your balcony railing or outdoor fence.
Alternatively, restaurants and commercial spaces often use the Tiergarden on top of space dividers between guests – giving them privacy and beauty in one go.
Adding such biophilic adornments to commercial spaces has been reported to increase the perceived value of goods and services by 25% – according to a study in 2015.
All Planters Etc planters are finished with commercial grade paint and a UV-protection topcoat, they are frost-proof and weather resistant, and sure to last through the seasons!
5. Go Big With DIY
In love with a plant wall that is large-scale or intricate? It is possible to do it yourself. Happy DIY Home shared a how-to guide. If you are a hands-on person and have the following tools, give it a try!
- 3/4 inch square spacer
- clamps
- level
- power drill
- sandpaper
- staple gun
- stud finder
- table saw
- tape measure
You will also need plywood, landscaping material, waterproof membrane, staples, and other materials. Check out the guide for full instructions. This method is suitable for both outdoor and indoor plant walls.
Best Planters For Large Indoor Plants And Plant Walls
Starting a large plant wall doesn’t necessarily start with the wall. You can grow a pretty sizable plant display using products from our Linear planter collection.
These planters, such as the Cuba, are perfect for growing crawling vines, hedges, and other plant wall plants as they offer large linear surface areas that can wrap around corners and butt together in a modular fashion. The only limitation is the length of your wall!
Hire A Plant Wall Specialist
If doing a plant wall yourself sounds like a hassle, or if you are considering a larger scale or commercial project, going to a plant wall specialist is the way forward.
Using a plant wall specialist has many benefits. They will be able to guide you on issues such as light and watering conditions, planting the right plants for the vertical garden, achieving the specific plant wall aesthetic you are after, and of course maintenance of your green life.
Here is a list of 5 plant wall specialists to consider for your nature project.
1. Good Earth Plant Company – San Diego Plant Walls
Good Earth Plant Company, San Diego’s largest locally owned and operated provider of interior and exterior landscape design, prides itself on the longevity of its outdoor and indoor plant wall systems from over 20 years of experience.
- Website: https://www.goodearthplants.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodearthplantcompany/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmumford/
2. TrueVert – Plant Walls In California
From Oceanside, California, TrueVert calls itself a national full-service green wall design and installation company. They are committed to providing clients with quality service and top-of-the-line green wall systems that are not only beautiful but also sustainable.
- Website: https://verticalgardensolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truevertgardenart/
3. Ambius – Plant Wall Installers For North America
Ambius is a national office plant company with local office plant locations throughout North America and is a certified specifier, installer, and service provider for a wide range of vertical garden wall systems.
- Website: https://www.ambius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambius
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ambius
4. GSky Plant Systems – Global Provider Of Plant Wall Systems
GSky is an award-winning global provider of turn-key water-efficient living vertical garden wall systems tailored to your interior and exterior needs.
- Website: https://gsky.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gskyplantsystems
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsky-plant-systems-inc
5. ByNature – Plant Wall Experts In Toronto
Located in Vancouver and Toronto, ByNature specialists are experts in biophilic design and are able to help you create an indoor plant wall or custom living wall.
- Website: https://bynaturedesign.ca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bynaturedesign/
The Planters Best Suited For Plant Walls
Using our planters, you can easily create a green wall, either with floor-standing planters as the foundation for a climbing wall or with our wall planters to install cascading plants. Here are the best planters for the job!
Whether you decide to go down the do-it-yourself route or the specialist route, be sure to only use high-quality planters that will not degrade over time and be able to withstand the dampness and strain of a plant wall.
You can count on Planters Etcetera to deliver only the highest quality fiberglass planters, hand-finished in commercial-grade paint and a layer of UV-protector. Whether it is an outdoor or indoor plant wall system, our planters will be the reliable foundation block – its durability and low-maintenance needs are unparalleled.
Get in touch with us today, or simply order from our online store at exclusive retail prices!
