Ever looked at a vertical garden spanning from the rooftops to the ground of
an apartment building and wondered about iit?

Well! Here you go..

We will try and explain what, how and why vertical gardens are the new “it”
of modern architecture.

What are Vertical Gardens?

A vertical garden is a vertically hanging panel on which plants are cultivated
using hydroponics. These one-of-a-kind constructions can be freestanding or
connected to a wall and are known by a variety of names, including living
green walls, plant walls, and moss walls, to name a few.

These vertical plant constructions, whatever you want to name them, may be
as small as a picture frame or as large as a full wall.

Vertical gardens have been around since 1938, when Stanley Hart White, a
professor at the University of Illinois, invented and patented the concept.
Forty years later, a French botanist called Patrick Blanc developed the
contemporary green wall concept, especially with a hydroponic watering
system.

From the most widely recognized arrangement on the Quai Branly Museum’s
façade to the most recent indoor installations, vertical gardens have evolved
considerably since Blanc proposed the concept.

These green walls may now be seen everywhere, from workplaces and cafés
to shopping malls and hospitals. And Apartments!

How do Vertical Gardens function?

In the architectural environment, vertical gardens are an excellent alternative
to potted plants. Potted plants offer versatility in placement, but they take up
a lot of room and demand a lot of care. Vertical gardens require minimal to
no floor area.

The plants grow on felt and PVC multilayer panels, which are often selected
based on the environment and sun exposure of the wall on which they are to
be installed. In this way, hydroponic techniques may be utilised to their full
potential. In order to provide optimum ventilation and waterproofing, these
panels are fitted into a metal grid that is situated slightly away from the
building wall.

Using an irrigation system installed at the top of the green wall, this type of
farming allows for continuous supply of fertiliser and rainfall.

A structure with basins, with each row having its own watering system, is
another reliable and effective technique for the growth of the plants.

Particularly for outdoor vertical gardens, the location of the various plants
inside the garden must definitely take into account the local microclimatic
conditions, which also change based on the height of the wall.

However, you must not overlook the significance of the aesthetic effect; as a
result, where the various plant species are placed will also rely on the colours
and “pattern” you hope to achieve when the job is complete.

Why are vertical gardens beneficial?

In addition to being visually pleasing, green walls are increasingly being used
indoors and outdoors due to the obvious requirement to enhance a building’s
internal and external climatic conditions.

More specifically, a wall with a vertical garden serves the dual purpose of
regulating the climate in addition to having a beautiful visual impact. In
reality, both inside and outside of buildings, vertical gardens improve the air
quality. As you may already be aware, plants naturally filter the air, absorb
harmful chemicals, and control dust.

Also, green walls are excellent sound insulators, which is extremely
beneficial in urban areas where a vertical garden may lower noise levels by
up to 40 decibels. So, putting up a green wall is a good way to reduce noise
inside buildings.

Are all Vertical Gardens the same?

Of course not. All vertical gardens are definitely not the same.

In reality, there are several building technologies, just like there are for the
other components of a structure. The most popular methods include:

● the Hydroponic Wall – A vertical garden developed using hydroponic
farming (plants don’t require soil to thrive in this method). In this
instance, the “green skin” of the structure is used to create plant
pouches. The plants take up nutrients from an inert underlayer since
this skin is impermeable and so shields the sun’s rays.

● the “Green Wall” or the Patrick Blanc technique – Here, the plants are
put on self-supporting mats with a watering system set up throughout
the whole surface. As a result, there are 20 to 30 plants per square
metre, creating a dense drape. For the plants, the felt panelling serves as
a support as well as a reservoir for water.

Maintenance of Vertical Gardens

The frequency of management for these unique Green Walls varies on the
plants used and can be ranging between one to four times per year, whereas
interior green walls require more frequent maintenance.

In this situation, especially when walls are placed in private homes, it’s
crucial to pick plants without excessive growth to prevent them from
“invading” the space.

The technique for plant growth on vertical surfaces may be used nearly
anywhere, from the vast façades of public buildings to little squares deftly put
on the wall of a private dwelling, thanks to the beauty and versatility of
plants.

The ability to possess a private green place regardless of the available space
is where the magic and appeal of vertical gardens reside.

Exterior Vertical Gardens

Vertical gardens have been placed on the exteriors of buildings in many cities
and countries across the world. These outside walls often have moss, ivy, and
other hardy plants growing on them. External vertical gardens benefit from
natural direct sunlight while being exposed to the weather.

Buildings benefit greatly from the protection and insulation that outside
vertical gardens provide against temperature changes, UV rays, and heavy
rain.

Evapotranspiration is a method that external vertical plants employ to cool
the air around them in the summer. As temperatures vary greatly, designers
select plants for external walls based on the local environment to make the
vegetation easier to manage.

Succulent Vertical Gardens

Plant aficionados love succulents as they are colourful, require only bare
minimum maintenance and take up little room. If you live in a place where
there are frequent water problems, succulents are an excellent choice because
they are also fire-resistant. It is for these reasons that succulents are excellent
plants for vertical gardens in rental apartments as well.

Because of their well-known rough and meaty exteriors, succulents are
excellent alternatives for interior design. Succulent selection makes it
incredibly simple to customise any vertical garden to your preferences.
Compared to many other plants, succulents demand less care and attention
while still adding a neat and aesthetic look to any setting.

Why are vertical gardens ideal for interior spaces?

Humans are primarily sedentary indoor creatures. Despite this, everyone
yearns for a relationship with nature; this is the tenet of biophilia.

According to studies, those who have easy access to vistas of greenery or
environment are more creative and have better mental health overall.
The answer to your search for a connection to nature probably lies in a
Vertical Garden!