Choosing Plants

Nearly any plant can grow in a vertical garden depending on the conditions. The following is a
list of plants that we have used and had success in vertical gardens.

The Just Right Environment

As all green thumbs know; Plants can only thrive in their optimal environment. Most vegetables
and Herbs require full-sun and hot summers to thrive. Succulents like to be dry and in full to part
sun. Ferns like shady bright light areas that are moist and cool at night.

Our indoor environment is best for 'House Plants'. Most of which are native to the shady floors
of tropical rain-forests. Ideally, this is also the same 70 degree environment where humans
thrive. So it's only natural that we would want to fill our lives with plants.

Outdoors there are so many choices and so many options. Indoors has more limitations due to the
low light and low humidity for most locations.

Overall the Philodendron family is the most tough. There are many colors of foliage and bold
stems and roots. They can drape down or reach upward. And most can be transplanted from
cuttings which means you can literally spread your garden around.

Low Light Tropical Plants

For walls across from windows or there is only artificial light available. Halogen floods provide
the best artificial light but are big users of power, consider high intensity LED spots or
fluorescent flood lights. Use a light meter to insure a minimum 250 foot candles falls on all the
plants. The more you can provide the more healthy the plants will be.
Antherium
Aglaonema Maria
Ficus Decora
Maranta Red
Philodendron Brazil
Philodendron Congo Green
Philodendron Cordatum
Philodendron Split-leaf
Schefflera Arboricola

Bright Light Tropical Plants

Indirect natural light can provide ample illumination for Indoor locations across from a bank of
southern windows or a skylight. 700 foot candles will keep these plants happy. Or an array of
metal halide floods can provide adequate illumination.
Calathea Lancifolia
Calathea Burle Marx
Cissus Ellen Danica Oak Ivy
Aglaonema Mystic Marble
Orchid Vanilla Bean
Aechmea Del Mar
Ficus Sylvie
Palm Areca
Philodendron Prince-of-Orange

Additional Bright Light Tropical Plants

Aglaonema Gemini, Aglaonema Juliette, Aglaonema Maria, Calathea Lancifolia, Ficus

Belize, Ficus Sylvie, Ivy, Maranta Red Pole, Philodendron Brazil, Philodendron Congo
Rojo, Philodendron Cordatum, Philodendron Moonlight, Philodendron Prince-of-
Orange, Schefflera Arboricola Gold Finger, Schefflera Arboricola Mini, Schefflera Arboricola
Variegata, Spathiphyllum Dario, Spathiphyllum Domino, Spathiphyllum Liana, Spathiphyllum
Power Petite, Spathiphyllum Star Dust, Spathiphyllum Sweet Pablo
Ferns

Nothing is more delightful than a wall of cascading ferns. They love bright indirect light 700 foot
candles but typically prefer shade to part shade conditions. They are home to the Pacific
Northwest where they are constantly in moisture and they prefer cool evenings with slight
breezes. Many ferns will also do great mixed in with a bright light tropical collection.

Maidenhair Fern
Bear Paw Fern
Blue Star Fern
Kangaroo Paw Fern
Blechnum Silver-Lady Fern
Bird Nest Fern
Button Fern
Fern Pteris

Lighting Guide for Vertical Gardens

by Chris Bribach
Florafelt Vertical Garden by Joanna Wong and Durkin Construction. Cole Valley Residence, San
Francisco.

Plants Need Light

Natural light outdoors is the ideal source for growing plants.

Daylight produces 10,000 foot candles of light. This is perfect for herbs, vegetables,
grasses, succulents and many other plants that thrive in full sun or even part shade.

For indoors we select low light tropical plants that are native to the forest floor beneath the tree
canopy receiving 250 foot candles and temperatures around 70 degrees. These conditions are
typical to our interior spaces. What we consider 'house plants' are suitable to our optimal living
conditions as well.

Low light tropical plants typically like bright indirect light however too much light or direct sun
will burn their foliage. In places where there is not quite enough light supplemental lighting will
be required.
Choosing the right plants for your location is very important.

See Choosing Plants

Natural Light

Florafelt Vertical Garden by Brandon Pruett, Living Green Design. Emeryville Marketplace
Living Wall.

Free Light Energy From The Sun

Ideal lighting would come from a skylight above or window across from the vertical garden. It
costs nothing and is the most ecological solution. Diffused light near a large window becomes
ideal conditions for low light tropical plants.

It may be that a beam of light passes over the vertical garden for a couple of hours each day.

Know your Light

Get A Light Meter

To determine light levels get a light meter. Light levels are measured in Foot Candles. Low light
tropical plants will survive with 150 - 250 foot candles of lighting and will need 8-10 hours each
day.

Hydrofarm Digital Light Meter - About $40

The Color of Light

Kelvin Color

Choosing the color mostly affects how we will view the plants. Warmer colors recreate summer
light that encourages blooming. Bluer light will help plants develop their foliage. Vertical
gardens are typically for enjoying their beauty therefore 4000K is a balanced warm daylight that
looks best with plants.

Halogen Lighting
Florafelt vertical garden by FireDean Schilling, The Brooklyn Garden Club, Atrium DUMBO.

Warm Color

Halogen spot and flood bulbs project light to the plants. Track lighting systems are low cost and
easy to install.

Halogen creates a very broad spectrum of light and delivers the most attractive full balanced
color making plants look their best. Also they create some warmth that is beneficial for most low
light tropical plants.
Florafelt Vertical Garden by Hande Ersoy. Untitled by Flaunt Boutique, Toronto.

Costly to Operate

The downside is that they are not as efficient at producing light as other sources. Operational
cost and ecological impact goes up. Therefore these are best to use for smaller projects or in
areas where beauty is most important.

Efficiency in Lumens per Watt

Halogen - 25 Lumens per Watt

Metal Halide - 100 Lumens per Watt
LED Lighting - 100 Lumens per Watt
Recirc Interior Lighting Guide
Florafelt Recirc-33 Vertical Garden Lighting Guide

Metal Halide Lighting

Florafelt Recirc-24 Vertical Garden Living Wall. Plants On Walls Metal Halide Lighting Test
Garden.

A Full Spectrum

Metal Halide creates full spectrum lighting best for plants

 UV component

 Best watt to lumen (foot candle) efficiency

Plants Need Ultraviolet Light

Evolved to Love the Sun

Plants have evolved in nature to optimize their photosynthesis at the ends of the spectrum.

In plants, Ultraviolet (UV) blue light are required for green vegetative growth while red
wavelengths aid in their flowering and fruiting phases.

For vertical gardens it is desirable to provide plants with a wide spectrum of light so we can also
enjoy the visible beauty of plants.

Learn more - Light Absorption for Photosynthesis

Nearly Daylight
A Metal Halide spectrum better mimics sunlight and provides full spectrum for chlorophyll
function at 450 nm and 500 nm areas and in the 640 nm and 650 nm wavelengths.

GE Ceramic Metal Halide Bulb - 4200K

The spectral power distribution diagram of the above bulb shows an even distribution of power
in the peak chlorophyll production zones. It also includes a nice balance of the central visible
spectrums that also deliver pleasant viewing.

Our test gardens have shown that Halogens do provide adequate light to keep low-light tropical
plants alive. Whereas our Metal Halide test gardens show more aggressive growth in bright light
loving plants such as ferns.

Metal Halide Indoors

Nuvo Lighting Metal Halide Track Head Black 1 T439W/MH/G12 Base, Black, TH382

Houzz about $65 > Buy Online

High quality compact interior fixture. About $160.

Produces about 600 foot candles at 4 feet for each fixture with a spread of about 3 feet diameter
and about 150 foot candles at 8 feet with a 2 foot diameter.

Note the bulb must also be purchased, below.

39 Watt Ceramic Metal Halide Bulb - T4.5 - 4200K

Bulbs Depot about $18 > Buy Online

For fixture above.

Easy Metal Halide Lighting

Shopping Resources
A simple track lighting system can be purchased online to create a simple plug-in system. We've
created a link page where you can get the parts for an 8' wide track system with timer. This will
produce 300 foot candles of energy efficient full spectrum lighting for a 20 square foot tall
vertical garden.

Resource Links - Metal Halide Lighting

Recessed Metal Halide Fixture

Recessed fixtures are available for a more finished look for architectural application.

Metal Halide Multiple Spot Recessed Fixture

http://www.direct-lighting.com/Metal-Halide-Recessed-Fixture-CL-MH1170-PAR30LN-70W

SYLVANIA 64222 - 70 Watt - PAR30L Spot

https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/67422/PLT-64222SP.html
Metal Halide Outdoors

Florafelt Pro System Vertical Garden by Tim O'Shey, Chris Bribach, Rock and Rose Landscape.

Metal Halide Spot Fixture

Metal halide requires a transformer and ballast to ignite the gas in the bulb. These parts are inside
it's fairly large base. Note the bulb socket may look like a regular type, but these are for metal
halide bulbs only.
To distribute enough light over a wall surface you will need a fixture for each 10 square feet.
This fixture will deliver about 300 foot candles to an area about 3' x 3'. If the fixture is far away
10' or more you will need to use a spot to project the light energy to the wall. If closer you can
use a flood to distribute the light more evenly.

RAB 70 Watt Metal Halide PAR38 Bullet w/ Hood Bronze 120V

About $150

How many watts should I use?

Rule of thumb for most low light tropicals and most ferns:

- 10 Watts per Square foot makes about 400 foot candles.

Example:
- A 20 square foot wall would need 200 watts.
- Use 2 to 4 of the 39-watt track light fixtures, depending on type of plants. You can always
add more track light fixtures if needed.

Tips:

- It's always a good idea to round up.

- Use spot bulbs to focus all of the light energy on the wall.

LED Lighting
Sunlite Science & Technology, Inc.

Sunlite is a leading pioneer in LEDs used high power CREE with a spectral mix and focused
beam fixtures to project an even distribution of light on vertical garden. They will also help you
engineer custom lighting for your project.

https://www.sunlitest.com/

Share Your Findings

As we learn more we will update our findings with regards to LED lighting as a practical
solution for vertical gardens and living walls. Metal Halide are currently the most viable option.

We are always learning. Let us know your experience.

Contact Us
Questions? Call 770-406-6330
or Email: info@florafelt.com


 

Call for Pricing! (785) 856-0219

Find our Location

info@sunlitest.com

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Green Wall Lighting

Home Green Wall Lighting
Recommended Products

Sunlite LED ST30 and ST40 Linear fixtures have been used by designers and architects in
various green wall projects across the world. Sunlite’s patented LED technology provides an
effective, cost-efficient, and attractive means to grow healthy and vibrant green wall plants.
Sunlite’s ST30 and ST40 Greenwall Strip light both provide excellent lighting coverage for the
entire wall. The two fixtures consume the same wattage, emit the same light output, and provide
the same coverage.
Sunlite’s High Power ST30 Strip light is 1.25″ in thickness and 1.25″ in width. Length options
available include 12″, 24″, 36″, 48″, and 96″. The ST30 can be mounted to the ceiling using
metal pivots. The High Power ST30 Strip light is available in silver or black. The strip has a
built-in channel for running wires.

Sunlite’s ST40 Strip lights are only 0.4″ in thickness and 1.6″ in width. The length is available
in 24″, 36″, and 48″. The ST40 can be hung or mounted to a surface using swivel endcaps or
metal pivots. The aluminum channel mount mounted to the back hides the wires and covers the
back. The channel mount is not anodized. Two ST40 Strips can also be linked using metal pivot
brackets.
Edible Herb Wall

Museum Exhibit

Sample Sunlite Green Wall Projects

Existing Green Wall Re-Lamp

Envirozone Rock Wall Projects

Recommended Layouts

Sample Layouts for Green Wall with Sunlite’s LED Fixtures

Green wall lighting designs depend upon the height and width of the wall, as well as the lighting
level required. Lighting levels for plants can be measured in foot candles (fc) or
photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Sample layouts for a 12′ wide green wall are listed
below. Wider walls will need higher light output.
12′ H X 12′ W:

Total of 6 fixtures: two rows of ST40 fixtures placed on the ceiling (angled 30 degree) provides a
minimum light output of 90 footcandles and an average of 230 footcandles.

22′ H X12′ W:

Total of 9 fixtures: two rows of ST40 fixtures placed on the ceiling (angled 25 degree) and one
row of ST40 fixtures placed on the floor (angled 35 degree) provides a minimum light output of
90 footcandles and an average of 215 footcandles.

22′ H X12′ W:

Total of 12 fixtures: four rows of ST40 fixtures placed on the ceiling (angled 20 degree) to
provide a minimum light output of 80 footcandles and an average of 205 footcandles.
32′ H X12′ W:

Total of 12 fixtures: two rows of ST40 fixtures placed on the ceiling (angled 25 degree) and two
rows of ST40 fixtures placed on the floor (angled 30 degree) to provide a minimum light output
of 86 footcandles and an average of 186 footcandles.

To learn more about Green Wall Basics click here!

Please visit our product catalog! Click Here!

Technical Information
IES Files Download

SPEC Sheet Download

Glossary

F.A.Q.

© 2016 — Sunlite Science & Technology, Inc.

Green Wall Basics

Home Green Wall Basics

What is a Green Wall?

A green wall, also known as a living wall or vertical garden, is a general term referring to self-
sufficient vertical plant systems. Green walls may be grown indoors or outdoors, and they may
be either partially or completely covered with vegetation. Green walls usually include a growing
medium (such as soil) in a structural support which is typically fastened to the wall itself. Most
green walls also include a form of water delivery system to the plants.

Green walls differ from green façades (ivy walls), which usually feature climbing plants such as
Boston Ivy or Virginia Creeper. These climbing plants generally grow up and across the façade
of a building. In a green façade, plants are rooted in ground level soil or planter containers
installed at various locations. In contrast, green wall plants usually root in a structural support
fastened to the wall itself.
Green Wall Design
What Lighting Should be used for Green Walls?

LED lights are ideal for lighting green walls because they save energy and can be mounted close
to the wall without burning the plants. Small LED fixtures can usually be hidden or integrated
into the structure of a ceiling while not detracting from the appearance of the Green Wall.

Sunlite has become a recognized leader in Green Wall Lighting and ships green wall lights
around the world. Proper spectrum (wavelength peaks and ratio) and light levels are important to
keep plants thriving. Sunlite has the most compact unobtrusive design possible while at the same
time producing exceptional light levels to meet the needs of the plants so you can continue to
enjoy the benefits of green walls in your building.

Designing the Green Wall

 It is essential to provide sufficient lighting for the plants to grow.

 An even light distribution is good for the plants and looks best (HID grow lights can be uneven
and create hot spots).

 Green walls generally look better if lighting comes from above. Plants also prefer lighting from
above and grow toward the light.

 Lights located at the bottom of the wall need to be placed far enough away that the plants do
not end up growing and covering them.

Please Contact Us for a detailed Layout including recommended Foot candle or PAR readings
for your greenwall!
Green Wall Lighting

Lighting Cycle

—Green wall plants generally need 10-14 hours of light per day. —It is ideal to simulate natural
lighting by adding one-hour “dawn lighting” and “dusk lighting” periods. —Periods of varying
light intensity can be achieved using either a simple auto controller or a sophisticated smart
lighting control setup.

—Even lighting

—An even light distribution is good for plants, saves energy, and provides the best overall look.

—HID light creates “hot spots” of high radiant heat that may burn plants; HID lights need to be
installed at least 5 feet away.

Fluorescent lighting (from above) often does not generate enough intensity to reach the bottom
of a tall green wall.

Even lighting for a green wall may be achieved by using highly efficient, directional LED linear
fixtures. —Such a fixture needs to output over 1,600 lm/ft to cover a 5-ft (height) green wall.
Conventional Lighting Problems

Metal Halide lamps are often used to light green walls. However, there are a variety of problems
with Metal Halide lamps:

1. They have significantly lower energy efficiency than LED lights.

2. They can get very hot and often need a small cooling fan to circulate air flow across the lamps.
3. They usually need to be installed over five feet away from a green wall to provide adequate
light coverage and avoid burning the plants.
4. They usually require a 100-200 hour “burn-in” period to reach their final color. This means
that the color of new and used halide bulbs may be significantly different.

Benefits of Green Walls

Decorative Appeal

Green walls (also known as vertical gardens or living walls) offer many benefits. They are
visually appealing, decorative, and create an enticing and welcoming environment— they can
turn a boring restaurant or dreary hospital into a virtual paradise! Plants also promote good
health; they are known to lift people’s spirits and provide a natural calming and healing effect.

Green walls can add significantly to a property’s value. As “green” building designs increase in
popularity, green wall gardens are springing to life in places such as high-rise buildings, in hotel
lobbies, office reception areas, and even in residential homes.

Environmental Benefits

Green walls provide a number of environmental benefits. Outdoor living walls increase
biodiversity by providing an ideal habitat for wildlife, birds, and insects. Green walls can be
added to small spaces and used to grow small fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They also deter
graffiti or vandalism in outdoor areas where graffiti might be a potential problem.

Plants bring relief from extreme summer temperatures by providing shade. They also provide
moisture from the evaporation of water through their leaves. Finally, green walls are also known
to improve air quality, reduce power consumption, and reduce noise (please see more on these
topics below).

LEED Credits/Sustainability

Green walls reduce the carbon impact of structures. The LEED program (Management in Power
and Environmental Design), developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC),
is an internationally recognized green building certification system to assist the design of
sustainable buildings. The installation of green walls can earn LEED program credits.
Improved Air Quality

Office workers are often subjected to air impurities including dust, formaldehyde, carbon
monoxide gas, VOC’s, and benzene. Green walls are natural air-filters that create a clean and
revitalizing work environment by metabolizing toxins and producing oxygen. A clean
environment generates employee wellness and enhanced worker productivity.

Reduced Power Consumption

Green walls have been shown to provide thermal insulation and reduce the “heat island” effect,
thus saving energy used for cooling. Plants cool air (especially in the summer) by a procedure
described as “evapotranspiration.” Green walls also save energy used for heating in winter by
insulating and humidifying the surrounding environment.

Reduced Noise Levels

Green walls are useful to reduce noise levels. Trees, bushes, and plants are useful to reduce
noise along roads and highways. Green walls function in the same way by adding a layer of
insulation that absorbs acoustic energy and dampens high-frequency sound.

Please Contact Sunlite for more information on our Green Wall Light Fixtures!

Two-minute explainer: Lighting for living walls

The living wall at West London's Westfield shopping centre. Picture: London_Lime via Flicr .

The vertical living wall at The Athenaeum Hotel on Park Lane in London.

Living walls are becoming a regular feature of architectural projects. Westfield Shopping Centre
in West London boasts one of the longest green walls in the UK and the Athenaeum on Park
Lane has one of the tallest. In Rochester in New York state there is a living wall in the atrium of
the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, which although inside, relies entirely on natural
illumination.

So what happens when we build living walls within buildings where there is no access to natural
illumination?

Put simply, plants will not survive without an appropriate amount of light as poor illumination
slows photosynthesis. Photosynthesis requires light levels of at least 1000 lux for plants to thrive,
with levels of 2500 lux often being required.

A living wall on the outside of a building will experience levels above 30,000 lux. It is not
practical to assume that kind of illumination can be achieved indoors, so localised lighting needs
to be managed to ensure that the necessary illuminance level is achieved.

LEDs are already making their way into horticultural lighting, particularly when it comes to
farming fruits and vegetables. In such situations, white light is not an issue and the LED
spectrum is designed to optimise growth.
Living walls are a decorative feature and have to be treated in a different way. Coloured lighting
is not appropriate and it is necessary to use a wider light spectrum to present the living wall in an
attractive way.

We can typically expect to see 6500K LEDs being used to nourish the greenery of a living wall.
If the wall was created to provide leaf cover, then a blue-enriched light is appropriate.

Where a living wall includes flowering plants it will be necessary to further enhance the lighting
by introducing a red peak into the colour spectrum. Before LEDs, that job was often done by
tungsten filament sources, with their high red content.

It is still early days for LEDs and living walls, but we should expect to see the ‘horticultural’
version of RGB systems becoming available that will offer ‘tunable’ spectra to facilitate plant
health.

But if plants need light, they also need dark. Like every living organism, plants need their rest
time. It is known as ‘photoperiodism’. This can be difficult in spaces that operate throughout the
day and night, such as hotel entrances.

This can be managed by reducing illumination levels beyond the switch-off point for
photosynthesis. The range of a photoperiod on a specific wall can be determined by the plant
species.

These are early days for internal living walls and the experiences of the horticultural sector will
be vital in providing an analysis of how plants can best be illuminated. The journey has started; it
will be very interesting to see how things develop.
System Features and Benefits

What’s so special about the LiveWall® System?

First and foremost, LiveWall is designed by career horticultural professionals to grow healthy
plants. From top to bottom, LiveWall's vertical garden planters create a natural growing
environment. We employ only our TopSide® technology, whereby the soil is oriented
horizontally, unlike some competitors' products, the plants grow upward from the top of the soil
and the roots grow downward, as they do in nature. Likewise, with our unique RainRail™
mounting rail/irrigation conduits, the LiveWall System waters your plants naturally, like rain, but
in evenly metered amounts along every tier of your living wall to sustain nutrient levels and plant
health.

A living wall or vertical garden from LiveWall is unique in its simplicity, easy installation and
sustainability. Our WallTer® wall-planters are high-impact, UV resistant moldings and the unique
insert make pre-growing and planting simple. The LiveWall plants are typically pre-grown for
instant maturity, instant benefits, predictable maintenance and low life-cycle costs.

Finally, a living wall from LiveWall is absolutely beautiful, and is attractive even when the plants
are dormant. LiveWall can be used in both interior and exterior applications. It is effective for
commercial, industrial, educational, governmental and residential projects. Although beautiful
and functional in suburban and rural installations, LiveWall is particularly suited for the urban
dwelling environment and is scalable. Our vertical gardens work beautifully in the most intimate
urban applications as well as large scale, multi-story commercial projects and, in either case, can
be installed with great efficiency.

Design flexibility is enormous and ranges from the use of annual plants for colorful patterns and
waves of flowers to long-lived succulents, perennials, herbs, and vegetables. To meet your
requirements, LiveWall modules can arrive at the job site fully vegetated in WallTer Inserts.
Maintenance is easy and replacement of the plants is quick and economical.

top

What are the reasons to use LiveWall over other living wall systems?

The LiveWall System is different in design and use from other planted living wall products. For
example, when you involve us in your design process and adopt the LiveWall System, you can
rely on your living walls to be successful each and every time. LiveWall brings other important
benefits, as well, such as excellent aesthetic presentation, instant functional and environmental
benefits, substantially lower maintenance, elimination of soil erosion, standardized installation
by expert installers, expertly engineered soil and plant selections, durable lasting components,
and the pride in another sustainable eco-friendly project.

Simple, effective, attractive, instant, and most of all, great at growing healthy plants, LiveWall
represents the best design and the best value in green, living wall systems.

The LiveWall Difference

top

How much does a LiveWall cost?

The costs that go into a LiveWall system are infrastructure (WallTers, VertiRails, RainRails,
irrigation components, fasteners, etc.), planted WallTer insert, taxes, labor, rental of scissors jack
(if a ladder won't suffice), and a fair profit for the installer.

The cost will vary with the scale of the living wall project - bigger costs less, smaller costs more
(per square foot) - ease of access, plant selections, and complexity of the design. When we add
this all up, we project the contractor-installed costs will typically fall within the range of USD
$90-$135/sq ft. The cost of the planting wall structural components only are typically around
USD $45-$70/sq ft. Keep in mind that site alterations for plumbing and drainage may be
required, too. For a budgetary estimate of your project, please call 877-554-4065, or email plans
or site images to us at sales@livewall.com.

top

Do green walls reduce storm water runoff?

The typical green wall has very little impact upon storm water runoff. This is because the system
footprint is vertical and is quite small in terms of horizontal surface area. In addition, the
building overhang often blocks rain. If storm water management is a high priority, the rain
should first be captured from the roof, stored in a cistern, then filtered and used to irrigate your
LiveWall vertical garden.

top

How do green walls reduce noise?

Plants, soil, trapped air, and moisture in the soil are great acoustic insulators. Studies have shown
that green walls can reduce ambient noise by up to 40 decibels, an important benefit to those who
work or live close to noisy streets, highways and airports. Because the decibel scale is
logarithmic, every 10-decibel reduction equals a tenfold decrease in intensity.

If you live on a busy street, ambient noise levels may average 75 decibels. The design for a quiet
office may target 60 decibels, a quiet urban neighborhood may average 40 decibels at night and a
quiet library may seek to operate below 40 decibels If you are an architect, landscape architect or
contractor, it is easy to see how much additional peace and tranquility you can bring to your
client by including a vertical garden in your building plan.

top

Why place living walls indoors?

 Air Quality: Oxygenation, humidification, and reduced VOCs (volatile organic compounds.
  Beauty, Peace, Wellness: People surrounded by plants are happier, healthier, more contented,
creative, productive and relaxed.

top

What are the financial advantages of living walls?

Vertical gardens will save the property owner on air conditioning and heating costs, and will save
on the grocery bill when planted with herbs and vegetables. There are many additional financial
benefits associated with Biophilia in the workplace, retail settings, healing centers, and
educational environments. To learn more, read about

The LiveWall System is delivered with mature plants in vertical gardens that are rich with the
proper nutrients and irrigated by a metered watering system. As a result, our sustainable system
demands less maintenance cost and prolonged plant longevity.

More Living Wall Benefits

top

What are the key differences between the outdoor and indoor LiveWall systems?

 The indoor wall planters are rear-draining for water containment, and the outdoor planters have
drain holes in the bottom of the planter.

 The indoor wall planters hold twice the soil volume as the standard outdoor wall planters. Larger
outdoor wall planters are available for holding larger perennials and grasses.

 The indoor RainRails use drip emitters, and the outdoor RainRails water with spray nozzles.

 The indoor RainRails are vertically spaced 16 inches on center, and the outdoor RainRails are
spaced 12 inches on center.

top

What do the outdoor and indoor LiveWall systems have in common?

 They both work—very well.

 Almost effortless.

 Happy owners.

 Healthy plants—systems parallel nature.

 Same helpful design staff.

  Same high quality, architectural grade materials.

 Same great customer service.

Exterior Green Walls

Interior Green Walls

Design
top

How do I go about designing a LiveWall® planted wall system?

Designing a living wall or vertical garden may not be something that you do everyday, so we
have made it easy. We are happy to facilitate custom designs for larger scale commercial
applications, and we have kits for smaller projects. With a photo or drawing, and following a
discussion of project specifics, one of our staff designers will be pleased to provide you with a
custom design and estimate. For more information, please contact us at sales@livewall.com or
call 877-554-4065.

top

Which green wall plants grow best in LiveWall?

Depending on the wall orientation, climate, and design intent, designers may choose from a
broad variety of plant types.
These include:

 Annual plants

 Perennial plants

 Edibles such as vegetables, herbs, and strawberries

 Succulents

 Tropical Plants

LiveWall has trialed hundreds of plants and has compiled our findings in living wall plant
selection and pairing design guides for each of the plant types above. Copies of the plant
selection and pairing guides are available to customers. To determine which plant types are best
for your project, please contact us at sales@livewall.com or call 877-554-4065.

Living Wall Plants

top
How high can a LiveWall System be installed?

Functionally, LiveWall can be placed as high as your building infrastructure, plumbing, and
ability to access it for maintenance will allow. It is up to the discretion of the
Owner/Architect/Engineer as to the appropriateness of the system at any given height, with all
health, safety and environmental factors to be considered.

Keep in mind that the taller the building, the more substantial the wind forces, particularly
upward lifting wind forces. LiveWall specifies the use of its proprietary WindClip™ on
installations above two stories. For more information, consult our engineering section and please
contact us at sales@livewall.com or call 877-554-4065.

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Can I retrofit my existing building?

In most cases the answer is, yes. In some cases it may take a little redesign for the additional
weight of the LiveWall modules, but the principal force of the LiveWall system is downward, so
most of the time retrofitting is relatively easy. A qualified engineer should always be consulted
for retrofit applications.

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Can LiveWall® components be cut to fit?

Our living walls are designed to fit your available vertical wall. Outdoor walls with Standard
sized wall planters is designed to be spaced in rows that are 12" on center from top to bottom.
Indoor walls and outdoor walls using the large sized planters are installed in rows spaced 16
inches on center. RainRail™ irrigation conduits are manufactured in a variety of lengths divisible
by 16 inches, to match up with the spacing of the irrigation nozzles. Our design staff chooses
appropriate RainRail lengths to eliminate field cutting. In some cases, field conditions may not
match the site plans provided to LiveWall and custom cutting may be required. In those cases,
the rails must be cut to 16 inch increments, and the cut end will have to be cleaned of all burs
that otherwise can plug irrigation nozzles.

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Is the LiveWall system fire resistant?

LiveWall is a building facade system and as such is not designed to be fire resistant. The material
in the WallTer modules, however, is rated at 780°F flash point and burns at 450°F. The soil is
relatively nonflammable, and the plants are variable. If fleshy succulent plants are used, they will
actually be a fire deterrent, and if grasses are used, they are potentially flammable if allowed to
dry out.

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How much does a LiveWall module weigh?

LiveWall's vertical garden tiers weigh approximately 10 to 12 pounds per square foot, including
the molded WallTer plant modules, when saturated and vegetated with upright growing plants.
Long trailing vines may increase this weight.

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Will I have any moisture or mold issues with my exterior wall using LiveWall?

It is unlikely that you will have any mold or mildew problems provided proper precautions are
taken. LiveWall is designed to fasten to the building like many other siding systems. LiveWall is
mounted on VertiRail™ furring tracks, typically 16 inches on center, which creates substantial
room for air flow, evaporation, and escape of condensation behind the WallTer™ modules. An
important component to any vegetated wall design is to recognize that moisture from the inside
of the building can come outward through the walls and needs venting to escape. For this reason,
the building should not be wrapped in rubber or plastic, but with a breathable weather resistant
barrier such as Tyvek.

LiveWall leaves the wall system design including the moisture and mold-proofing up to the
architect, engineer, or building contractor, but we are happy to relay to you the common practices
that we have seen in use. Please contact us at sales@livewall.com or call 877-554-4065.

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What type of fastener do I use to mount the LiveWall System?

The LiveWall system includes VertiRail furring tracks which provide flexibility in design over a
number of different applications. The exterior wall design and means of fastening LiveWall to
the wall system are the responsibility of the local architect and/or structural engineer and
installation contractor and must comply with local codes.

Below are fastener recommendations for different structural applications based on 18 pounds per
square foot. Please note that adhesives should not be used.

Pilot MFG/
Wall Material Fastener Type Size Part
Hole Vendor

Torx Hex Washer Head Screw 1/4" x 1- KWIK-CON II+1/4" x 1-3/4" THWH St
Brick 1/4" HILTI
Anchor 3/4" Steel

ITW Red Head Tapcon Screw 1/4" x 1- 0131211 1/4" x 1-3/4" Hex Washer, Hex
1/4" Fastenal
Anchor 3/4" Drive, St Steel

Torx Hex Washer Head Screw 1/4" x 1- KWIK-CON II+1/4" x 1-3/4" THWH St
CMU 1/4" HILTI
Anchor 3/4" Steel
 ITW Red Head Tapcon Screw 1/4" x 1- 0131211 1/4" x 1-3/4" Hex Washer, Hex
1/4" Fastenal
Anchor 3/4" Drive, St Steel

Mortar Joints Not Recommended

Torx Hex Washer Head Screw 1/4" x 1- KWIK-CON II+1/4" x 1-3/4" THWH St
Poured Walls 1/4" HILTI
Anchor 3/4" Steel

ITW Red Head Tapcon Screw 1/4" x 1- 0131211 1/4" x 1-3/4" Hex Washer, Hex
1/4" Fastenal
Anchor 3/4" Drive, St Steel

X-U 27 P8 TH
Steel Studs Ballistic Point, Single Fastener 0.157-1" N/A HILTI
Metal "Tophat" & 8mm Plastic

X-U 27 P8 TH
Aluminum
Ballistic Point, Single Fastener 0.157-1" N/A HILTI
Studs
Metal "Tophat" & 8mm Plastic

Wooden Torx Hex Washer Head Screw 1/4" x 1- KWIK-CON II+1/4" x 1-1/4" THWH St
1/4" HILTI
Studs Anchor 1/4" Steel

ITW Red Head Tapcon Screw 1/4" x 1- 0131211 1/4" x 1-1/4" Hex Washer, Hex
1/4" Fastenal
Anchor 1/4" Drive, St Steel

Varies

EIFS
Fasten through EFIS to
structure below

Engineering

Design

Free Idea Guide

Lighting
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Will I need to provide supplemental lighting for LiveWall Indoor ® living wall systems?

Lighting is critical to the success of your living wall. In nearly every indoor application,
supplemental lighting will be necessary to ensure the proper intensity and spectrum for plant
growth. Designers should specify fixtures, bulbs and placement to ensure that the living wall is
evenly lit and receives the full spectrum of lighting required to grow healthy plants.

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How intense must light be to grow healthy living wall plants indoors?

Light intensity is a measure of light energy hitting the plant surface and is also very important to
plant health. For traditional interior lighting applications, light intensity is discussed in terms of
foot-candles of light energy. While foot-candles is not the preferred measure of light intensity by
horticultural scientists (who prefer a measurement in terms of “photo active radiation”), we have
found that foot-candles will suffice if a proven light source, such as LiveWall’s Norb® bulb, or
one of the other recommended methods, is chosen. And, for most tropical foliage plantings 200-
400 foot-candles of light energy hitting the foliage, is sufficient.

LiveWall, LLC has developed a plant selection and pairing guide for indoor plants based upon
their lighting and water needs, and growth habit. This LiveWall design guide should be
consulted for the correct light intensity for the type of plants that one intends to use. We
have categorized the plants into lighting needs as follows:

 Intense Light pertains to an indoor location within an atrium or sunroom with unshaded light
throughout most of the day. This is almost equivalent to growing outdoors in full sun.

 Bright Light pertains to an indoor location with direct light from a south or west exposure where
the plants receive 2 or more hours of direct sun, but preferably not during the hottest part of the
day. Artificial Bright Light is approximately equal to a four tube florescent fixture in close
proximity to the planting, in the range of 400 to 600+ foot candles, for 12 to 15 hours per day.

 Medium Light pertains to an indoor location with direct light for a couple of hours in the
morning or afternoon (from east or west facing windows), or from a south facing window
provided the location is several feet interior of south facing windows. Artificial Medium Light is
approximately equal to a two tube florescent fixture, 2 or 3 feet from the foliage, in the range of
100 to 400 foot candles for 12 to 15 hours per day.

 Low Light pertains to an indoor location that is not close to windows or supplemental lighting—
typically a north or east exposure. Artificial Low Light is enough to read a newspaper, in the
range of 25 to 100 foot candles for 12 to 15 hours per day.

For a copy of the LiveWall Indoor Plant Design Guide, contact us at sales@livewall.com or call
877-554-4065.

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What type of lighting fixtures and bulbs are best for vertical gardens?

Light fixtures should be adjustable, for direction, and are typically located in front of the living
wall and attached to or suspended from the ceiling. Occasionally, they are located at the bottom
or sides of the LiveWall structure, to create proximity to the plants, and thereby provide
sufficient light intensity across the entire wall surface. Often times, track lighting is used as it is
contemporary, comes with many fixture options, and is relatively inexpensive.
In respect to the light source (bulb), the key considerations are proper light spectrum and light
intensity. Plants tend to respond to blue and red wavelengths and in proportion that is not
available from incandescent or typical office-type LED lights. There are, of course, LED grow
lights composed of red and blue diodes—but they tend to cast a purple light which looks odd,
unnatural and unattractive.

For this reason, LiveWall LLC developed the Norb® (Nutri-Orb) bulb, a specialized
White-Light LED grow bulb that provides the right spectrum for growing plants. With
Norb® bulbs, the plants can be healthy and "look right under white."
Norb "Looks Right Under White" Light.

Call us at 877-554-4065 to purchase bulbs, or purchase them on Amazon.com.

Norb bulbs are a PAR38 size. They fit in a standard socket. The bulbs are approximately 5-1/4"
long and they are 4-11/16" in diameter at the widest point.

Norb® Lighting Facts:

 Brightness: 1300 Lumens

 Energy Use: 16 Watts

 Beam Angle: 30 Degrees

 Bulb Size: PAR 38

 Expected Life: 7 years (running 14 hours daily)

 Warranty: 3 years

Downloads:

 Norb® IES files

 Norb Use Instructions

This living wall installation is lit by 12 total Norb® bulbs directed at the 8’ x 8’ and 11’ x 11’
walls. These bulbs are angled from track lighting attached to the 12 foot ceiling. This
configuration provides plenty of light and serves as an example of about how many lights would
be needed for such an installation.

The following lights also support plant growth:

 Combination High Pressure Sodium / Metal Halide lights are usually quite powerful and
best suited for larger walls. They are excellent for growing plants as they have a light spectrum
that is relatively similar to the sun.

 Metal Halide lights have a good spectrum for growing foliage. They contain a lot of blue light in
their spectrum, but appear white in color. They usually require a ballasted fixture; however,
there are a few, typically 25 watt, internally-ballasted bulbs in the marketplace—which are
suitable to use in conventional track-lighting fixtures.

 Florescent lights have a good plant growing spectrum, but they may not provide sufficient
intensity if mounted from a distance, so ensure close placement to the living wall. These are
typically only acceptable for small applications, and it may be difficult to find attractive fixtures
to pair with them.
The following lights are not recommended for growing plants:

 Halogen lights do not have the proper spectral components for growing plants.

 High Pressure Sodium lights lack blue light in their spectrum needed to support indoor foliage
plants and the light they emit tends to look yellow. Their spectrum supports flowering, and
therefore they may be a good choice for indoor plants when combined with a Metal Halide light.

 Ordinary LED lights, i.e. LED lights that are commonly used in office or exterior lighting—typically
with color temperatures of 3000K-4500K—ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR PLANT GROWTH. If LED
lighting is desired, the LiveWall® Norb® (Nutri-Orb) LED bulb should be specified.

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How long should indoor plants be artificially lit?

Most plants will grow well with 12-15 hours of light per day. For optimum growth, LiveWall,
LLC recommends that you set your lighting for the living walls on a dedicated outlet which is
programmed to run for approximately 14 hours per day. Most plants require both light and dark
periods; therefore, we advise against programming the growing lights to run at night.

Irrigation
top

Does the LiveWall System need irrigation?

Yes. The amount of irrigation applied will depend on the plants selected, the local climate,
specific weather patterns and the wall orientation (south, north, east, west, windward, leeward,
high, low, etc.). In most cases irrigation only needs to run for a few minutes each day. The
LiveWall System enables you to install an automated watering system with precise metering to
nurture the vertical garden plants you choose. For more information, please contact us at
sales@liveall.com or call 877-554-4065.

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What type of irrigation feed does the LiveWall System need?

The LiveWall System requires an irrigation feed that is capable of providing sufficient water
volume and pressure for each irrigation zone. This means 8-10 gpm per valve (zone) and
regulated to 15psi pressure, via pressure regulators that are placed upstream of each valve. The
system also requires backflow prevention, and it is strongly recommended that it also include an
irrigation controller, fertilizer injector, and a micron filter to keep any waterborne debris from
plugging up the irrigation nozzles. These components are available as accessories when
purchasing your LiveWall System.
top

How is the irrigation hooked up?

The LiveWall system comes with a built in irrigation conduit in the RainRail mounting track. It
needs, however, to be connected to a suitable piping conduit. The piping conduit consists of
header pipe and fittings, valves (each filled with a 15 psi pressure regulator), a 150 micron debris
filter, irrigation controller, and fitting for annual "blow out" to clear piping conduit of water
before freezing temperatures.

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What is the difference between "Side Irrigation Feed" and "Rear Irrigation Feed" LiveWall
Structures?

LiveWall systems can be designed so that the irrigation pipe feeds into the side of the RainRails
(Side-Feed) or behind the structure into a rear tap on the RainRails (Rear-Feed). Rear-Feed
systems utilize thicker furring strips so that the irrigation components (valves, pressure
regulators, feed lines) can fit behind the planters.

Side-Feed
Side-Feed Irrigation Configuration

Side-Feed Living Wall without Facing Material

Side-Feed Living Wall with Facing Material

Detail View of Side-Feed Inline Valve Configuration

Detail View of Side-Feed Stacked Valve Configuration

Detail View of Side-Feed Stacked Valve Configuration with Bypass

Detail View of Wall Profile Using Standard Planters and Side-Feed Irrigation

Detail View of Wall Profile Using Large Planters and Side-Feed Irrigation
Advantages: Less expensive, easier to install, thinner profile

Requires either an 8 inch or 16 inch wide facing treatment at one or more ends of the installation.
Typical facing materials include aluminum, cedar, painted treated wood, or vinyl.

Rear-Feed
Rear-Feed Irrigation Configuration

Rear-Feed Living Wall Structure

Rear-Feed Living Wall

Detail View of Rear-Feed Valve Configuration

Detail View of Rear-Feed Alternate Valve Configuration

Detail View of Wall Profile Using Standard Planters and Rear-Feed Irrigation

Detail View of Wall Profile Using Large Planters and Rear-Feed Irrigation
[/tab_container]

Advantages: Wall to wall coverage (no need for facing material alongside green wall)

May require side treatment depending on site conditions and desired aesthetic. On new
construction, consider recessed walls to reduce the living wall profile. For the plants to be flush
with the adjacent wall surface, recess green wall area by 11 inches with Standard-sized planters
and 13 inches for Large-sized planters. To conceal the thicker furring strips only, recess green
wall area 5 inches.

Detail Drawings - Side Fed Outdoor

Detail Drawings - Side Fed Indoor

Detail Drawings - Rear Fed Outdoor

Detail Drawings - Rear Fed Indoor

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What happens if I have hard water?

Properly treated hard water poses no health risks and actually provides beneficial nutrients to
LiveWall plants. However, buildup of calcium or iron scaling from untreated hard water can
potentially impair the flow of water through the irrigation nozzles. Happily, the cost of treating
hard water is not an expensive add-on to a LiveWall System installation.

In cases of hard water, use phosphate descaling system to prevent irrigation system blockage or
failure. This can be purchased from LiveWall. Descaling cartridges should be replaced annually
and can be reordered from LiveWall.

On larger walls, an alternative chemical treatment system may be preferred. In these cases,
LiveWall recommends CH2O, Inc.

For a free water test to determine the type of hardness, how much is in the water, and the cost of
treating 10,000 gallons of your water, send a sample to:

Free Water Test

CH2O
4141 Boston Harbor Rd. NE
Olympia WA, 98506
Attn. Bruce Kooi
Phone: 360-259-6493

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Does the height of the living wall system affect irrigation?

On outdoor walls, the higher up you go, the windier the conditions tend to be, and you will get
more evaporative drying. One simply compensates with a little more irrigation. You can expect
to lose about 1/2 PSI of pressure per each foot of elevation. This corresponds to about 1/2 PSI for
each tier of the LiveWall system and on very tall walls, booster pumps may be needed to sustain
pressure. Plumbing should be sized and engineered accordingly. For more information, please
contact us at sales@livewall.com or call 877-554-4065.

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How often and how much water do I need to apply to sustain the green wall plants?

On outdoor systems, the RainRail hybrid mounting system/irrigation conduit, in conjunction

with wide angel nozzles provides rain-like irrigation to foliage and soil. This allows for cleaning
the soil surface, foliage and stems, and ultimately contributes to plant health and longevity. Water
use through this system is minimal and the run time is typically only 1 to 2 minutes per day
depending upon plant material and exposure of the plants to wind and sun.

The following chart should be posted near irrigation controllers and should be followed by living
wall caretakers to optimize wintertime survival of perennial plantings.

Download a PDF of the LiveWall Outdoor Irrigation Schedule

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Do I have to blow out the irrigation system on outdoor living walls in the fall?

In northern climates, deactivate the system in fall by blowing out the irrigation lines with
compressed air, not to exceed 20 psi, and turning the irrigation controller off. Empty lines and
valves are required to avoid freeze thaw damage.

After blowing the system out, the rain may effectively water the top few rows, and keep it moist
until freezing occurs. But, the lower levels can still dry out and should be monitored and kept
moist until the soil freezes for winter (it is important that the plants do not enter winter with the
soil being dry).

If the soil does dry out after the system is winterized, then the system should be reactivated and
the soil irrigated—and after irrigation, the system blown out again.

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Do I need to water my outdoor vertical garden during the winter?

Warm Climate:
If you live in a warm climate, you certainly will, but to a lesser extent than during the growing
season.

Cold Climate:

To sustain perennial plants through the winter, the soil must not excessively dry out. The plants
in the living wall will not receive sufficient moisture from rainfall due to its vertical nature, and
because the planters are exposed, the plants will enter dormancy earlier than the plants in the
ground will. Therefore, you will likely need to water your perennial plants before the danger of
freezing has passed and typically much sooner than you begin irrigating your at grade landscape.

 If the application is planted with perennial plants and it is large, or commercial scale, activate
the system as needed - but do so only on warm days where water can flow and drain freely, and
only enough to remoisten dry soil. The irrigation system will need to be blown out after each
use until the danger of freezing has passed.

 If the application is small scale, then wintertime watering can be implemented as indicated
above, or simply by using a hand held hose or watering can as the weather necessitates.

Installation
top

How do I go about having a LiveWall system installed?

LiveWall is typically installed by professional contractors specializing in landscape, irrigation,

siding or general constructions. Contact us at sales@livewall.com or call 877-554-4065 for a
professional referral.

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Is the LiveWall System easy to install?

Yes. Among the planted living wall products, LiveWall is the easiest to install. Everything is
integrated, installation steps are spelled out in our installation guide and website video, and very
few tools are required. Our WallTer® plant modules are shipped with mature plants at your
request and planted in nutrient-rich soil. Fast easy installation is the norm, and this equates to
economical installation.

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How long does it take to install the LiveWall System?

Our time studies indicate that it takes about 3/10 (.3) to 1/2 (.5) man-hour of labor per square
foot. It will be somewhat greater for smaller applications and less for larger applications.

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Can I install the LiveWall system during the winter?

Yes you can. The infrastructure of the LiveWall system can be installed in every season. There
are few things to keep in mind. When installing in temperatures at or below freezing the
irrigation system should not be activated. As a result you will need to test the irrigation system
once the temperature climbs above freezing. Also, plants should be not be installed during
winter.

To minimize installation time, please familiarize yourself with the installation instructional video
on this website.

Installation

Maintenance
top

Does the LiveWall System require maintenance?

Anything living requires maintenance, including LiveWall. Thankfully, due to the design of the
LiveWall system, maintenance requirements will be minimal and will vary with the type of
plants that have been chosen. LiveWall provides a complete maintenance guide with suggestions
for each category of plant.

Annual plants may not require much care at all. However, at the beginning of each year they will
need to be replaced with new fully-grown annuals. Simply remove the WallTer® planter inserts
from last year, and drop in the new pre-vegetated inserts for the current year.

If perennial plants are used, they will be subject to the typical maintenance of ground level
perennial plantings: removal of spent flower stalks, fertilization, and trimming stems and foliage
if they become overgrown. If the plants are deciduous (i.e., they drop their leaves in fall), they
will need to be pruned back to the soil level each spring before they break dormancy.

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May I climb upon my LiveWall system for maintenance?

No. The LiveWall System is not designed to be climbed on for maintenance or any other reason.
It is designed to hold plants, not a human body. Climbing on the system could lead to product
failure and injury. Be sure to keep children off the vertical garden tiers, as well.

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Can I use de-icing chemicals on my LiveWall plants during the winter?

No. LiveWall plants are damaged or killed by deicing chemicals. If your LiveWall is near
walkway areas that are shoveled, you should throw the snow in another direction as it may
contain de-icing agents.
top

How is it Fertilized?

Automatic Fertilization

LiveWall systems may be purchased with a fertilizer injector that is tied into the
irrigation system. The fertigation system injects a low dose of fertilizer each time your living
wall is irrigated.

Manual Controlled Release Granular Fertilizer

Outdoor walls and hand-watered indoor walls may be fertilized once annually

using a granular slow release fertilizer. The preferred product is Scotts Osmocote®, which
releases nutrition slowly for the entire growing season. This product is available from most
garden centers. Typically, one teaspoon of fertilizer shaken evenly across the soil surface of each
Standard sized wall planter during the spring is sufficient to feed plants through the growing
season. Half-sized wall planters may require half as much fertilizer. This will vary with
formulation and in all cases, the labeled directions on the package should be followed.

Do not use granular fertilizer for indoor walls with automatic irrigation. The granules require
water to run over the surface to activate, and LiveWall indoor systems include drip stakes that
inject water directly into the soil.

Manual Liquid Feed

 Every 6 to 12 months, indoor or outdoor living walls which do not have
automatic fertigation may be fed with a higher concentration of liquid feed. Fertilizer may be
applied manually according to the label directions using a watering can or a hose.

All applications of fertilizer are the sole responsibility of the applicator.

For more fertility management information, please see the Maintenance section of our website.

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How often do plants require replacement?

The need to replant during spring with vary with the severity of winter, diligence to proper care,
and plant material.

Annuals, Vegetables and Herbs - These plants require replacement at the beginning of every
growing season. There are two ways of doing this: (1) You can drop off your WallTer inserts at
a local nursery to have them pre-grow the plants in their greenhouses. If they begin 6-8 weeks
prior to your last frost date, you can begin harvesting right away once you plant them. (2) You
can plant the liners yourself using 2 or 3 inch starter plants from your local garden center. In any
event, it is important to thoroughly wash out the WallTer inserts and to start with fresh potting
soil.

Soil type: Use organically rich potting soil, which is available at every garden center.

Perennials and Tropical Plants - By definition, perennials, including tropical perennials, have
the potential to live forever. But, when grown in a container such as the WallTer insert, they will
eventually become root-bound, and at some pont with have to be removed, divided and
replanted. How long they will go with out the need for division is a factor of the particular
plant's habit, its root characteristics, and climate. Many perennials are expected to last up to
three years before becoming root-bound in the LiveWall system.

How do you know when it is time to replant and divide a perennial? You know it is time when
the plant has become so root-bound that hte growth and flowering become stunted. When this
occurs, the plants can be removed, divided and replanted. Or, they can be composted and
replaced with new plants. Replacements should be done during spring or early summer so that
the plants become well established prior to winter.

Soil type: Use a potting soil containing pine park, as it decomposes very slowly.
Sedums and Succulents - Because most Sedums and succulents have very fine root systems,
they have the potential to survive for many years without becoming root bound.

Soil type: Use an "alpine type" soil that is gritty and highly inorganic.

Maintenance

Promotion
top

Is there an opportunity to showcase my LiveWall vertical garden design?

Yes. Please post your projects on the LiveWall.com project showcase! And, please email us your
high resolution photographs of your LiveWall projects. If we use them in future editions of this
catalog or on our website, with your prior permission you will receive a call-out for your work
and creativity.

Plant varieties

When proper lighting is present, virtually any kind of plant can thrive in the NextGen Living
Walls. On this page we show several varieties that provide good coverage and do well on a
regular 4-week watering cycle. These plant varieties are mostly available both in soil and hydro
although in some parts of the world like North America hydro plants are more difficult to get.
Ask your supplier for details.

Pothos Golden

Philodendron Pictus


Nephthytis Light Green

Epipremnum ‘Neon’

Spathiphyllum

Asplenium


Epipremnum ‘Marble Queen'

Philodendron ‘Scandens’

Philodendron ‘Brasil’

Anthurium


Aeschynanthus lobbianus variegata

Aglaonema 'Maria'

Dracaena 'Compacta'

Dracaena 'Warneckei'
 

Dracaena 'Lemon Lime'

Aesynanthus lobbianus

Chlorophytum-Spider plant

How Important is Lighting for Living Walls?

By George Irwin, The Green Wall Editor

The Green Walls Column
6/19/14

Photos Courtesy of George Irwin Unless Otherwise Noted.

Save

Share214

Welcome back! It has been a while since my last article. Due to our business plans, time to
write has been a luxury. There is so much happening in the industry lately, new products, new
companies and new concepts - seemingly everyone is a living wall professional as the frenzy of
designers continue to push the limits of bigger and more elaborate projects.

La Mar Green Wall in Miami with LED Lighting.

It’s hard to believe my first product is over 10 years old. Over the years I have highlighted or
talked about a majority of the living wall applications and there is hardly a system I don’t know.
I’m humbled by our own success but, more importantly, I believe I have earned the right to call
it like I see it. I personally document projects all over the world in order to study and comment
accordingly. As a consumer are you burdened with material choices and to confuse matters
more are technical applications, whether irrigation, mounting, lighting, etc. And I will tell you
that lighting is one of the single biggest mistakes made by installers of living walls.

There is a wide range of living wall products and varying degrees of quality are available from
plastic, felt, fabrics, recycled bottles, pockets, and panels to multi-part systems, pots, bags and
some boxes no more advanced than a simple window box. In addition to product and material
quality, you have to choose between the various technologies of hydroponic, growing media and
a combination of both. So, before we get into the subject of lighting…..how do you pick what
system or product is right for your project? I can tell you there are common variables to living
wall success that will provide more insight on the products and materials available.

I suggest reading some of my archives via my past articles on Greenroofs.com. But beyond
product materials there are common variables to vertical garden success - there is a science to
creating a natural environment in the vertical plane.

Personally, I have designed our Green Living Wall with Mother Nature in mind. In a natural
setting roots grow in crevices of rock faces, the plant is irrigated from the top down with
naturally occurring nutrients and bacteria composted from leaf litter found at the top of the
wall. All plants require Water, Nutrition, Light and Media (some type of holding power for the
root system); these are the four critical and non-optional components for plants to thrive. And
there is a difference between a plant surviving and thriving.

The difference is the lighting! Lighting is the gateway to how water and nutrients interact with
the biological processes that will allow plants to thrive….or, in fact, die.

Plants, bacteria and algae are organisms that can harvest light and convert CO2 into organic
material. The process of photosynthesis is familiar to anyone who works with plants, involving
converting light into energy that is used to fuel biological activity. No light, no photosynthesis,
no energy, no plant! The process is actually much more complex and the process varies in
different organisms. There are three common ingredients to the photosynthetic recipe: CO2
(carbon dioxide), H2O (water) and light (energy). The process reduces CO2 to a carbohydrate
(sugar) and removes the electrons from H2O, which results in the release of O2 (Oxygen). In
principle, the plant needs the CO2 (harmful to humans); they produce a byproduct which is O2,
the perfect relationship between humans and plants.

Unlike bacteria and algae, living walls with plants are processing light reactions splitting water
molecules which create energy in the form of O2 and glucose. Chlorophyll absorbs light and gets
excited releasing adaptors to form an electron chain. Hydrogen is pumped across chloroplasts
which now work like a battery. (Told you it wasn’t that easy.) This is the simplest, but an
important, description of the process because not all light can stimulate photosynthesis.
 Living Wall with natural lighting.

There is a correlating factor between lighting and water. Light is the driver of photosynthesis
which involves the splitting of water to create energy. Not just any light will do; lighting for
green walls requires both quality and quantity. Plants with chlorophyll thrive best in light waves
in the blue and red spectrum.

Low light levels mean low levels of photosynthesis. This lack of light is a trigger for a chain
reaction through the plant causing evapotranspiration which impacts the inability for nutrient
uptake by the plant. The plant's metabolic function slows down, and is unable to engage in the
photosynthesis process. When the plant function slows down the requirements for water and
nutrients are also diminished. This is a critical stage in which most overwater their plants and
cause root rot, and pathogens and fungus gnats are present. The plant looks unhealthy, leggy
and thin. Lack of light puts the plant under stress allowing pathogens and other diseases to
attack. For photosynthesis to occur there has to be light and carbon dioxide; plants thrive on
CO2 combined with the proper lighting.

Lighting Terminology

Intensity:

The intensity of light is easily described in Foot Candles (FC) or Lumens. One foot candle equals
the light emitted by one candle at a distance of one foot. The terminology is used to calculate
lighting levels. Because light intensity is integral to photosynthesis, ideal intensity is discussed
in FC.

Fig. 1. shows how the light closer to the source (A) decreases as it starts to increase in distance
(B). The intensity of the bulb is determined by how bright the source of the light is and how
much light is hitting the plants from what distance.

Fig. 1. Source: Compu Phase.

Type of Light:

Color temperature is a unit of measure to express the color of light emitted by a lamp ranging
from red to blue, conventionally stated in the unit symbol K for Kelvin, the unit of absolute
temperature. This Kelvin scale is not to be confused with intensity. You can have a 100W and a
250W bulb with the same color temperature; however, the 250W will put out more intense light,
increasing the foot candles.
 Source: Wholesale LED Lights.

The color of the light will determine the plant's ability to produce strong stems, leaves, and its
ability to flower. For vegetable growers, flowering is important since flowers equal produce.
The blues, color temperatures over 5,000K, encourage good leaf and stem growth while reds and
oranges (2,700–3,000K) promote flowering. The natural sunlight provides a full spectrum of
color while the interior market must rely on supplemental lighting designed according to the
types of plants in the living wall. Our vertical farms require a combination of blue and red also
referred to a full spectrum while a typical indoor living wall will thrive on 4,500K to 6,000K on
the color spectrum.

Determining the Foot Candles

Purchase a light meter as there is no way to visually estimate the amount of light directly
available at each location of the living wall. With a light meter you can take readings along the
living wall from top to bottom and left to right in all locations.
 Light meter. Source: Pyle.

The light will dramatically decrease as you get farther down the wall or farther away from your
light source.

Figure 2 shows an Illumination Chart depicting precise areas of the living wall. The numbers
represent foot candles (FC) for low light tropical plants.

Fig. 2. Light Source.

Figure 3 highlights concerns in areas of the wall circled in red. This is important to provide a
lighting solution that will rectify these areas. The plants in these areas are unable to gather
enough light for the photosynthetic process.

Fig. 3.

Low light = 250 – 1,500 FC (Foot Candles)

Medium light = 1,500 – 2,500 FC
High Light – 2,500 – 3,500 FC

For reference, a summer day with no clouds is 15,000 FC.

At 100 FC most plants struggle to survive. There is no growth and the plant is trying to live. I
require a minimum of 250 foot candles to classify plants as low light. We have success with a
limited plant pallet at 150 foot candles, however, the more foot candles the wider range of plants
and less maintenance.

Supplemental Lighting

Supplemental lighting considerations are decided on the needs of the plants only after a meter
reading and assessment of the location and the available natural light. The first obvious choice
is natural lighting. A shopping center with glass ceilings is ideal. However, if supplemental
lighting is required the plants will dictate not only the type of light but also the preferred side of
the red or blue light spectrum. Non flowering plants will prefer a blue light, also known as “cool
light,” encouraging leafy bushy growth. Red light triggers a response to create blooms and
flowers, however, the reds and oranges typically produce substantial heat.
 Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) Green Wall.

Fig. 4 shows the towering 40 foot living wall flanked by a special glass with an orange tint that
reflects the harmful UV rays from the sun yet allows the full color spectrum to penetrate the
living wall canopy maximizing photosynthesis. The lighting for this project is 100% natural and
is ideal for the health and success of the living wall. Without natural lighting. the trick is to
mimic the sun through artificial lighting.
 Fig. 4.

The lighting choices are becoming more advanced with the use of Light Emitting Diodes
(LEDs). Cost is of concern since a single light that covers a 4’x4’ area can exceed $2,500.00
USD, compared to High Pressure Sodium (HPS) which is 1/8th the cost. The tradeoff is in the
longevity and cost of operating the light - LEDs will last up to 50,000 hours and create little to
no heat. You either pay up front for the LEDs or you pay in the long run with heat buildup and
the cost of operation. In most interior applications the lighting needs can be met with 250w
halogens and a 4,500K light spectrum. Fig. 5 displays a whiter light designed with the plants in
mind.

Fig. 5.

Lighting is the single most important element to the success of your living wall. Inadequate
lighting results in a plant that won’t need water, if the plant won’t drink, it can’t absorb
nutrients. This is when most people over water our plants creating an anaerobic environment.
Over watering is common in felt like hydroponic living walls and, coupled with poor lighting,
plants never have a chance to thrive.

The variables to a successful living wall need to come together as Mother Nature intended. All
variables have to balance in order for a living wall to thrive. Poor product design that promotes
anaerobic media and poor drainage are typical. Being able to dial in the variables for each
specific location and project is a skill learned over years of practice, trial and error. Lighting is
only one variable to the success of a thriving vertical garden.