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The living green walls, which are also referred to as vertical gardens or living walls, are turning out to be live pieces of art that can be attached to the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall. They are not the same as climbers or creepers or also called the green facades.
These living green walls are panels of various plants that are said to be grown vertically with the help of hydroponics on the structures, which can be either attached to the wall or separate as free-standing.
These living green walls comprise various plants, which would be inserted into these growing medium, after which they would be placed on the walls of the apartment or the buildings to provide for greenery.
How long do these living walls last?
This is considered new technology, but the lifespan of these living green walls would not be easier to declare with surety. The hardware, the growth media, and the panels of the structure can surely last up to 15 to 25 years when there is proper maintenance and care taken.
But when it comes to how long each of the plants would last is quite a tricky question to answer since it would depend on what types of plants are being placed in the structure and whether they are suitable per their needs.
As per one of the experts, it would be quite hard to properly mention how long the plants would live since they would surely continue to live until their roots tend to run out of space, and they would not be able to live any longer. It would be not easy to provide an exact date. Still, it is sure that the plants can grow sustainably in their respective panels for a minimum of five to ten years, even much before they are completely replaced with another one.
Suppose you have the green wall in a tray system wherein the plants can be taken in and out, then they are said to last for one year, after which they would need to get replaced.
Most people go for the exterior plants, and the reason for this selection is that the walls can cope with the weather in just one particular location. Each part of the area is known to have a micro-climate. Hence unless one installed this living green wall, it would be pretty challenging to say the exact condition of that area. Thus, for this one reason, there is a need to go in for timely maintenance and the need for warranty so that one can adequately manage the adjustments that are very much required in this particular micro-climate.
During the winter season, it is seen that plants similar to any other would start to go dormant. Still, the aesthetics of the overall wall region in all of the seasons must be considered while at the design of the structure itself.
There is one significant aspect that the company would be discussing with their respective clients during the design stage itself, and that would be whether the client wants the green look throughout the year.
The same is because certain plants are known to be evergreens, and they would change their colour, but the leaves would remain green throughout the winter season. But there are limited species of such evergreens. Weather is known to have a significant impact apart from maintenance on the longevity of these living green walls.
These living green walls are considered the future since they bring along with them lots of health benefits and happiness. They are being looked upon as a revolution wherein it changes the course of the wall from the concrete to the beginning of nature, taking upon these urban regions.
Maintenance
The living green walls are indeed not that easy when it comes to their overall maintenance. Still, the good news is that the client would not be left alone for maintaining them since the company that looked into the designing of these structures would be taking care of the initial maintenance.
To ensure success for these living green walls, the maintenance part is very much critical. Many companies look into these installations of living green walls, and they stress upon going in for a one-year warranty. These companies ensure that the structure has been installed correctly and the maintenance at least for that one year is carried out on time and accurately.
After this initial year, it would be up to the client whether they would want to continue with the company when it comes to maintenance or gets it done by themselves. The initial few months are considered to be quite a crucial period for these living green walls since it is very much necessary for getting the irrigation, as well as the timing, did all right.
Most of these living green walls are designed to have a drip irrigation system that would help maximise water usage. It is also set up with the help of an automated system wherein the irrigation is timed correctly to avoid any wastage of water.
The recirculation facility is considered one of the most efficient methods since they are known to reuse the water on a repeated basis by pumping the water from the bottom to the top portion until there is no water left. This tank is then refilled again. Also, there is another option available called direct irrigation, mainly for those known not to have any room for tanks.
