Picture Framed Gardens
Picture Framed Gardens
Strawberries hanging off the wall might have started off the vertical planter craze; however, we are seeing more vertical living gardens as wall art and energy savers. Outside walls with a living form supporting the growth of plants, act as insulation for the home as well as being attractive. Indoor wall plants improve air quality. Some are known to absorb harmful electro-magnetic frequencies from the plethora of appliances.
The microcosm of the living wall concept is the garden in a picture-frame.
The pot plant has evolved! Vertically framed planters are being used as an art form to grace your tabletops housed in standing picture frames, or vertically on your indoor and outdoor walls.
Companies are manufacturing easy-to-install and care for wall containers or tabletop frames and kits with self-watering reservoirs, so plants drink water when thirsty. Plant exchange is easy. Walls are protected and stay dry with special materials to hold the soil and moisture. The planters are modular, simple to hang with fasteners that can be used on brick, drywall, wood and metal walls as well as sheetrock. Along with modular living walls, other inspirations from a Canadian company out west, (with active retailers in and around the Edmonton area), are sky planters.
Whether you are looking for a vertical wall, or single pocket, most companies offer instructions on how to install and maintain their product. Plants are grouped for their size and compatible love of soil, light and food.
The framed box alternative for tabletops comes with a 3-inch deep container and special water well for the plants to soak up water as needed.
If you are a DIY’er, you can make your own from scratch, or use an old drawer to match the frame size you choose.
Inside corners can be caulked to prevent leakage and lined with a suitable waterproof material. You may want to drill a couple of holes towards the back to water the plants, or leave the top open and insert PVC tubes to the closed bottom, drilling small holes to get the water down to the bottom.
Chicken wire mesh is secured to the box, and the frame secured to the box with finish nails. Succulents may be best for these frames. Fill the box with suitable soil for the succulents, adding moss to hold the moisture. Allow the moss to dry in between watering. If yours is a home made project, some instructions suggest taking the box down from the wall to water, and replacing after a day or two to prevent leakage. Now you have a unique piece of living wall art for your inside and outside walls.
Start to plan so once the weather warms, you can get right into creating your own vertical garden.
Whether you purchase a kit from a manufacturer or you create your own project, you will enjoy the benefits of having natural plant walls or attractive tabletop art. Bring nature indoors!
Picture Framed Gardens
