Woolly Pocket Install

Measuring

The next step was setting up our vertical guide line along the left margin of the wall and beginning the installation of the Wally Three’s.

Leveling the planter

Wally Three's

Irrigation drippers

Foster Plants had originally planned on using a half inch vertical line up the right side, with quarter inch horizontal lines, but Rich decided to use all quarter inch to minimize the chances of any leaks. Each pocket will have one half-gallon per hour drip emitter.

Top down planting

After adding a layer of the planting medium to the pockets, they began planting into the Wally’s. The irrigation drip-heads are adjusted and buried into each pocket as they plant. Planting from top to bottom prevents dirt from falling on the plants just planted.

Finished wall

You can reach Steve Foster a call at 305.962.0990 or toll free at 1.877.647.1782. If you’re interested in interior plantscaping / living wall discussion, here’s his forum if you’d like to take part.

Since introducing the new vertical garden, the 360 MALL has been attracting many visitors across the country and from around the world. The zone is surrounded by glass walls which allows the sun’s rays to penetrate the mall’s surroundings providing a naturally beautiful scenic view.

Kuwait's living wall

The vertical garden grows plants without any soil (hydroponically), and can be implemented indoors or out. The organic architecture is created by sprinkling plant seeds on a fabric layer which allows plants to grow naturally across the available space. The process of watering and fertilization is automated on a timed irrigation system.

The mall's greenwall

The 620 square meter vertical garden includes 20,500 plants from over 101 different species. It’s a perfect combination between nature and art. The wall has a built-in water filtration system which helps the plants thrive without worry of a build up of excess salts. The vertical garden purifies the air by removing some VOC’s and adding oxygen to the room through photosynthesis.

Kuwait Mall's gardens

360 MALL’s Vertical Garden demonstrates creativity and innovation and is the perfect addition to a retail center known for its fine dining and high-end shops.

Living wall growth progression

Verde 360 is a Mexican company founded in 2006 that builds and maintains living walls. They create custom living walls to green up an urban environment. They’ve done some stellar work for brands including Nike and Steve Madden using felt and custom steel irrigation trays/gutters as reservoirs. A few of their projects are below:

• Arq. Jose Luis Cortez 
• 12 meters square
• San Angel, Mexico

Verde 360

Verde 360 Mexico

• Steve Madden
• 12 m sq each side
• Sante Fe, Mexico
• July 2008

Steven Madden Living Wall Mexico

Two sided living wall

• Movil Module
• 6 m2 Mexico
• January 2008

Planting vertical garden designs

Vertical garden with custom stainless steel reservoir

Finished Movil Module

Floating Garden

This unique form of gardening is based off of kokedma. Kokedma is the art of growing plants from moss balls –  Koke (Moss) Dama (Ball) – “the poor man’s bonsai”. Robin from Urban Gardens Web (a great site) got in touch with Fedor who put his unique twist on typical kokedma by hanging the plants from ceilings with string. Fedor will hang the plants at eye level and will continually adjust the string as the plant grows as its center of gravity changes.

Indoor floating garden

Fedor keeps the plants watered by moss that goes right to the center of the ball or by a steady dripping system that keeps the root ball moist. They generally are watered every three days. Another possible way to water is the ‘Kokedma way’ where you just put the whole ball into a bucket of water for 2-3 minutes. Then just gently squeeze the ball and you’re all set. You can also just mist the moss to ensure it stays green.

Because of the small size of the ball the plants will typically remain small with the inside of the ball allowing for growth and development of the plant’s root system.

Floating garden

Here’s a few regular kokedma:

Kokedma

This Asparagus below is “Asparagus Plumosus,” also commonly called “Asparagus Fern” and “Lace Fern,” although it is not fern. It is Liliaceae and related to Asparagus that we eat. The young stems look like a skinny version of the vegetable asparagus.

kokedama asparagus