Frequently Asked Questions
Plants – Horticulture
How do you select the plants to use?
The most important part of the process is plant selection. Our horticulturalists will recommend what plants to use based on the aspect (north, south, east, west), sun vs shade, indoor vs outdoor, your preference of natives vs exotics vs combination, low and high temperatures during the year, etc. They will put a recommendation to you for your sign off. You have the final say before we plant anything.
Do the plants need lights to grow inside?
There is actually no such thing as an indoor plant. What we do is look to nature and see what plants can tolerate very low levels of light and emulate that in the man-made indoor environment. However, often we will still need to supplement the lighting conditions with Grow Lights to make sure the plants have a minimum of 3000 Lux to photosynthesize and remain happy and healthy.
What are grow lights?
Grow lights are special lights that are high in both Red and Blue wavelengths. However, they use a full spectrum of light so the human eye can only see white light. The HelioPAR lights The Greenwall Company can supply have special adjustable lens’s that allow you to adjust the light throw across a greenwall.
How do you feed the plants?
The plants are fertilised using a combination of slow-release fertiliser products, applied during routine maintenance services, and or via the irrigation system which has an automated fertiliser dosing system built into it.
Irrigation
Does it need irrigation?
Yes. Plants need water and food. We use controlled drip irrigation that uses very little water. On average our Greenwalls use 1.6L/m2 of water a day. Compare this to the average lawn which requires around 20l/m2 a day.
Is the irrigation system included?
Yes, we will provide details of the irrigation system in our proposal.
Fixings
How is the greenwall fixed to the wall?
There are multiple ways we can install the Greenwall, it often depends on the type of wall you have. There are options for brick walls, block walls, corrugated fences, indoor stud walls and even freestanding walls if need be. The best way forward is to get in touch and send some details of your project to the team and we can give you more advice.
How is the Eco Pillow fixed to the roof?
The pillows are installed in a way which creates a monolithic ‘blanket’ structure which significantly reduces the likelihood of movement. If there are concerns, a static tensile line can be installed around the perimeter of the pillows as an anchor point for the pillows to attach to.
Weight
How heavy is the product?
We provide reference weight based on the product having 10 years of plant growth and water saturated. It is not an exact number as the plants used will have an impact to the overall weight. The weight per square meter of greenroof is 60 kg, for internal greenwalls is 60 kg, for external greenwalls is 85 kg, for green gabions / planter boxes it depends on the size.
Components / Materials
Why do you call your media soilless?
Our patented media is made primarily from inorganic matter that we collect and recycle from the local resource management centre (the tip). We have a patent where we mix 19 different ingredients to promote root growth and healthy plants. Being mainly inorganic, means that we don’t have the problem of soil slumping or the high weight of soil.
What is the greenwall frame made out of?
The frame for the greenwall is made from recycled aluminium giving it the strength and light weight. The installation methodology will depend on the type of wall where it will be installed.
Types of Greenwalls / Vertical Gardens
What are the differences between a pot based system and The Greenwall Company Eco Panel?
What are the differences between a pot based system and The Greenwall Company Eco Panel?
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CONCEPT
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Eco Panels
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Pot Based
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High –
A larger area for the plants to grow means a shared mircobial community to support healthy growth. The breathable fabrics also allow for air pruning of roots. High inorganic media means the soil does not break down over time causing what we call in the industry – Slumping.
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Lower –
The size of the pot will determine when the roots of the plant will run out of space impacting the health of the plant. This combined with soil slumping over time, means the plants will need to be replaced.
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Installation
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Quick and easy –
A frame will be installed and then the eco panels will come planted with the irrigation line built in it.
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Quick and easy –
A frame will be installed and then the eco panels will come planted with the irrigation line built in it.
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Turnaround from order to delivery
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3 to 4 months
Eco Panels are custom built and then planted, ensuring the root growth.
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1 week if required.
Being pot based each plant is already planted in a pot.
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Maintenance
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Quarterly –
Planting design and media allows for a low maintenance strategy, often only 4 times a year, while being high in biodiversity.
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8 - weeks –
Maintenance required may increase as time goes on as soil slumps or the roots run out of room. Eventually the plants will need to be replaced.
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High –
The Eco Panel frame is made from 70% recycled 606 grade aluminium. Used to prevent rusting over time and maintaining its strength.
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Medium –
Recycled plastic pots with UV stabilizers help extend the life of the plastic under Australian conditions.
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Pricing
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Higher –
Hand made in using aluminium frames, built in wicking system, irrigation packages, soiless media, specialised breathable fabrics and pre-grown at our nursery for three months before going onto our your project.
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Lower –
It is simple, it is easier to plant and grow and easier to install. It is pot plants hanging on a frame with an irrigation system.
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