Living wall. I have a few questions. Anyone tried one?

[DirtyCoconuts]

I have a apace in my bathroom that I want to make a living wall.

I want it to be 36” wide x 30” tall and I am going to use a few wall planters and hygrolon as the wicking mechanism and rooting area. My questions are about how I can make a barrier against the wall?

I was also think about using the square fencing pvc as the frame to avoid the possibility of rot like I would have with wood

Anyone ever try this? Any thoughts on a moisture barrier? I was thinking visqueen, plexiglass, ???

[estación seca]

Do a lot of reading. The problems have all been solved.

[Dollythehun]

I could be wrong, but I think there are premade units that have solved those problems.

[Ray]

I had build such a thing using Ecoweb (Epiweb). I completely sold out my remaining Aquamat (US version of Hygrolon) to a guy that made such walls by sewing wavy folds in the fabric to create pockets to insert plants in.

All you need is a waterproof barrier behind it - what you use is determined by whether it will be structural or just a “raincoat”.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Amazing. Thanks All

I had not seen premade ones. I’ll look at those and steal ideas.

[Ray]

Attached is a photo of a free-standing unit I build many moons ago. Sump and pump are below. The support is black ABS plastic - solid sides and back. with a perforated support. All inside of a polyurethaned wooden cabinet.

The support is perforated as I was drawing air through the EcoWeb mat with a fan. It humidified the room and purified the air courtesy of microbes living in the rhizosphere.

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by Ray

It humidified the room and purified the air courtesy of microbes living in the rhizosphere.

I could really benefit from both aspects; do you have more info about how it works?

[DirtyCoconuts]

That’s awesome Ray!

The poly coated wood held up so that’s awesome. I’ll use that for my French cleats and the back. I’m covering the back with 1/8” gasket material and then I feel having it off the wall 1;1/2” will allow for great air movement around it.

I think I’m going to low tech it and just make reservoirs in the frame I fill by hand.

[Roberta]

I have seen arrangements like this Amazon.com
for succulents... should work for orchids too as long as the drainage issues get solved.

[WaterWitchin]

Are you doing something like Akhenaten's wall thing? Or a different sort of setup?