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

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, ???

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

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

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”.

Amazing. Thanks All

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

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.

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

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.

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

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