Crazy, crazy crazy idea or is it?

[harrywitmore]

The water runs through the capillary mat. It absorbs water and plants root to it very easily. You pump the water to the top and apply it to the mat and it trickles down to the reservoir to be recycled. Sort of like a swamp cooler does.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

The water runs through the capillary mat. It absorbs water and plants root to it very easily. You pump the water to the top and apply it to the mat and it trickles down to the reservoir to be recycled. Sort of like a swamp cooler does.

That's what I was also wondering about- using the wall as a sort of natural swamp cooler with the constant evaporation of water. I'm unsure if I'll be using the lean-to still in Summer but I was considering an exhaust fan in the ceiling and putting in an actual swamp cooler bringing in only dry outside air from it- that gets cooled and replaces the hot air which is continually sucked out from the top..

So many questions, considerations and decisions to make

[harrywitmore]

Damian, I have actually also seen some pictures of someone that grew orchids on a swamp cooler. It was done for the very reason you are doing it, to grow cool growing orchids.
I didn't realize you were in AU. A little Northern Hemisphere bigotry I guess. Sorry.
You may have come across an English translation I attempted for the instructions on how to build this thing. Looks like the original instructions are now gone. I won;t post a link to it since I don;t have permission to post it but I am still trying to get in touch with the author. There is a fellow Patrick Blanc who inspired this construction who does it on a grand scale.
Living Walls | EcoGeek | Green, Building, Some, System, Wall

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

Damian, I have actually also seen some pictures of someone that grew orchids on a swamp cooler. It was done for the very reason you are doing it, to grow cool growing orchids.
I didn't realize you were in AU. A little Northern Hemisphere bigotry I guess. Sorry.
You may have come across an English translation I attempted for the instructions on how to build this thing. Looks like the original instructions are now gone. I won;t post a link to it since I don;t have permission to post it but I am still trying to get in touch with the author. There is a fellow Patrick Blanc who inspired this construction who does it on a grand scale.
Living Walls | EcoGeek | Green, Building, Some, System, Wall

No problem Harry thanks for your reply Thanks for the link too, amazing stuff!! and very inspiring