a whole new way to think about gardening · a whole new way to think about gardening. florafelt by...

Australian Supplier of Florafelt DIY Greenwalls

A whole new way to think about gardening

Florafelt BY FYTOGREEN www.fytogreen.com.au

Grow a living wall easily with a Florafelt vertical garden

Our hand-made planters are designed to use the micro fibres in PET felt so that all the plants are watered equally.

The felt is made from recycled plastic bottles, a nylon non-toxic fibre that is indestructible and tough. This amazing material provides a safe growing medium that is pH neutral and non-reactive, so you can garden organically right on your wall. Roots grow right into the felt, which comes alive thanks to the microbiology in the soil.

Our planters come with our custom Root-Wrapping system. This lets you change and re-arrange your living wall at will, while maintaining the integrity of every plant in its own soil.



Design ConsiderationsVERTICAL GARDENING WISDOM

INDOOR LIGHTING Existing room light provides the minimal illumination for growing plants so you’ll want to add a track lighting system.You can position metal halide lights or LED growing lights with the light washing down the living wall. This is still considered a low light planting location, so plan on low light indoor tropical plants that are native to the forest floor.

NATURAL LIGHT Bright indirect light across from a bank of windows is an indoor tropical favourite. They will reach to the light and align their leaves to the source, making a perfect display. Direct light may cause burning, but if it is limited to a few hours a day it should be fine.

OUTDOORS A sunny deck with full day sun is perfect for growing herbs and vegetables, flowers and succulents. Partial sun is great for lettuce or ferns and most other plants. A shady wall is good for ferns.

MOISTURE Florafelt planters are intended for water-safe areas.Generally water will remain within the pockets but there is always the possibility that water can drip from the leaves, or roots may direct water outside of the pockets during water cycling periods. If you intend to use the unit indoors on wood floors or carpeting, use extra caution and observe the unit during the watering cycle. Use common sense when placing the unit and clean up occasional plant mess or moisture leakage.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE A thriving vertical garden requires love, as well as watering several times a day. Fytogreen recommend an automatic watering system to ensure a healthy, lush vertical garden.

CHILDREN AND PETS All gardens are at risk to the terrors of youth and fauna. Use caution, as some plants are toxic and must be selected carefully. Florafelt can be damaged by claws, teeth, and beaks. Use common sense and be selective about placement.


Built To EvolveWHY FLORAFELT?

ADVANTAGES OF LONG-LASTING SYNTHETIC FELT Growing in synthetic felt allows unlimited possibilities. Fytogreen has some of the longest and largest and most gorgeous living walls in Australia. Florafelt has felt pockets and root wrappers for ease of use so they are easy to install and maintain. Children can do it.

USING A LITTLE POTTING MIX MAKES VERTICAL GARDENING MUCH EASIER We created the pockets so that they would accommodate a handful of potting mix. The potting mix balances pH and introduces microbiology to let nature do its work and bring the felt alive. And it is crucial to use synthetic materials so the support doesn’t dissolve. Put the potting mix on either side of the root wrapped plant once installed in the pocket to fill the air gap that is formed.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH SMALL COMPARTMENTS Plastic compartments restrict root growth and create the same problem as planters - root binding. Plastic also doesn’t allow breathability, and our felt pockets eliminate the many difficulties with root rot issues. Additionally, the soil is tightly held in place by the felt pockets, keeping the entire system extremely tidy. And the pleats direct the water inward making it drip-free.

With a bolted attachment, our Florafelt planters can be used at any height. Florafelt is made from recycled PET and is virtually indestructible. And once integrated with plants and root material, it becomes a permanent living membrane.

Anyone can become a vertical gardener, not just the botanists and artists. Florafelt Vertical Planters are cheaper than wood fencing or siding which makes it the ultimate green building material.

PET PLASTICS AND TOXICITY Not all plastics are the same. PET plastic is a non-reactive, non-toxic plastic, which is why it is used for anything from milk jugs to water bottles. Trace amounts of toxics are known to emerge from PET, but soil microbes break down those complex molecules long before they reach the roots. We chose 100% recycled PET felt fibres for our Florafelt, turning used water bottles into something useful rather than littering the ocean. Additionally, plants grown in this material absorb carbon from the atmosphere making Florafelt a ‘carbon negative’ product.

VERTICAL GARDENS THAT EVOLVE We think it is very important for the vertical garden to be interactive so that is can be modified over time. Like any garden there are unpredictable changes in climate, mishaps with watering systems, or plant disease.

Florafelt pleated-pocket design, makes it very easy for any gardener to remove the problem plants and tuck healthy starts into the existing pockets. The obvious step is to add more of what was doing well elsewhere in the same garden, making the wall lush and thriving. Starting with a bio-diverse selection allows you to try many plants and minimize the failures. You simply add more of what works. A sustainable solution to vertical gardening is one that uses the skills of an existing landscape service. Fytogreen trained vertical gardeners are available for consultation.


Trim Panels To Custom SizesFlorafelt vertical garden planters come in standard sizes that can be sized to exact specifications to closely fit any width. The panels can also be trimmed for custom sizes.

Our standard pocket size is 250mm wide x 150mm high.

Allow an additional 25mm to each side for attachment staples.

EASY TO TRIM BY HAND

Florafelt Garden Planters can be cut with a utility knife & sharp scissors.

• Place panel felt side down.

• Use a straight edge and utility knife to cut plastic backing board.

• Trim felt using sharp scissors or multiple cuts with a utility knife. Panels can also be trimmed vertically every 125mm to create more custom sizes.

TRIM AND TILE TO CREATE CUSTOM SIZES

Use combinations of the panels to create custom sizes as in the example above.



Mounting Guide - Hang On HooksVERY EASY AND QUICK TO INSTALL

A GRID OF HOOKS ON THE WALL IS A SIMPLE WAY TO CREATE A LIVING WALL.

The air gap keeps the back dry, while the planters shingle down so that the water drips into the lower felt. Simply water and the liquid will spread evenly down the wall. It’s an ideal method for outdoors - on fences and walls where water is not an issue.

For extra safety indoors, use rubber pond liner on the wall. Be sensible. Consult with a licensed architect for structural advice for a large installation and when you are concerned about moisture sensitive areas.

Stuff pockets with Root-Wrapped plants to create your living design. Plants will grow out a 400mm or more, and eventually the felt pockets will simply disappear behind your living wall.

1. Choose a rigid backing like masonry wall, wood fence, or plywood facing that can load bear 45kg per m2.

2. Waterproofing is not necessary for exterior rated surfaces. However, for interior surfaces glue a rubber EDPM pond liner to the wall first.

3. Measure and mark a grid pattern spaced 810mm across and 610mm high for each Forafelt 12-Pocket planter. You can vary the width using the Florafelt 4-Pocket planters, which are 300mm wide.

4. Install sturdy hooks on the grid marks. If needed, use rubberized sealant where the hook penetrates the rubber membrane.

5. Use the nylon tabs on the top of the Florafelt planters to hang create the shingle pattern. Adjacent planters can share the hook.

6. Fytogreen’s Florafelt planters come with 2 driplines already installed in every second row of the Florafelt pockets. Connect these driplines to a 13mm ‘up pipe’ for irrigation. (see our irrigation guide on page 12). Connect the ‘up pipe’ to an automatic watering timer that runs 4-6 minutes, 4 times daily. Adjust as needed.

7. Excess water will drip from the bottom, which can water a planter below or be directed, using a rain gutter, to a nearby drain or collection tank to recirculate.

8. Build a frame to finish the edges. (Optional) Leave pond liner long at the edges to make the edges watertight too. Bend up and trim at the frame’s front edge.

DR

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Mounting Guide - Wood Framed

Vertical Garden

PERMANENT INSTALLATION

| 1x4 WOOD EDGING

| EXISTING WALL

| DRIP IRRIGATION TUBING |

| SUPPORT STRUCTURE - TREATED 90x45mm LAID FLAT - SPACING 815mm ON CENTRE - BOLTED TO EXISTING STRUCTURE

| FLORAFELT VERTICAL GARDEN PLANTER

| ROOFING NAIL OR DECK SCREWS (DECK SCREWS WITH FENDER WASHERS)

| VAPOR BARRIER EDPM POND LINER OVER 2 LAYERS BUILDING PAPER

| GUTTER TO COLLECT RUNOFF (OPTIONAL) - STANDARD TYPE GUTTER

TO SEWER or TO DRIP INTO PLANTER BELOW or COLLECT WATER FOR RECIRCULATING.

DRIPLINE



| FLASHING

| EXISTING WALL

| DRIP IRRIGATION TUBING

| SUPPORT STRUCTURE - TREATED FRAMING TO SPEC. - 18mm MARINE PLY TO SPEC. - FREESTANDING or ATTACHED

TO EXISTING BUILDING TO SPEC.

| FLORAFELT VERTICAL GARDEN PLANTER

| PLANTER ATTACHMENT - DECK SCREWS WITH FENDER WASHERS

| VAPOR BARRIER EDPM POND LINER OVER 2 LAYERS BUILDING PAPER

| GUTTER FRAME EDGE - STAINLESS, GALV OR COPPER

TO 20-25mm DRAIN TO SPEC.

Mounting Guide - Metal Frame on

Plywood Vertical Garden

PERMANENT INSTALLATION


How to Use Florafelt...

STRETCH OPEN POCKETS• First stretch open all the pockets using a small pipe

or tool handle to get leverage.• Pull firmly. Felt will give and stretch.• Do not pull excessively.

MOUNT YOUR FLORAFLET VERTICAL GARDEN• Refer to the mounting options.

WRAPPING PLANTS Trim (if applicable) and mount your Florafelt vertical garden prior to wrapping plants.• Roughly layout your design prior to planting. • Pre-moisten the root-wrapper to prevent root shock.• Remove enough soil to make a long flat pouch

that easily slides into the pocket.• Wrap plants as per ‘root wrapper’ instructions.• Use a rubber band to hold wrapper together.• Insert wrapped plants into Florafelt pockets.

HAND WATERING• Hand-watering is an option, although not recommended,

because a thriving vertical garden requires watering multiple times a day, unless you live in a rainy area.

• An automatic watering system is recommended, and is easy to connect. See our irrigation guide for more information.

WATERING SYSTEM• Run the watering system on full to test the system.• Check that the drip line is watering evenly across every second row.• Check that the drain is clear.• Check that the drain hose is adequate for draining out the water.• If water source is harvested rainwater then use an in-line filter.• The back layer of felt will get slightly moist when pressed.• The bottom crease inside the pocket will also feel moist• The front of the pockets will remain dry.• Run the system on full while installing the plants.• Soak the root-wrappers before wrapping the plants.

TIMER SETTINGS• When the wall is planted set the timer for 4-6 minutes, 4 times a day.

(This can be adjusted depedend on area conditions)• Check each plant daily initially to see they are all getting moisture.• If a plant gets dry, hand water it to reactivate the moisture.



ROOT WRAPPERS MESSFREE VERTICAL GARDENING

FLORAFELT VERTICAL GARDEN SYSTEMS PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION GUIDE 10

How to Use Root WrappersNext prepare the plantings for each pocket using the Florafelt Root Wrapper System. You can use a single species or a variety of species for each pocket, depending on the design you wish to create.

Place the wrapper diagonally and fold down the top corner.

Place plants on the wrapper so the soil line is an inch below the top fold. Add and arrange species as required.

Bring the edge up and stretch around soil and roots.

Fold in the edges and use a rubber band to hold it together.

Images by Photographer Jamie Sangar.Jamie Sangar is a professional photographer with a passion for vertical gardening. Jamie shows how to make a succulent vertical garden for her home near Fisher, Indiana.


Irrigation & Fertigation KitFlorafelt Vertical Garden Panels

Galcon 7101BT - Bluetooth single station controller with integrated inline valve. Note: Batteries to be replaced

every 4 months.

Senninger Pressure Reducing Valve Reduces tap water pressure from 400-450kpa to 178kpa.

Backlow 810FF Protects from water backflow contamination.

EZFLO 1-075 Automatic Nutrient Dosing System with Regulator Smart Fertilization dosing through your irrigation system.

Hortico An excellent all purpose soluble fertiliser that can be added to the fertigator applicator.

Irrigation Parts A selection of basic irrigation parts and connectors will be supplied with this system.

You can purchase a complete Irragation

Kit directly online from Fytogreen Australia.

See our product page on the website for full details

www.fytogreen.com.au

PLEASE NOTE: 13mm poly irrigation line is NOT INCLUDED as length is variable depending on placement of fertigator.

Irrigation and Fertigarion

AUTOMATIC WATERING Fytogreen recommend adding a digital hose timer to a nearby tap. Use a hose splitter, ensuring your vertical garden is always connected to an available water source or use the soaker hose and connect to your existing irrigation system.

HAND WATERING Florafelt vertical garden planters can be watered by hand daily, although they do require multiple waterings per day.

Due to this reason, Fytogreen recommend an automatic watering system.



DRAIN TUBE - CONNECT TO STORMWATER OR

NEARBY PLANTER

OPTIONAL GUTTER

BACKFLOW PREVENTER

PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE

GALCON 9001DTIME SETTINGS: WE RECOMMEND 4-6 MINUTES, 4 TIMES DAILY.

13MM IRRIGATION LINES

PRE-INSTALLED DRIPLINES

WATER SOURCE(TO ALWAYS REMAIN ON)

PLANT FOOD INJECTORAUTOMATIC SYSTEM ( EZI-FLOW OR SIMULAR)

WE RECOMMEND 1/2 BOX ( 500 GRMS ) OF HORTICO BI-MONTHLY

WHEN USING A MANUAL FERTIGATOR SYSTEMWE RECOMMEND: SPRING / SUMMER - 2 TSP EVERY 2 WEEKSAUTUMN / WINTER - 2 TSP EVERY 3-4 WEEKS

HOSE SPLITTER

Connect the hose splitter to your tap. This allows you to have access to your water but also provides an ‘always on’ connection to your water timer.Be sure the tap and splitter valve remain open to ensure consistent watering.

THE GALCON 7101BT - DIGITAL BLUETOOTH HOSE TIMER This set up works best for this application since it allows for 1 minute run times, which reduce water waste. It also allows for 4 start times per day if necessary. We recommend a setting of 4-6 minutes, 4 times daily. (This can be adjusted depedend on area conditions)

AUTOMATIC WATERING DRAIN AWAY SYSTEM Parts available from Fytogreen website or purchase (recommended or simular) from your local hardware store.

PRESSURE REGULATOR The pressure regulator keeps the water pressure low to prevent hose connection blow-outs and slows the watering rate. Slower watering allows plants to absorb the water, reducing waste. Use 30psi model.

13 MM TUBING ‘UP LINE’ Connect the tubing to the Miniscape drip line that is pre-installed in your Florafelt vertical garden panels.

DRIP LINE (PRE-INSTALLED) 8mm Miniscape, with 150mm emitter spacing, irrigation drip tubing.

PRESSURE FEEDER or AUTOMATIC FEEDER To ensure good on-going growth, fertilize the greenwall via a pressure feeder or automatic feeder, which should be placed between the pressure regulator and the Florafelt wall. We reccommend EZ FLO 1-075 Automatic Nutrient Dosing System with Regulator for best results.See diagram for fertilisation dosage recommendetions.

TIP: Your plants will also benifit from a monthly spray of Seasol (or simular) to keep the garden looking healthy and lush.

DAILY• Observe the plants• Notice if plants look wilted

or if they have faded leaves or show rotting bases or browned leaves

• Also notice if they have new buds or have made new roots

FORTNIGHTLY• When using a manual fertigator system

top up your fertiiliser. We recommend (Hortico): Spring / Summer - 2 tsp every 2 weeks Autumn / Winter - 2 tsp every 3-4 weeks

MONTHLY• Observe plant health and

adjust water timing if necessary• Remove dead leaves• Remove any dead plants and replace• Clear drain of any debris• A healthy spray of Seasol (or simular) to keep

the garden looking healthy and lush.

EVERY 3-4 MONTHS• When using an automatic fertigator system

top up your Ezi-Flow (or simular) Feeder We recommend; 1/2 BOX ( 500 Grms ) of Hortico every 3-4 month

• Use ladder to visually check drip emitters• Change the timer battery

Maintenance Schedule

Florafelt BY FYTOGREEN

TIP: Use your ECalendar Add these events to your electronic calendar and use the repeated events feature with reminders. Copy and paste this info for each frequency listed.


Florafelt BY FYTOGREEN

PHONE 1300 182 341 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.fytogreen.com.auPROVIDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT


AU S T R A L I A

www.fytogreen.com.au

LIABILITY STATEMENT - Florafelt is not responsible or liable for care and maintenance of plants used in our Florafelt living wall panels wall systems, Root Wrappers or any other products or services. Florafelt and/or Fytgreen is not responsible or liable for water damage to interior or exterior of buildings, homes, or finishes due to misuse or accidental moisture dripping from plants, lack of maintenance of watering systems, or for any reason for moisture damage or loss due to damages of any kind. It is up to the purchaser to properly protect all surfaces from water exposure or overflow by providing water catchment drain trays and/or vapour barriers to areas of potential damage. We also recommend the hiring of qualified landscape maintenance professionals to assist with plant selection, planting, watering, feeding, pest control, lighting, and general maintenance to assure optimal health for the living wall.

Fytogreen is not responsible and to be held harmless to damage to buildings, water leakage, loss of plants, bodily harm, or any accidental damages of any kind.© 2010 Plants On Walls / Florafelt Corporation. U.S. and International Patents. Made in USA.

a whole new way to think about gardening · a whole new way to think about gardening. florafelt by...

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