Hydroponics walls are statement walls that use vertical hydroponics in order to create a beautiful green cascade of plants. You can find them in restaurants, hotels, stores- and even in some homes! They’re a great way to green up a space and bring the outdoors, indoors.
Read on to learn more about hydroponics walls!
What Is A Hydroponics Wall?
Hydroponic walls are a vertical farming method of hydroponics that allow a wall to appear to be covered with plants.
Hydroponics walls aren’t a soil-based system. Rather, net cups hold your plants in place while their roots dangle below into a nutrient solution flowing through pipes.
Hydroponic walls is another term for vertical farming. They just have slightly different connotations.
Hydroponic walls- or green wall systems- are typically an accent wall or statement piece within a home, restaurant, or hotel.
Meanwhile, vertical farming- or vertical planting systems- are specifically used for growing food.
While they may have different purposes, both hydroponic walls and vertical farming use the same technology.
How Do Hydroponic Walls Work?
Vertical hydroponic systems are known as “active” hydroponic systems. This is because they require an energy input (electricity) in order to function. In this case, hydroponic walls use a water pump to transport water from the nutrient water reservoir to the top of the system.
The nutrient water then makes its way down the system thanks to gravity, nourishing your plants along the way. The plants are suspended in cups with their roots dangling into PVC pipes where the water is running through.
Hydroponic walls are a vertical version of the well-known nutrient film technique (NFT).
Vertical Hydroponic Wall
Vertical hydroponic walls utilize a nutrient, tubes, a water pump, and net cups.
The reservoir is situated at the bottom of the tower. The water pump sends the nutrient water all the way up to the top. Gravity does the rest and brings the water down through the system where it can be reused again.
Plants are put in netcups at a 45 degree angle so they can best absorb the source of nutrients from the thin film of solution flowing through the pipes.
Zig-Zag Hydroponic Wall
The zig-zag hydroponic wall is simply a different design that serves the same purpose. Instead of a tower, the PVC pipes are along a trellis in a zig-zag pattern.
The net cups sit at 90 degrees within each zig-zag so the roots get maximum contact with the nutrient solution.
Hydroponics Wall Benefits
One benefit of hydroponic walls is that they’re a great way to liven up a room. You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like based on your budget and design. They don’t have to be used to grow food- a beautiful hydroponic wall full of flowers is sure to turn heads!
You also don’t need to use soil since it’s a hydroponic system. This eliminates soile-born pests and diseases, along with pesky weeds.
Hydroponic walls are also incredibly efficient. Because you’re in total control of all growing factors, you can create the perfect environment for the plants you’re growing. With due diligence, your plants will thrive like you’ve never seen before!
Lastly, hydroponic walls are environmentally friendly because they recycle resources. There’s no loss of nutrients or water.
Hydroponics Wall Disadvantages
One of the trickiest aspects of hydroponic walls is the lighting. Depending on how the wall is displayed, you may just let the building’s lighting do the trick- but that would limit what you’re able to grow.
If you’re trying to get high yields for crops, you’ll need specific lighting. And that gets complicated for hydroponic walls because not everything is on the same growing plane.
Because of this, you need to put your lights at very specific angles to be sure everything is getting the same amount of light.
The other main downside of hydroponic walls is that it can sometimes be difficult to dial in the water flow. You don’t want it to rush through your system too fast or too slow, and you also don’t want it to pool at the bottom. On top of that, it needs to be flowing at the same rate throughout the entire system.
FAQ
What Is The Use Of Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without using soil. In the case of a hydroponics wall, it is mostly used as a decorative statement piece.
Hydroponics walls can be found in homes, restaurants, hotels, and more. While they may grow food, they can also just be to bring some green beauty into the space.
Is Hydroponics Eco Friendly?
Hydroponics is eco friendly. It utilizes resources incredibly well and nothing goes to waste. The efficiency of hydroponics leads to higher yields per square foot when compared to traditional gardens.
Does Hydroponics Save Water?
Hydroponics saves water because water is recycled throughout the system. You can use up to 99% less water in a hydroponic system compared to traditional growing!
Conclusion
Hydroponics walls are a great utilization of hydroponic technology. It’s true that hydroponics is going to- and already is- playing a crucial role in solving the world’s food crisis. That being said, hydroponics can also simply be beautiful! If you want to add some green to your space, consider installing a hydroponics wall. You won’t regret it!
Check out the rest of our blog to read about other interesting hydroponic topics!