Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Water level
indicator
Suitable
growing
medium
e.g. Leca
Attractive
outer box
Flower pot
Water level
Figure 15.7
Plant container with aggregated clay
granule growing medium
Capillary rise
of water is its movement against
gravity within thin tubes as with water moving
up into paper towels.
Nutrient battery (ion exchange resins)
Figure 15.8
Planter with water reservoir. A water-
level indicator is frequently incorporated and in some
systems the nutrients are supplied from ion-exchange
resins making them an attractive choice for interior
landscapers
The use of this material has proved beneficial
for interior display containers (planters). Besides
being lightweight and providing an attractive finish,
trace element deficiencies occur less frequently
when clay aggregates are used. Water can be
supplied from a reservoir and the nutrients from
an ion exchange 'battery' (Figure 15.8). More
commonly, water and nutrition can be provided
through fertigation (irrigation with nutrients in the
water).
Alternatively, there are planters that store water
in a sealed double wall equipped with a sensor
that detects the drying in the root ball. When too
dry, the sensor triggers the release of air into the
water chamber causing water to seep out through a
controlled water inlet. Water moves to the root ball by
capillary action where the sensor detects when water
supply needs to be shut off.
Green walls
It has been a long-standing part of gardening to cover
walls with foliage or flowering plants to add height
to the garden display, cover up an unattractive area
or increase the areas available for wildlife (nectar
for bees, insects for birds, nesting sites). This has
been done by planting with climbers that can cling to
walls (
Hedera
spp,
Parthenocissus
tricuspidata
) or by
providing trellis or wire work to tie in wall shrubs or
fan-trained fruit trees (Figure 15.9).
The covering can
have other benefits, including protection of the wall
Figure 15.9
Parthenocissus tricuspidata
on wall
from rain and providing some insulation with some
claiming reduction in noise and improved air quality.
The new
green wall
technology increases the
possibilities by having a framework that can be
