Plant wall and modules for growing plants
A plant wall and module for growing plants is disclosed in which the plant wall and module provide for the controlled delivery of water and nutrients to plants located on the plant wall and module. The plant wall may include a matrix of modules, each module filled with an inert growing medium. The inert growing medium preferably includes openings in which plants are secured and from which plants can grow from the growing medium. An irrigation system delivers water and nutrients to each module and may be removed and replaced from the plant wall without removal of the irrigation system. In addition, a drainage channel, such as a rear drainage channel, is formed so that excess water may exit from the modules. Capillary breaks may also be provided within the growing medium of each module to aid in the distribution of water and nutrients throughout the growing medium.
1. A plant wall for growing plants comprising:
at least one module for housing an inert growing medium, the module including a front, back, top, and a bottom, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant;
a support frame for securing the at least one module to a wall;
an irrigation system for delivering water and nutrients to the growing medium, wherein the irrigation system includes an irrigation pipe positioned adjacent to an opening formed in the top of said module, wherein said module and the irrigation system are configured such that the module may be removed from the support frame without removing the irrigation pipe, and wherein said irrigation system distributes water evenly across the growing medium as water descends through said top opening in said housing; and
at least one drainage module positioned between the back of the module and the support frame, the drainage module including a front wall, an impermeable back wall, a top and a bottom defining a drainage channel, the front wall positioned adjacent to the back of the module and having at least one drainage opening, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium by the irrigation system exits from the growing medium through the at least one drainage opening and into the drainage channel,
wherein a plurality of at least one drainage modules are vertically connected to each other such that the bottom of a first drainage module is connected to the top of a second drainage module providing a continuous drainage channel between vertically adjacent modules of the plant wall such that the water exiting a higher module does not enter another module located below.
2. The plant wall of claim 1 , wherein the inert growing medium comprises a mineral fiber oriented substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the module.
3. The plant wall of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of modules configured as a matrix.
4. The plant wall of claim 1 , further comprising an impermeable backing sheet between the drainage channel and the support frame.
5. A plant wall for growing plants comprising:
at least one removable module for housing an inert growing medium, the removable module including a front, back, top, and bottom, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant;
a support frame for securing the removable module to a wall;
an irrigation system for delivering water and nutrients to the growing medium, wherein the irrigation system includes an irrigation pipe positioned adjacent to an opening formed in the top of the removable module and the removable module and the irrigation system are configured such that the removable module may be removed from the support frame without removing the irrigation pipe and wherein the growing medium comprises a plurality of sections separated from one another by a capillary break, the capillary break comprises a capillary membrane that distributes water evenly across the growing medium as water descends through the plurality of sections and prevents roots of a plant in the growing medium to grow through the capillary membrane and down through the capillary break; and
at least one drainage module positioned between the back of the removable module and the support frame, the drainage module including a front wall, an impermeable back wall, a top and a bottom defining a drainage channel, the front wall positioned adjacent to the back of the removable module and having at least one drainage opening, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium by the irrigation system exits from the growing medium through the at least one drainage opening and into the drainage channel,
wherein a plurality of at least one drainage modules are vertically connected to each other such that the bottom of a first drainage module is connected to the top of a second drainage module providing a continuous drainage channel between vertically adjacent removable modules of the plant wall such that the water exiting a higher removable module does not enter another module located below.
6. The plant wall of claim 5 , wherein the inert growing medium comprises a mineral fiber oriented substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the module and the capillary break extends substantially horizontal between the plurality of sections.
7. The plant wall of claim 5 , wherein the drainage channel is configured such that the removable module may be removed from the support frame without removing the drainage channel.
8. The plant wall of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of removable modules configured as a matrix.
9. The plant wall of claim 5 , further comprising an impermeable backing sheet between the drainage channel and the support frame.
10. The plant wall of claim 5 , wherein the capillary membrane comprises a mesh core and a permeable membrane covering at least one side of the mesh core.
11. A plant wall for growing plants comprising:
at least one module for housing an inert growing medium, the module including a front, back, top, and a bottom, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant;
a support frame for securing the module to a wall;
an irrigation system for delivering water and nutrients to the growing medium, wherein the growing medium comprises a plurality of sections separated from one another by a capillary break, the capillary break comprises a capillary membrane that distributes water evenly across the growing medium as water descends through the plurality of sections and prevents roots of a plant in the growing medium to grow through the capillary membrane and down through the capillary break; and
at least one drainage module positioned between the back of the module and the support frame, the drainage module including a front wall, an impermeable back wall, a top and a bottom defining a drainage channel, the front wall positioned adjacent to the back of the module and having at least one drainage opening, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium by the irrigation system exits from the growing medium through the at least one drainage opening and into the drainage channel,
wherein a plurality of at least one drainage modules are vertically connected to each other such that the bottom of a first drainage module is connected to the top of a second drainage module providing a continuous drainage channel between vertically adjacent modules of the plant wall such that the water exiting a higher module does not enter another module located below.
12. The plant wall of claim 11 , wherein the inert growing medium comprises a mineral fiber oriented substantially parallel to the to and bottom of the module and the capillary break extends substantially horizontal between the plurality of sections.
13. The plant wall of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of modules configured as a matrix.
14. The plant wall of claim 11 , wherein the capillary membrane comprises a mesh core and a permeable membrane covering at least one side of the mesh core.
15. The plant wall of claim 11 , further comprising an impermeable backing sheet between the drainage module and the support frame.