I read an article about a guy who made this fabulous rockwool vertical garden, but there weren't any DIY "recipes" or step by step instructions, or anything like that. I'd like to try this...does anyone know anything about it?

Sorry, no, Kate.

Fantastic subject, Kate!

Last year in particular I was thinking a lot about how I could build a vertical wall in this fashion, but had no known terms available for which to search. Thanks to you posting about the rockwool, the options available have opened right up. Thank you!

Not sure if this is the article you read, but it does have a lot of information- http://www.learn2grow.com/insp...

Same concept here, I think- http://www.florafelt.com/ with lots of visual inspiration.

Good video with how-tos here https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Basically, we're talking about a vertical fountain/waterfall that grows plants...very cool!!

Watch out chelle, you have 'Newest Interest: Rock Gardens' at the bottom of your post. You may soon have to change it to Rock Wool Gardens.

I had done some research about rock wool and the best information comes from the hydroponic people. Can we get some of them to chime in?

Chelle, you're my hero!!!! I thought I'd never "re-find" that website...that's the one! I am particularly excited about the video. I have been dreaming about somehow incorporating a fountain feature into my epiphyte jungle garden. Are you going to try any of these projects?

I use far more hydroponics stuff than I ever thought I would-- it all started with a hunt for coco-coir bricks and the only place that had them relatively near me was a hydroponics store. Then, I bought some compost tea bags, then some rockwool plugs with holes for starting cuttings...and...looks like I'll be heading back to check out their rockwool sheets. I would LOVE to hear from some hydroponic people on this!

Watched the video and love this idea.

Do you think it would also work for something more sun/drought tolerant, like a rainbow of sedums?? Maybe building it and only running the irrigation every now & then?

karmatree said:Watched the video and love this idea.

Do you think it would also work for something more sun/drought tolerant, like a rainbow of sedums?? Maybe building it and only running the irrigation every now & then?

I did something along this line this past summer, although with wood as the medium and only slanted, not vertical. In full sun with late afternoon shade it worked very well. These sedum received occasional splashes or drips of water from the fountain, but otherwise rain only, when it did.

karmatree said:
Are you going to try any of these projects?

Yes!!! My first try will be a vertical setup on a north wall of my porch, under a translucent roof. This open area here-


(It's not the clearest image , but it's the first one I found that shows the area.)


Originally I'd been toying with the idea of the vertical wall for the tiniest rock garden plants. I'll toss that idea around a bit more in the meantime.

It would be nice if there were a hydroponics/aquaponics forum; is there one here on ATP?

There are several threads on aquaponics in the Permaculture forum.

Masonry Ladders are great for vertical growing as well .. I make arches out of them but am considering attaching them to the side of my fence and also hanging them from the roof eaves.

http://garden.org/ideas/view/X...

@chelle. When I did a search of ATP using the word 'hydroponics' the results didn't show any permaculture answers.
Okay, I tried again. Still no joy.

Search from the homepage greene. "hydroponic" Loads of results.
http://garden.org/search/index...

eclayne said:Search from the homepage greene. "hydroponic" Loads of results.
http://garden.org/search/index...

Yes.

And here's the aquaponics one-
http://garden.org/search/index...

also searched from the homepage.

Thanks, I had already done both of those things, but the results are no help.
For each of the results I would then have to click and read countless posts.
Thanks anyway for trying.

Chelle, is that a hollowed out tree stump? That is very pretty!

I love this masonry ladder idea Anne. I'm wondering if I could build a frame, and use the masonry ladder as the network for planting things into rockwool and then hang it up. I am NOT handy, looks like it's time to drag the hubby into this! I have vision, but no execution
Heading over to hydroponics to see what I can dig up.

It's a somewhat thinner slab of a huge tree trunk, Kate, with log sections arranged around and above a hidden water reservoir for the fountain. The slab of deadwood already had somewhat spongy fissures for root penetration, so all I did was to lay the sedum mat on top and see to it that it didn't completely dry out within the first few weeks.

Here are a couple of early pictures. A very simple plastic tote worked just fine for the above-ground reservoir.


I'm glad I tried it. The experience taught me quite a bit about using recirculated water for plant maintenance; well above and beyond the pleasing aesthetics of tinkling water.

I can't wait to get started on the new vertical project!

I'm thinking of a fairly deep, maybe 12" or so (this depth helps to keep the pump submerged), long and narrow reservoir base, perhaps constructed of wood, with the frame mounted to the back. A thick plastic liner might do for lining the reservoir, as I doubt I'll be able to find a tub in the dimensions needed to fit the space.

Chelle your garden is just gorgeous!

WOW! I am very, very impressed !!!! That's awesome!!

That looks really great, Chelle! You made lemonade out of a lemon.

Thanks!

I think that's the very best type of project, Ken. The rest of that tree's dead stump is incorporated into another garden area, but that's another story, for (and in) a different thread. If you're interested in seeing this totally unrelated garden area, there are a few pictures here, pages 1 & 3. The thread "Finally started building my first rock garden" in Rock Gardens forum

Since we're in the Ask a Question forum now, it would probably be best to then discuss that garden on its own thread, rather than here. I really didn't intend to throw this one off topic, but I guess it just happens sometimes.