Sun 7/12 1:30 PM - E150
Interior Green Wall Showcase
Susan Austin
WHAT IS MINIGARDEN?
Minigarden is a simple and robust modular
gardening system. The modules are easy-touse building blocks for your vision.
Think of it as Lego for living walls.
It is a substrate-based system. Use a lightweight, porous potting mix, as you would for
container planting.
The system works on an “independent
drainage” philosophy, meaning that each
module drains directly to the base, not to the
plant below.
Cultivate15
Each module has its own irrigation, allowing
for greater control and less water usage.
Irrigation can be done either by hand, or
automated.
The modules are installed into the wall via its
CLIPS. It is very similar to how a shelf, or
bookcase would be installed. Gardens can
also be stacked on the ground/floor.
Simple, Robust & Versatile
Minigarden for Interiorscapers
For Cultivate15 - July 2015
INTRODUCTION
At Minigarden, our goal is to provide the maximum number of
options to interiorscapers and landscapers so they can
confidentially and immediately execute any living wall project
Minigarden can be used for projects small
and large and both indoors or outdoors.
MINIGARDEN
COMPONENTS
VERTICAL SYSTEM
DRAIN LID - Vertical System
Dimensions: 64.5 cm x 18 cm x 3 cm (height)
CLIPS (x6) – see below
RECEPTACLE – Vertical System
Dimensions: 64cm (length) x 18 cm (depth) x 18 cm (height)
Volume: 12 liters, or 2.64 gallons or 0.43 cuft
COMPLETED VERTICAL MODULE
(Drain Lid+ Clips + Receptacle)
Dimensions: 64 cm (length) x 18 cm (depth) x 18 cm (height)
BASE TRAY – Vertical System
Dimensions: 64.5 cm (length) x 14 cm (depth) x 3 cm( height)
CORNER SYSTEM
DRAIN LID – Corner System
Dimensions: 14 cm x 14 cm x 3 cm (height)
CLIPS (x2)
Width = 1.5 cm,
External diameter =2.5cm,
Diameter of orifice = 7 mm
AmericanHort provides this on a “Not For Publication” basis.
Publication of this information in part or whole, is only
permissible through written permission of the author(s).
RECEPTACLE – Corner System
Dimensions: 16 cm x 16 cm x 17 cm
Volume: 1.6 liter, or 0.42 gallons, or 98 cubic inches
BASE TRAY – Corner System
Dimensions: 14 cm (length) x 14 cm (depth) x 3 cm( height)
PLANTING THE
MINIGARDEN MODULES
STEP 1: INSERT GEOTEXTILE MEMBRANE: Lay
a geotextile membrane at the bottom. This prevents
erosion and helps keep the independent irrigation
channels free of debris.
STEP 2: PUT IN DRAINING MEDIUM: Put in
about 1 inch of draining medium. Expanded clay
granules, or perlite work.
STEP 3: PUT IN SUBSTRATE/POTTIN G MIX:
Tip in your light-weight, porous substrate. Up to
10 Liters/2.65 gallons for Vertical receptacle.
Leave about 1 inch from the top of the modules.
Step 4 : Insert your plants and drip irrigation
tubes (optional) . We recommend 4” plants, but
you can go smaller or larger.
STEP 5 (optional): Insert your drip-line irrigation
tubes, if you are going to irrigate with an automatic
system, or via hand sprayer.
INSTALLATION EXAMPLE:
BENCH-STACKED
Location: Feel Good Guru Café, Toronto,
Canada. Interior installation
Installation: The Minigarden is stacked on top
of a bench. The 4th, 9th and 10th level of
modules are affixed to drywall with screws to
prevent tipping.
Irrigation: Hand-watered via front receptacles,
or connect Minigarden drip-irrigation kit to a
water sprayer.
Lighting: T5 flourescent bulb.
Assembly facing a northward window. Low
light.
Dimension:
129 (length) x 18 cm (depth x 201 cm height)
4-1/4’ (length) x 7” (depth) x 7.6’ (6.6’ in
modules)
Number of modules/plants: 22 / 66
Type of plants: alfalfa sprouts
STEP 6: Stack the modules on top of one another.
Make sure that each module sits into the drain lid
below. Use one base tray per column.
This picture shows three Vertical modules sitting on
one Base Tray.
MINIGARDEN
ATTACHMENT ACCESSORIES
Minigarden Wall Bracket secures your VERTICAL modules off the
floor/ground. It can be used with the Minigarden VERTICAL and BASIC
systems. It is available in all five colors.
INSTALLATION EXAMPLE:
BRACKET-MOUNTED
Location: Minigarden, Netherlands - project
Interior installation
Installation: The Minigarden is wall-mounted
using Minigarden wall-brackets directly into
drywall. The 3rd level of modules are secured into
the wall using Minigarden Wall Fixers, which allow
for easy removal of modules.
NOTE: You can also use 5” L-brackets from a
hardware store in lieu of the brackets. In lieu of
Wall Fixers, you can screw clips directly into
battens, or the wall.
Irrigation: Hand-watered via front receptacles or
connect five Minigarden drip-irrigation kits to a
water sprayer.
Lighting: Unknown
One bracket per
three to four
Vertical Modules
Two brackets per six
Vertical modules
One bracket per
BASIC system
Minigarden Wall Fixers (4 pack) attach the Wall Fixers to any batten, glass,
drywall, or fencing and slide the modules in through the rear clips. Allows for
easy removal of the modules. Comes in all five colors.
Dimension:
258cm length x 18cm (depth) 75 cm height
8-1/2’ (length) x 7” (depth) x 2.5’ (height)
Number of modules/plants: 16 / 48 plants
Total weight: Approx. 350 lbs
Type of plants: Belle Sunny
(Ficus pumila ) , Sail Boston
and Vital, Hedera Helix (Ivy),
Sail Blue Star (Amsonia),
Begonia Lambada and
Spathiphyllum.
Important Note!
Build your Minigarden walls
layer-by-layer , starting from
the base tray and building
upwards.
INSTALLATION CHECKLIST
FLOOR-STACKED LIVING WALL
Balcony
Attachments to Wood Battens
For concrete or other hard
surfaces, or in situations
where you want to minimize
drill holes, it is faster to
install wood (or metal)
battens into the surface,
and then attach the
Minigarden modules into
the battens.
Attach horizontal battens
to vertical posts. This will
create a strong frame while
also providing space
between the modules and
the vertical surface (air
circulation)
MATERIALS LIST (bottom upwards)
•3 Minigarden Vertical Base Trays (3 columns)
• 27 Minigarden Vertical Modules (3 columns x 9 high)
• Geotextile membrane, approx. 180 square inches/module (25.4” x 7”)
• Draining Medium: 27 liters/ 7 gallons of expanded clay pebbles (1L x 27 modules)
• Potting Mix: 270 liters/ 71.3 gallons (10L x 27 modules)
• 81 plants (4” neon pothos, jade pothos, Jade crassula, philos, arrow vines) (27 x 3 = 81)
Horizontal battens should
be positioned at the
height of the rear clips.
You can directly attach the
modules into the batten, or
use the Minigarden fixers to
slide the modules in.
TO INSTALL INTO WALL:
•Six 2x4s cut to 165 cm height / 65 inches in height (2 boards x 3 columns)
•Pack of 6 x 1-5/8” Deck Screws (total 18 used)
• Power drill and Philips bit
TIME ALLOTTED
•Planting modules 8 minutes x 27 modules = 216 minutes (3.6 hours) – one person
• Onsite measuring and assembly: 2 hours (two people) – 4 hours
•TOTAL TIME SPEND: 7 HOURS
INSTALLATION CHECKLIST
PLYWOOD-MOUNTED WALL
CONDITIONS:
•Wall-mounting
required
• No access to
water source.
Semi-automatic
irrigation
system
required.
• No connection
to drainage
• No natural light
PATENTED
INDEPENDENT IRRIGATION
When you water one module, no other modules are affected. At
the bottom of each VERTICAl and CORNER module are grills that
channel the excess water into the drain lid below, then through the
flutes that run directly to the base tray. This independent irrigation
offers these benefits:
• Great drainage. Plants never sitting in water. Odourless.
•Greater planting design options.
• Greater irrigation control. No need to flood the system.
• Less water consumption. Fewer watering cycles and less
water used each time. If irrigated correctly, there should be
almost no water in base tray at bottom.
• Prevents plant or soil disease from spreading throughout.
EQUIPMENT LIST
• 24 MINIGARDEN MODULES (3 COLUMNS X 8 ROWS ), 3 BASE
TRAYS
• 72 PLANTS, 24 L OF EXPANDED CLAY, 240 L OF POTTING MIX
• 2 MINIGARDEN IRRIGATION KITS
• PLYWOOD SHEETS
• BARNBOARD (FOR TRIM AND FRAME)
• BLUESKIN MEMBRANE
• SCREWS (FOR MOUNTING), WALL ANCHORS
• ROOFING EAVESTROUGH (FOR CATCH-BASIN)
• GROMMET FOR HOLE IN CATCH-BASIN
• OUTFLOW TUBING (for drainage water to tank)
• WATER TANK (FIBREGLASS PLANTER)
• WEATHERSTRIP
• FOUR-WAY MANIFOLDS
• SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
• SUNBLASTER T5HO LIGHTING KIT
• SUNSMART DIGITAL TIMER
FULLY-AUTOMATED IRRIGATION
• The Minigarden’s drip-irrigation
system is directly connected to a
water supply, and controlled with
timers, pressure-reducers and
auto-fertilizers.
• Excess water is connected to a
drainage outlet.
SEMI-AUTOMATED IRRIGATION
• Minigarden’s drip-irrigation system
is connected to a water tank with
submersible pump or micro pump
•In above photo, the water tank
holds water for 2 weeks worth of
irrigation, which is controlled by a
timer. There are 48 plants in this
photo.
•Water tank is detachable, allowing
for easy water replacement.
Fertilizers can be diluted in water.
MANUAL IRRIGATION
•Connect a hand-sprayer to the
Minigarden drip-irrigation
irrigation system.
• Hand water through the front
pockets with a thin-nozzle
watering can. No irrigation
system required.
PLANT REPLACEMENT
AND MAINTENANCE
MULTIDIMENSIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS
With proper plant selections for the light, climate, irrigation and humidity situation of the green wall, the
Minigarden has seen a die-off rate of between 1% to 5% annually, for both interior and exterior applications.
The VERTICAL and CORNER
modules connect seamlessly
side-to-side as well as backto-back allowing you to create
living structures.
Photo taken: October 2014. Location: Polanco,
Mexico City. In December 2014 this Minigarden
green wall turned 24 months old, has required
only one maintenance visit from the installer
(Florestta ). Polanco, Mexico City, MEXICO.
Two Vertical Module Walls
Connected by a tower of
Corner Modules create a
lettuce, herb, and chive
urban garden
The Gardens Vertical Minigarden Mexico.
Micropolis, Avenida Eugenio Garza Sada 3800,
Las Palomas, 64780 Monterrey, Mexico
This project was installed more than 12 months
from this photo and its maintenance had
consisted solely of pruning. They had a plant
mortality and replacement rate of less than 1 %.
This 4-storey Green Wall Minigarden is 5 months
old and has not required maintenance beyond the
collection of dry leaves at the bottom of the yard.
With the arrival of Spring, you’ll see the
appearance of some seasonal flowers, and this
wall will look different throughout the seasons.
Wall located in Tennyson St. Mexico City
WEIGHT AND VOLUME
FOR VERTICAL MODULES
Weight per module:
1.01 kg/ module
2.2 lb/ module
Volume per module:
• 12 litres/ 2.64 gallons
Average density of
recommended substrate
(porous potting mix):
• 0.7 kg/litre (at 40% moisture)
• 7 lbs/gallon
Corporate logo comes to life with four Vertical Module
Walls joined together by three corner towers, and framed
with Corner modules.
Outdoor furniture made from Minigarden modules
and irrigated with a hand sprayer.
No walls? No problem. Make use of any
corner with our Corner Modules.
Small Projects
Each Minigarden Vertical Module consists of
the Receptacle that holds three plants (4” is
optimal size), six clips, and the drain lid that
provides the independent drainage of each
module to the base.
Lightweight
Porous
Container
Mix
Weight of 4” potted plant
• .25 kg/ 4” plant, removed
• 0.5 lb/4” plant, removed
Minigarden recommends the use of porous,
lightweight potting mixes containing peat
moss, perlite, or composted pine bark, for
example. We do not recommend soil since it
is heavy and provides poor drainage.
Framing an electronic screen at a highway
rest stop in Chile.
Minigarden recommends seedlings all the
way up to 4” potted plants; although bigger
plants can be used.
Weight per Vertical module with all components: - IMPERIAL
• 2.2 lbs x 1 module =
2.20 lb per Vertical Module
• 2.64 gallons x 7lb/gallon =
18.69 lb per Vertical Module
• 3 plants x .5lb/plant=
1.50 lb for three plants in Module
• TOTAL WEIGHT
22.39 lbs per fully planted Vertical Module
SAMPLE: 10 FT2 INSTALLATION
8 modules (or 7.94 modules if precise)
Weight Calculation Formula:
Module Weight: 17.6 lb s. (8 modules x 2.2 lb/module)
x Substrate Weight: 149.52 lbs. (8modules x
18.69lb/module)
x Plant Weight (4” pots): 12 kg (8 modules x 3 plants x 0.5
lb/plant)
180.62 lb/ 10 square feet to
MAX Saturated Weight of 264 lbs/10 square feet
Live wall in a designer living room. Irrigation
is fully integrated into system, with drainage
below.
Affixed to a mobile trellis. Irrigation is
done with micro-tubing and handsprayer; however, the base could be
converted to a water tank.
Simple
deck setup is
floorstacked
and
handirrigated.
Framed, wall-mounted
living wall.
Large Projects
Project Designer: 3g-office S.L
Client: Microsoft, Madrid Spain
Enclosed atrium
Automatic irrigation
250 Minigarden Vertical (modules)
28 Minigarden Corner (modules)
Total Plants:
Height: 3m / 9.8 ft
Width: 10.72m/ 35.15 ft
Project Designer: CityVerde
Client: Colombia
Exterior, building
Automatic irrigation
260 Minigarden Vertical (modules)
72 Minigarden Corner (modules)
Total Plants: 852
Height: 540 cm/ 18 ft
Width: 11.79 m/ 38.7 ft
Location: EAU, Abu Dhabi
Project Designers: Siji Greenhouse/ Verdaus
landscaping
600 Minigarden Vertical (modules)
Total Plants: 1,800
Height: 2.73m/ 9 ft
Width: 25.87m/ 85 ft.
THANK YOU
…NOW COME AND GET IT!
SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR
INTERIORSCAPE PROFESSIONALS
AT
VISIT ME AT INTERIORSCAPE AREA BOOTH 9 AND SIGN-UP
FOR THE CULTIVATE15 INTRODUCTORY PACKAGE.
CONTACT: SUSAN AUSTIN
Write me: [email protected]
Call me: 1-416-572-3646
Visit me: Website: www.minigarden.net (Portugal)
www.minigardening.com (North America)
Like me: https://www.facebook.com/minigardening