From a plain wall to a work of mother nature’s art
There is nothing like a wall planter to liven up a barren and boring wall. Whether in your home or outside, a wall planter adds texture and dimension to an otherwise flat and dull space.
Wall planters are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. When making your choice, you must first decide whether it will be an outdoor or indoor fixture. What kind of wear and exposure will the planter endure? Which types of plants will you use to fill it?
Indoors or outdoors?
For indoor planters, the choices are endless. Some people choose to liven up their walls with highly decorative planters, and then even fill them with artificial plants or flowers to save on maintenance and mess. Others like the look of live ferns, flowers or other attractive plants. Live plants will obviously need to be easily accessible for feeding and watering purposes. Make sure there is proper drainage in the well of the planter, but that it will not leak on floors or carpets beneath. Also check the plant’s requirements for sun exposure and pick your location wisely.
Outdoor planters can really spruce up the appearance of a bare fence, an entrance gate or a shed wall. In fact, any vertical surface can benefit from the beauty and colour wall planters can provide – they highlight all your hard work and celebrate it. But bear in mind that outdoor planters need to have a carefully chosen location with proper sun exposure, not too much wind, and of course accessibility for feeding and watering purposes.
Choosing your material
There are many choices when it comes to wall planter materials. Some are metal or wire with various types of fibre lining. They are also available in rustic materials such as rattan, raffia and banana grass. Terracotta and plastic are other popular choices. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding suitability for indoor or outdoor use. Be sure that the roots of your plant have enough room to expand as they grow.
Get creative
Once you have chosen your wall planter’s location, unleash your creativity. Hanging just one can transform a wall, but hanging a group of planters on one surface can make a huge statement. Perhaps you want to spruce up your shed wall by mounting four wall planters – two for vegetable plants and two for flowering plants. After all, isn’t variety the spice of life?
Wall planters are your chance to highlight and showcase your growing skills and they can beautify your home – indoors and out.
