Midwest Groundcovers installs hydroponic green wall at company headquarters

Midwest Groundcovers LLC, a wholesale perennial grower, installed a Sage Vertical Garden System demonstration at its St. Charles, Ill. headquarters in June 2012. The modular hydroponic green wall system is a living laboratory, which Midwest is using to evaluate the performance of 40 diverse plant species.

The plants in the experiment include native and non-native perennials – both flowering species and grasses – as well as a variety of smaller woody shrubs. Midwest is studying the plants to determine which species adapt to and perform best in the artificial conditions of the Sage system, how frequently the plants need to be pruned, and which plants overwinter most successfully.

BioTiles, the technology at the core of Sage Vertical Garden Systems, have been used for the last half-century in hydroponic production greenhouses and for green roofs. Each highly textured growing medium accommodates 20 plants and uses less than one quart of water per day. BioTiles do not degrade or accumulate nutrients, can be reused and recycled, and support a variety of plant types including perennials, groundcovers and vines. The system’s patented integral drainage system prevents excessive moisture accumulation and makes it easy for plants to absorb oxygen through their roots. 

Sage Vertical Garden System walls, developed nearly a decade ago by U.K.-based BioTecture Ltd, can be either free-standing or wall-mounted, and are ideal as both interior and exterior building features. The green wall systems can be seen in diverse applications including parks, office and municipal buildings, and educational facilities in Chicago and throughout the United States.

For more information on Sage Vertical Garden System walls, visit www.sagebotanicmedia.com. To learn more about Midwest Groundcovers, visit www.midwestgroundcovers.com.