The performance of outdoor plants in living walls under hot and humid conditions

Abstract

The use of living walls has been increasing around the world due to their several benefits. However, studies of suitable plant species for living walls, particularly in extreme climates, are quite limited. This study examines the performance of 12 plant species used in two living wall systems: a felt-pocket and a planter in a tropical climate in Thailand. All plants were monitored across wet and cold seasons for plant height, visual quality, thermal performance, and carbon sequestration. The findings show variations in plant performances across the 12 plant species. Increases in plant growth were observed for all plants except for herbaceous and succulent plants, which were less tolerant to wet conditions. Smaller plant increments resulted in poorer thermal properties and less potential for carbon sequestration. The planter system had a higher amount of carbon contents than the felt-pocket system due to its higher plant density. Over 6 months, living wall systems sequestered carbon, with averages of 48.2 g C·m−2 for the felt-pocket system and 166.7 g C·m−2 for the planter system.