Fitostena: What It Is and How to Care for It

Great idea: instead of numerous indoor plants requiring regular watering and care, decorate your interior with a whole «green» wall that will live on its own. Or will it? We tell you the details and answer the questions.

What is a fitostena?

This is a structure of vertical greening that uses live plants, dried flowers, preserved moss and stabilized plants.

Design: Darya El'nikova
Which material is the least demanding?

The least maintenance required are dried flowers and preserved moss and plants: they only need dusting. Therefore, such structures can be used almost in any room.

What soil should live plants be planted in?

Peat, moss, coconut fiber, and mineral fillers can be used for planting.

How often do I need to water the fitostena? What if I go on vacation?

Most fitostenas are equipped with an automatic irrigation system to keep the structure looking fresh for a long time. There are economical systems that require watering once a week, others need more frequent watering.

Still, you have to monitor the watering in case of system malfunctions. Once a week after watering, check with your hand how moist the substrate in the wall is. If it's dry or not sufficiently moist after watering, something might have gone wrong with the pump or just the filter needs rinsing or replacing. Also, drip emitters may get clogged; they should be replaced every two years.

Is that all?

No, living plants also need leaf misting once a week and fertilization — a specialist greening expert can help select the right ones. Fertilizers should be added during watering using special dosers or poured manually. Additionally, a quarterly preventive check for insects and parasites is necessary.

What about lighting?

Often, fitostenas are installed at a distance from windows, so special lighting with a timer is needed — at least 6–10 hours per day (depending on the season). The distance from lamps (if they are not LED) to the «green» wall should be no less than two meters. Equal lighting distribution is important, otherwise your wall will develop unevenly, not fully.

Design: Anna Ignatenko
What if something goes wrong?

At the beginning, don't skimp on quality: fitostenas should be installed by specialists who guarantee their work. If any problems arise in the irrigation or lighting system, contact a technician. If you notice any film on plants, holes in leaves or other signs of disease, contact a plant pathologist immediately.

How to use fitostena in interior design?

Fitosystems are suitable for decorating entire walls and niches. They make an excellent accent in eco-style, loft, and minimalism interiors.