Bengaluru-based gardening experts Swati Dwivedi and Anil Thadani, who have their own flourishing vertical gardens, share tips on how you can grow your own.

1. Hang pots on the grill   Swati shares that the easiest way to start a vertical garden is by hanging pots and planters on the grills as they are a common feature in most modern homes.

“Use a pot between four to six inches in size as small pots are lighter in weight,” she advises.

2. Get custom-made frames For homes that do not have grills, Swati suggests getting a frame made from local welders or carpenters. Depending on your budget, you can also get a wooden frame made as they are suitable for placing slightly heavier pots like ceramic ones.

“While designing such a frame, keep in mind that each rod is flat, and matches the width of the hooks of your pots,” she says.

3. Buy green wall setups online If you don’t know which vendor to contact for the frame, you can also buy them online. “I bought a readymade structure from Amazon,” Swati says. E-commerce websites offer a variety of assemblable structures that are convenient in their portability, she says.

Costing somewhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200, they come with a manual that offers instructions on how to set the frame up.

4. Set up a hydroponic system Anil Thadani, founder of Paudhshala, shares that setting up a hydroponics system is a good way to plant some greens without taking up too much space.

“The initial investment in hydroponics is slightly high, running around Rs 320 per square foot. But I still suggest buying a hydroponic setup rather than building one. This is because setting up a system requires expertise, and the slightest inefficiency in the water flow can lead to your plants getting seriously damaged,” he shares.

5. Be mindful of your plan selection “Most gardens that you’ll observe hold plants that need similar sunlight and water requirements. For example, growing a cactus with a fern is a bad idea as they both require different amounts of water. You want to set up plants that you can uniformly irrigate and set in one place,” Swati says.

6. Protect the wall If you are setting up a vertical garden, use a sheet to cover it to prevent dampness and other damage. She suggests, “Prepare a potting mix of coco peat and compost for such plants. These materials are lighter as compared to soil, and will help plants that are hanging off a support.”