Allison Knott

Abstract:

The need for naturalization of urban environments has grown excessively as the percentage of people living in cities increases. The presence of flora works for the betterment of the physical and mental health of the population, but there is often not much space in cities for expansive gardens. With the need for space saving alternatives, the advent of vertical growing structures has emerged. 992 patents for various designs under the US (A01G9/023) patent label (vertical plant growth systems) have been filed since 2010 which further exemplifies the want and need for plants in our cities. This study serves as a stepping stone to understanding the intricacies of growing plants in an urban environment by studying the carbon dioxide fixation efficiency in two of the most common and hearty plants that grow vertically - Hypnum cupressiforme and Hedera helix. The methodologies applied can also be applied to further research in this field.