Interior Plantscaping Specification Guide

Scope of an interior plantscaping specification

An interior plantscaping specification covers the design, procurement, installation, and maintenance of live planting inside commercial buildings. This includes plants, containers (planters), growing media, drainage systems, and associated maintenance requirements. It does not cover living wall systems (see CSI 09 77 53 — Vegetated Wall Systems), exterior landscaping (CSI 32 90 00), or irrigation systems (CSI 33 10 00), though coordination with these sections is essential.

A note on numbering: no single CSI MasterFormat section is publicly verified as covering this full scope. Section 12 48 00 is Rugs and Mats — despite occasional misuse, it does not cover plantscaping. Product directories ARCAT and Sweets list interior planter products under 12 92 00 (Interior Planters and Artificial Plants) and 12 92 33 (Interior Planters). In practice, many project teams write a custom Division 12 section for the live-planting and maintenance scope and cross-reference the planter product sections. Confirm the numbering approach with your specification writer against the current MasterFormat edition.

Part 1 — General

1.01 Related sections

• Section 07 92 00 — Joint Sealants (waterproofing at planter locations)
• Section 09 77 53 — Vegetated Wall Systems (living walls)
• Section 22 10 00 — Plumbing Piping (irrigation supply and drainage)
• Section 26 50 00 — Lighting (supplemental grow lighting)
• Section 23 00 00 — HVAC (environmental conditions for plant health)

1.02 Submittals

The following submittals are required:

• Plant schedule: Botanical name, common name, minimum size (container diameter and plant height), quantity, and location code. Include 3 acceptable alternative species per primary selection.
• Container shop drawings: Dimensions, material, finish, drainage configuration, liner specifications. Include structural load calculations for containers exceeding 200 lbs saturated weight.
• Growing media certification: pH range, organic content percentage, particle size distribution, water-holding capacity, and pathogen-free certification.
• Maintenance program narrative: Service frequency, scope of each visit, plant replacement protocol, pest management approach, emergency response procedures.
• Vendor qualifications: Minimum 5 years commercial plantscaping experience, 3 comparable project references, commercial general liability insurance ($1M minimum), workers' compensation coverage.

For a scheduled planter, identify the model and size on the drawing, then check the footprint against the furniture plan and the opening against the proposed grow pot. The COSAPOTS drawing collection on CADdetails, provided by NewPro Containers, is one example of a model library a project team can use for that coordination. Equivalent products meeting the project criteria remain suitable; confirm model-specific dimensions, liner coordination and available technical information.

Interiorscape and NewPro Containers share ownership. Read the ownership disclosure.

1.03 Quality assurance

• Plants shall be nursery-grown specimens free from disease, insect damage, and nutritional deficiency.
• All plants shall be acclimatized to interior light conditions for minimum 30 days prior to installation.
• Containers shall be free from manufacturing defects, chips, cracks, or finish imperfections.
• Growing media shall meet specified pH, organic content, and drainage requirements.

Part 2 — Products

2.01 Plant materials

Specify plants by botanical name with minimum sizing. Example format:

2.02 Containers

Specify container materials, finishes, and drainage:

• Material: Fiberglass composite, aluminum, corten steel, concrete, or high-density polyethylene as indicated on drawings. Minimum wall thickness: 3/16" for fiberglass, 1/8" for aluminum.
• Finish: As selected from manufacturer's standard color range. Custom colors require a 4-week lead time minimum.
• Drainage: All containers shall include integral drainage holes with removable plugs. Provide waterproof sub-liner when placed on finished floor surfaces. Sub-liner shall extend minimum 1" above maximum water level.

2.03 Growing media

• pH range: 5.5–6.5
• Organic content: 20–40% by volume
• Inorganic component: perlite, vermiculite, or expanded clay aggregate
• Water-holding capacity: minimum 40% by volume
• Free from pathogens, weed seeds, and insect larvae
• Commercially prepared mixes preferred over field-mixed media

Part 3 — Execution

3.01 Pre-installation verification

• Verify light levels at each planting location using a calibrated light meter. Minimum readings: 50 FC for low-light species, 150 FC for medium-light, 300 FC for high-light.
• Confirm HVAC is operational and maintaining 65–80°F temperature range and 30–60% relative humidity.
• Verify irrigation rough-in (if applicable) and electrical circuits for grow lighting are complete and tested.
• Confirm finished floors and adjacent surfaces are complete and protected.

3.02 Maintenance requirements

• Service frequency: Weekly visits minimum for first 90 days; biweekly thereafter unless otherwise specified.
• Scope per visit: Watering to field capacity, removal of dead foliage, pruning for shape, pest inspection, fertilization per schedule, container cleaning.
• Plant replacement: Replace any plant showing more than 20% decline in health or appearance within 14 business days. 90-day minimum warranty on all replacements.
• Documentation: Written service reports after each visit documenting work performed, plant condition assessments, and recommended actions.