How to Make Hypertufa Planters

Would you like to give your garden a different look? Hypertufa, or tufa, plant pots have a coarsely textured, stone look. With their thick, porous texture, they are good quarters and backdrops for smaller plants, such as cacti, succulents, and alpine plants. These are versatile pots that you make yourself, so they can be any size you want. Does that tickle your green thumb? If so, read on.

 

 

Have your supplies ready, especially the pots or molds you will use.

 

  Mix three parts peat moss, three parts        Perlite, and two parts Portland cement in a wheelbarrow, bucket, or other large container. Vermiculite can be used in place of perlite for a more workable hypertufa. Perlite resists water where vermiculite will absorb it. The vermiculite concrete will be harder than perlite concrete

 

 

 

 

Measurements may be approximate.

Try to get all the lumps out of the peat moss for best texture.

Wear gloves and avoid breathing near the mixture.

You can use a shovel or trowel to stir.

 

 

Gradually add water and stir the mixture, until you achieve a stiff, workable "mud pie" consistency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should be able to form a ball of the mixture in your hand.

 

 

Place some of the mixture in a plastic plant pot, bucket, or other form.

 

Whatever you use as the form should be much larger than the opening you want in the finished plant pot, because the walls will be quite thick.

Make sure the shape of the pot or form you use will allow you to remove the finished planter easily. It should have sloped sides with no undercuts.
Press the mixture against the sides of the form, leaving a thick wall with an opening for a plant.

Make the walls 1-2 inches (2.5 to 5cm) thick. You will be able to see the shape of the finished plant pot as you complete it.


Add a hole in the bottom for drainage. You can use your finger to form the hole.







Allow the planter to dry thoroughly for about 7 days. To reach full strength the concrete will need 28 days total however the initial 7 days will provide an 75-80% strength

Carefully de-mold the planter and add soil and plants.


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Tags: hypertufa, mold, planter, DIY, gardens, cottage, model, How-to Manual,