Building Your Own Hypertufa Planters

Hypertufas are synthetic rocks that contain numerous aggregates that is put together together using Portland cement. It’s appearance is inspired by tufa, a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate. Considering they are light-weight and porous, they are very good for plant development; hence hypertufas are often created as garden decorations. They're also durable and have the ability to tolerate intense winter temperatures, which makes them more favorable than concrete.

One of the most common forms of hypertufa is a planter, since you can produce sturdy pretty pots with these. You also just need basic molds for a hypertufa planter so most starters are advised to make them first. For planter molds, you can utilize cardboard or wooden boxes, buckets, pots, styrofoam ice chests, plastics or metal containers and other objects that has a form that can hold plants. Just be sure to add releasing agents to your molds, such as garbage bags, plastics, and oil lubricants, before applying the hypertufa mixture to them.

To produce your own hypertufa planter, first you should prepare your mixture by combining 1 part Portland cement, 1 1/2 parts perlite, and 1 1/2 parts peat moss. Gradually add water while mixing up the ingredients, until you achieve a moldable consistency. Then using a trowel, transfer your mixture to the mold of the planter that you prepared. Pound the mixture in the mold so that it is stuffed, ensuring its sturdiness. Also, because you are going to put plants in what you are creating, keep in mind to add drainage holes at the bottom by sticking dowels or branches. Ensure that the mixture doesn't leak back into the hole that you made.

Right after filling up your mold, cover it up with a garbage bag and let it sit for about 1 to 3 days, based on the size of your planter. As soon as it is hard enough that you cannot make an indentation with your finger, you may now take away the mold off your hypertufa. You can also include additional touches to your planter by sculpting using wire brush. Put it back to the trash bag and let it sit again for over 3 weeks, occasionally misting it. When it already makes a hollow knock when you tap it, your hypertufa planter is already fully cured and dried.

Remember that your hypertufa planter has a great deal of lime in it that is unhealthy for plants. Make use of water and vinegar to leach the lime from the planter for about 10 days prior to planting anything into it.

MADDW