Make your own hypertufa planter today

Try this Hypertufa mix when you do this project.

* 1 part cement

* 1 part sand

* 1 part colored aquarium gravel

* 2 parts peat moss or potting mix.  (be sure the potting mix has no fertilizer)

* enough water to make a heavy stucco type compound.

You will also need a couple of containers. I have used everything from milk cartons to Styrofoam coolers.  These will be your molds.

Never start this with only one, you will have some left over and it is nice to have someplace to put it.  Besides that, when you are finished you will have 2 pots.  That is always good.  If you mess one up you can do better on the second one.

Look around and see what you can find.  Maybe a 5 gallon pail cut lengthways and laying on its side.  You can get them free at a lot of wine-making stores and micro breweries.  Use your imagination here, the more unusual, the better it will look.

Once you have decided on a good container, like an old cooler you can slop on a coat of 1 part cement – 2 parts water with an old paintbrush.  Let it get semi hard (maybe 6 or 7 hours) and then mix your hypertufa as above, but make it a little thick.  So you can pick it up in your hand and form a ball that will stay together.

Beware the Dreaded Theet O Vac!

Plaster this on over the cement/water mix.  Start at the bottom and work to the top.  Make it at least 1 inch thick.  Do the inside the same way but put 2 inches or more in the bottom.

Now cover it and let is setup for 12 or more hours depending on the temperature.  When you uncover it you may decide to try to wash it gently using a spray bottle, not the garden hose!  This should uncover some of the colored aquarium gravel you used in the mix.  Done carefully this is a great look.

If you have a favorite mix you can use it instead.  I add some white glue mixed with 2 parts water to mine when I do it.  I am not sure, but I think it gives the concrete / hypertufa a little more strength.

I suggest you take a look here for more hypertufa tips.

Sometimes you can find a little gem here, but there is a lot to go through!

Delmar Germyn