How To Make Hypertufa Planters
Hypertufas are man-made rocks that consist of numerous aggregates that is put together together using Portland cement. It’s look is inspired by tufa, a porous rock made up of calcium carbonate. Since they are light-weight and porous, they are very beneficial for plant growth; therefore hypertufas are frequently constructed as garden ornaments. They’re also strong and have the ability to endure severe winter conditions, which makes them more favorable than concrete.
One of the most popular forms of hypertufa is a planter, since you can create strong ornamental pots with these. You also only need basic molds for a hypertufa planter so most first-timers are recommended to make them first. For planter molds, you can use buckets, styrofoam ice chests, plastics or metal containers, pots, cardboard or wooden boxes 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 putting on the hypertufa mixture to them.
To make your own hypertufa planter, first you need to prepare your mixture by mixing 1 part Portland cement, 1 1/2 parts perlite, and 1 1/2 parts peat moss. Slowly add water while mixing up the ingredients, until you attain 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, given that you are going to put plants in what you are constructing, bear in mind to add drainage holes at the bottom by sticking dowels or branches. Make sure that the mixture does not trickle back into the opening that you created.
Right after filling up your mold, protect it up with a trash bag and let it sit for around 1 to 3 days, based on the size of your planter. As soon as it is hard enough that you cannot make an indentation using your finger, you may now remove the mold off your hypertufa. You may also put additional touches to your planter by sculpting using wire brush. Put it back to the garbage bag and let it sit again for more than three weeks, once in a while misting it. When it already makes a hollow knock once you tap it, your hypertufa planter is already completely cured and dried.
Keep in mind that your hypertufa planter has a large amount of lime in it that is unhealthy for plants. Use water and vinegar to leach the lime off the planter for around 10 days just before planting anything into it.
