Saturday, December 6, 2008

Hypertufa Garden Containers

Here's what I made Katie for her birthday. Hypertufa is an artificial stone that you can mold into containers for the garden. They look great planted with succulants.


I made these with my very creative garden club friend, Jackie, in her garage on a rainy day last summer. First we collected various things for molds. Our favorites are small plastic containers from take out food or the grocery store and plastic flower pots shaped as bowls. Jackie even has a mold in the shape of a boat that everyone loves.

Be sure to wear old clothes and rubber gloves as this can be quite messy. Mix equal parts of peat moss, perlite or vermiculite, and Portland cement in a large plastic container or wheel barrel. Add water slowly mixing with a stick until it is a consistency you can mold.

For this container I used a plastic container mushrooms come in. Mold the cement mixture around the outside of the container making sure the top is even. We used sticks in the bottom to make holes for drainage.

Let dry in the garage for about 2-3 weeks. The plastic container can be taken out then. Fill with soil and your favorite plants.

This is the hypertufa bowl of hen's and chick's on my deck last summer.

2 comments:

Sarah said...

This was a perfect present to give Katie, and so creative too!

Katie said...

Hi Susie!

I love this present! It's so pretty and cool. I especially like that you made it. Thank you!

Love, Katie