Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Would you like to give your garden a different look? Flowerpots made of hypertuff, or tuff, are roughly textured and have the appearance of a stone.With their powerful, porous texture, they are a good habitat and backdrop for small 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 it tickle your gardening interest? If so, read on.

Steps

1. 1 Prepare the materials, especially the pots or molds that you will be using.
2. 2 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 instead of perlite to make hypertuff more efficient. Perlite repels moisture, while vermiculite will absorb it. Vermiculite concrete will be heavier than pearlite concrete
   • Measurements may be approximate.
   • Try to pull the peat moss out of the lump for better texture.
   • Wear gloves and avoid breathing in the vicinity of the mixture.
   • You can use a shovel or spatula for mixing.
3. 3 Add water gradually and stir the mixtureuntil you reach a tough, workable "cake" consistency.
   • You should be able to form a ball of the mixture in your hand.
4. 4 Place some of the mixture in a plastic flower pot, bucket, or other mold.
   
   
   • Anything you use as a mold should be significantly larger than the opening you want in the finished flower pot, because the walls will be quite thick.
   • Make sure the shape of the pot or container you are using will allow you to easily remove the finished hypertuff. It should have sloping sides, without any undercut angles.
5. 5 Press the mixture onto the sides of the moldleaving a thick wall with a hole for the plant. Make the walls 1 to 2 inches thick (2.5 to 5 cm). Once completed, you will be able to see the shape of the finished flower pot.
6. 6 Add a hole in the bottom for drainage. You can use your finger to form a hole.
7. 7 Let the pot dry completely for about 7 days. It will take a total of 28 days to achieve full concrete hardening, but the initial 7 days will give 75-80% strength
8. 8Carefully remove the pot from the mold and fill with soil and plants.

Tips

• Use Portland cement, not ready-mixed concrete.
• Hypertuff is completely alkaline and this can cause the soil you fill it with to become alkaline as well. Choose plants that prefer alkaline soil.
• Be aware of the potential environmental impacts of using peat moss. See the tips section for more information.
• Also try using this material to make a path from stones and other garden sculptures.
• You can add materials such as leaves on the walls to create prints. Or texture the material with a wire brush.
• You can mix dry ingredients and store the mixture, hydrating it only as much as you need right now for one project. Tuf is a naturally occurring, porous rock formed by pressing calcium. Hypertuff is a mixture of Portland cement and various aggregates that mimics the naturally occurring tuff.

Warnings

• Wear gloves when handling Portland cement and avoid skin contact. If your skin has come into contact with this mixture, rinse well.
• Avoid inhaling the dry mixture or getting it in the eyes.
• If you are very concerned about sustainability, you can consider the possible environmental impacts of using peat moss.

What do you need

• 3 parts peat moss
• 3 parts of Perlite
• 2 parts Portland cement
• Water
• Mixing container (wheelbarrow, large plastic container / bucket)
• Gloves
• Shovel or trowel
• Plastic flower pots or other containers for use as a mold
• Leaves or other textured elements (optional)