Building Your Own Hypertufa Pots

Hypertufa is a man-made rock that is regularly used for gardening. They are frequently built as pots since unlike those created from concrete, they are way lighter and they also don’t fracture in the winter. They are also very attractive because of their rustic porous look, giving them a more natural feel. Hypertufa pots can be used on many types of plants but they are particularly effective on succulent types.

To create a hypertufa pot, you'll need a proper mold that can hold or contain the plant. Consider the shape and size of the mold that you will be using for the predicted end product of your creation. You can utilize cardboard boxes, buckets, trash cans, styrofoam chests, and even pots as a mold for your hypertufa. Protect your mold with trash bag or if it’s made of plastic, apply oil lubricants to it. This will make certain that you will be capable of removing the mold later on, after your hypertufa solidifies.

The next step is making your hypertufa mixture. You will need 1 part Portland cement, 1 1/2 parts perlite, and 1 1/2 parts peat moss for your pot. Combine the ingredients well and slowly add water until it reaches the sticky, mud-pie consistency. Then apply the mixture to the mold that you have prepared. It’s up to you which side to put the mixture on but take note that putting it inside will render a pot smaller than your mold while putting it outside can cause a rough, unequal bottom to your pot. Do not forget to add drainage openings underneath your pot using a stick. Ensure that the mixture does not flow back to cover the openings you recently made.

Right after putting on your mixture, cover a plastic bag all over your wet pot and allow it to sit for about three days right until it hardens. Then take the mold off the hypertufa in a really careful manner. Roughen the edges getting a wire brush to give it a more natural appearance. Next, return your pot in the plastic bag and place it again in a protected location. The pot will be available in around three weeks time. Remember to leach it first with water for a few days ahead of planting on it as Portland cement contains large quantities of lime which can be harmful to plants.