Building Your Own Hypertufa Troughs

A hypertufa is an anthropic rock that comprises of several aggregates that is mixed together using Portland cement. It is based from a naturally-occurring rock called tufa which can be ordinarily observed from springs abundant in lime. Most hypertufas are created as garden adornments. One of the most typical forms of hypertufa are gardening troughs, as they are certainly long-lasting and are able to bear overwhelming winter conditions, unlike concrete pots. Hypertufa troughs are also easy to make and can be done using household items. Here's the directions on how to build one on your own.

The components needed for a hypertufa trough is 1 1/2 parts perlite, 1 1/2 parts peat moss, and 1 part Portland cement. You will also need a mold for your trough. Choose an item that has a shape that can accommodate plants like boxes, pots, metal containers, styrofoam ice chests, buckets and the like. Also, protect your mold with a plastic or garbage bag to ensure that it will not stick to your hypertufa mixture. In addition, you can also use oil lubricants if your mold is made of plastic.

The first step in building your hypertufa trough is mixing the ingredients with water. Mix it until you achieve a firm moldable consistency. After that transfer the mixture to the mold that you've picked out. Fill the mold to attain the desired figure and be sure that you leave no gaps behind by compressing the mixture. If you intend to place plants in that trough, it is a great idea to include drainage openings at the bottom with sticks or dowels.

After padding the mixture in your mold, you have to cover it up with a plastic bag and set it in an location where it won’t be disturbed. In about 24 to 36 hours, your trough will harden enough so that you can already take out the mold. If you want, you can smoothen the top and edges employing a wire brush. Then, rewrap the trough with the plastic and let it sit again for more than three weeks, occasionally moisturizing it with water once in a while. You’ll know that your trough is already completely cured once it produces a hollow knock when you tap it.

As a ultimate note, before placing a plant in your trough, just remember to leach it first using water for over the next ten days or so. The freshly created trough has plenty of lime that are harmful to plants and therefore it is not recommended to make use of it soon after curing it.