Hypertufa Mix for Planters
How to mix hypertufa for creating garden planters and stepping stones.
Makes: 1 Planter
Cost: $40
Equipment
- Stir sticks (old pipe or thick wood)
- Cooking Spray
- Plastic Sheets or garbage bags
- Work clothes / craft apron / old shoes
- Wood molds or plastic pots for shaping hypertufa
Ingredients
- 1 part Portland cement Do NOT use Quickcrete or any fast setting mix
- 1 part Peat Moss or Coconut Coir chopped
- 1 part Sand or Perlite or Vermiculite any combination
Instructions
- These instructions are general. Use a specific tutorial for the type of planter you want to make.
- Decide what you want to make an get appropriate molds or containers for shaping hypertufa.
- Set up work area. This is messy. Wear old clothes, protect all surfaces with plastic sheeting.
- In wheelbarrow or large bucket, thoroughly combine equal parts Portland cement, peat moss or coconut coir, and sand (or perlite or vermiculite).
- Gradually add water, mixing constantly, until completely combined and consistency of fudge.
- Add hypertufa mixture to molds and allow to cure for 1-2 days per tutorial you are following.
- Day 2 or 3: Remove from molds and add drainage holes and adjust surface as desired.
- Allow to cure for two weeks.
- Day 14: Rinse with vinegar to reduce alkalinity of cement.
- Day 21: Ready to use.
Notes
Do not use Quikrete or any other fast concrete mix.
You want pure Portland cement that has no aggregates added.
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