A hypertufa planter is probably one of the best options
to stone and concrete planters. Hypertufa planters are man
made rock which is freely formed into individual shapes and
is actually a substitute for Tufa Rock but made by man.
Tufa is a soft cellular rock that is found in limestone
areas and particularly where water leaks out unusual
materials in order to form an absorbent soft substance.
Generally, hypertufa planters are made from a handful of
fiberglass shreds, 2 portion of perlite and 1 portion of
mortar mix without sand. These planters are very durable,
light-weighted and strong.
Hypertufa is a mixture made of peat moss, sand and
Portland cement, which is formed into any shape and size.
It can be used for birdbaths, planters, troughs, and
stepping stones among other things. Perlite is being used
as a substitute for sand because it reduces the weight of
the planter. Hypertufa looks ripened instantly and so it
attracts mosses and lichens and it also naturally
complements shrubs and plants in the garden. These planters
are very friendly as they are spongy and bulky they act as
reservoirs for water. Being spongy it even allows easy
passage for the air to pass to the roots. These hypertufa
planters and pots are quite suitable for planting different
types of plants particularly for alpine plants, succulents,
sedum and cacti plants.
In most of the countries around the world the natural
Tufa stone has been carved for use in garden planters and
pots. When the hypertufa mixture is properly made then the
surface has the look of ruggedness and natural aging. You can use the mixture to create hypertufa pots, hypertufa containers or planters.
How to create a Hypertufa Planter: For a rectangular or
a square tub you need two coated cardboard boxes where one
is slightly smaller to the other box by about 5 to 6 cm.
The smaller box will be placed inside the bigger box while
the hypertufa mixture cures but the gap between the boxes
must be approximately 5 to 6 cm to ensure there is enough
wall thickness. These boxes work as the mold. For circular
containers, use different size buckets, plastic basins and
plastic bags.
In order to support the exterior portion of the box use
concrete blocks or bricks to brace the outside and keep it
from sagging due to the weight. For the interior box fill
halfway with a potting mixture, soil or even sand to add
some weight and help keep it in place.
To make a drainage holes in the bottom of the planter,
use a broom stick, a branch or even 25mm and 5 cm long
plastic pipe. If not required this can be removed later.
For small tubs only one or two small holes are needed and
for large tubs make at least four to five holes.
