I welcome Akila Krithivasan as she shares her tutorial on making a DIY Hypertufa planter for The Keybunch.com Decor blog readers! But first things first.
What is Hypertufa? According to Wikipedia, “Hypertufa is an anthropic rock made from various aggregates bonded together using Portland cement. Hypertufa is intended as a manufactured substitute for natural tufa, which is a slowly precipitated limestone rock; being very porous, it is favorable for plant growth”
Now that we sort of know it is made from cement, let’s join Akila (read more about her at the end of this post) as she takes us through the tutorial!
DIY DRAPED HYPERTUFA PLANTER TUTORIAL
You will Need:
- Cement – 6 parts (1 Kg)
- Perlite – 1 part
- Coco Peat – 1 part
- Sand – 1 part
- Thick cloth – Preferably Cotton (Turkish towels / Bed sheets)
- Mould / Plastic container (depending upon the shape you need)
- Plastic sheet – To cover
- Enamel Paint
- Water – To mix
Method
Mix Cement, Perlite, Coco peat & Sand well
Add water carefully & make a thick batter with pouring consistency
Take a cloth (square/rectangle/circular depending on the shape you want to achieve) and completely coat the cloth with the cement mixture.
Keep the mould upside down in an elevated place.
Cover the mould with a plastic sheet. Place & drape the cement coated cloth on the mould. Then cover with another plastic sheet. Leave undisturbed for 3 days, to completely dry
Once dry, unmould and paint in colours or patterns of your choice.
The planter is now ready. There are several advantages of using a Hypertufa planter vs a regular one. They are light, strong and durable, and look pretty as you can custom-make them in a shape to suit a spot in your garden.
Akila is an Artist & Hobbyist, and a Gardening Consultant at Akila’s Plants, Platter & Palette. But most importantly, whenever she sells a piece of her art, the proceeds are used to feed cattle. She says, “I used to visit and celebrate our special days with abandoned cattle. Whenever I visited the goshala, the cattle – those noble souls – used to come in a group and greet me. This melted my heart. I decided that the proceeds from my art would be used for their fodder!” Isn’t that heartwarming?
