By Nathan Chesson
A Hypertufa planter is an artificial man-made replacement for Tufa Rock and can be easily molded into different forms which makes it a very viable alternative for stone and concrete planters. Water leaks out some materials in regions where there is limestone and this leads to the formation of the porous and cellular Tufa Rock. The ingredients used for the construction of hypertufa planters are fiberglass shreds and a mixture of perlite and mortar mix without sand in the ratio 2:1 which make them long-lasting, sturdy and light in weight.
Made from peat moss, sand and Portland cement, Hypertufa can be utilized to create a variety of things like birdbaths, stepping stones, troughs and planters as it is very flexible and can be easily molded into different structures. The use of perlite instead of sand makes it lighter. Hypertufa attains a mature look very fast which not only makes it blend artistically with the shrubs and plants to make the garden more beautiful but also draws mosses and lichens like a magnet. The planters are also eco friendly and their absorbent nature is conducive for water retention as well as proper access of air for the roots. The versatility of the hypertufa pots and planters makes them useful for planting a huge variety of plants including alpine and cacti plants, sedum and succulents.
You will find the natural Tufa stone in garden planters and pots worldwide. If all the Hypertufa ingredients are blended in a right manner, you will get a surface which appears rugged and mature.
Building a Hypertufa planter: You require two coated cardboard boxes of different sizes so that the small box can fit inside the bigger one. There should be a 5 to 6 cm dense Hypertufa mix between the two boxes so that the wall is thick enough for the boxes to function as the mold. You can create a square or rectangular tub in this manner. If you want a circular shape, you can utilize plastic basins or buckets of varied sizes. The external sides of the box have to be held up with concrete or bricks so that they do not droop because of the weight. To hold the box from the inside, fill half of it with a potting mixture, soil or even sand as it is heavy enough and will do the required job.
You can make holes for the passage of water at the base of the planter with a broom stick, branch or a plastic pipe with appropriate dimensions. If you feel they are not needed, you can remove them afterwards. One or two holes for small and around 5 holes for bigger tubs are sufficient.
Hypertufa can be a very fun and intriguing way to enhance your garden work. Learn much more about Hypertufa here…
