I'm not a pro at this and maybe you should wait for someone else. This forum is really slow now. I'm not sure what I had changed to last yr that worked well. I think it was 1 portland, 1 vermiculite, 1 sand and 1 peat. But I think this will work. I know when I added the sand I got a much better product. I haven't tried the black pot thing either. But have the pots saved for that purpose. I got behind in gardening and neglected turfa. Plus the weather hasn't been real good for turfa.

Thanks for the tip ladycraft.

I was really hoping to get more input since this is the first very large project I've done. I hope I haven't used up my question quota.

How LARGE are the pots going to be? 2 foot? 3 foot? Just about any of the hypertufa recipes with sand as an ingredient will work. If you are making 3 footers you should use reinforcement like chicken wire or metal lath or mesh screen, if smaller you don't need it.
Regarding recipes on this forum, most were invented by the people here because it worked for them or worked for their project or was the right color or texture or many came from newbies experimenting.
Most newbies start with a small project to get a feel for working with hypertufa. It is easy but if you've read the posts here you always see someone wanting to know what went wrong. Sometimes the "wrong" is not following directions. Or not understanding the terminology like the difference between concrete and cement. I bet there are at least 2o times that I've told people to buy portland cement and they've bought concrete mix. Or they say they bought "Quikrete", that's a manufacturer's name not the name of the product.
Have fun and keep us posted on your project. Billie

ok - so quickcrete won't work in these recipes?

Confessions!! As Billie would probably testify I am one of "those" people. No if you have the quickcrete that you just add water, it has to say portland on the bag. But hang in there you will get it. Just mix and start. Wrap the wire around it somehow. Right or wrong I think I would try to put a thin layer of turfa on and then smoosh in the chicken wire and then more turfa so it creates a sandwich effect. Might research that some before I actually did it tho. I've made a pathway of smashed broken stuff! She taught me to use hamburger or hot dog shape patties and the pots work much better and faster for me. It helps to keep the thickness uniform. I always like to pass that tip on!! Life got much easier when I tried that. I am also like you. I never start with the small easy things in anything I do. It has to be big or them more advanced. In the case of wood construction I make the deck first not a foot stool!

lizzardly, Have you made any pots yet?

eliska9, QUIKCRETE (yes,that's how you spell it) is the manufacturers name not a product. They manufacture cement, concrete, quikwall, etc.

Billie ann - I didn't get started on the pots. I just got lounge chairs for the backyard and suddenly realized that I needed somewhere to set a drink down when I'm lounging out there. So I started working on a mushroom side table instead of the pots. It's been a lerning experience to say the least. But I'm having fun, fun, fun.

When I do get to work on the pots I'm thinking I'll use 1 portland, 1 sand, 1 peat, 1 perlite. Still kinda iffy on the perlite. I can only find it in the little bags and at $3 a pop it adds up quick.

If I manage to finish the table and actually have it look like a table, I'll post pics.

lizzardly, here are some random thoughts...

How big is big? Unless you're talking hugemongous I think chicken wire would be overkill. Fiberglass drywall tape would be easier and give you enough support. Actually, I wouldn't even bother reinforcing until I got to 3' +

I'd up the proportion of Portland cement so you're at 1:3. So maybe 1-1/2:1:1:1

You might even want to try 2:1:1:1 for the first layer for strength, then switch to 1-1/2:1:1:1.

I'd apply the first layer, then the drywall tape or whatever you choose to reinforce, and cover it with succeeding layers. Slow and steady, don't rush.

Make sure it's well hydrated, covered with damp rags, out of direct sunlight. I see you're in zone 10 so be careful if it's warm outside - if the 'tufa cures too quickly it'll lose strength.

Spray your form with WD-40 or oil, then cover with plastic and, if you're lucky, you won't have a problem getting it out.

Go for it! and keep us posted...

Good luck! :-)

Phaedris

I'm not an expert although by now I've done quite a lot of pots of all sizes. I've made some fairly big pots - biggest a couple of feet across and about two and a half feet deep. I used my rubber trug (my much loved trug and it's a great shape and flexible so lined w. plastic it is easy to get a bit pot out of) to make the biggest and no reinforcement and it worked fine. Is still intact. I like the 1-1-1-1 mix but again, it's just what I started with so I stick with it. I agree about the tape - I use it in my cast leaves and it is way easy to work with, cheap and now I am going to use it when I make more big pots.

Re keeping wet. The only ones I have failed to do this with enough cracked. All others have made it through many NH winters!! Drench it and seal it really well in plastic bags and keep it in the coolest/shadiest spot you can find. Leave it 4 weeks.

I personally think perlite is worth the $$ on large pots (I actually use it on all). A large pot without it is going to be really heavy!! If you pester your local garden center maybe they will find a way to order you a big bag which might be a bit cheaper.

I have never used mold release or WD 40 because I've never had a pot not come out if the mold is lined w. plastic. And I've used a lot of different containers!

Deborah

Phaedris and Deborah-
Thanks for the pointers. It's probably good to stress the waiting and keeping moist while curing. I've been known to cut corners in the past. I'm really trying not to on this project though. I need these to last for a very long time so I can say TOLD YOU SO to DH. :)

I have no depth perception and so can't estimate dimensions at all. I finally measured the pot I'll use as a form. It's 28" across and 24" deep. I'm probably still going to use the chicken wire. Overkill on this one won't be a bad thing. I really need these guys to last.

Again thanks so much. Usually I have no problem jumping right in, but this project actually has me hesitant. I know its not hard, I just really, really don't want to screw this up.

I made a large pot several years ago using one of those big round tubs with the rope handles. I mixed equal amounts of portland cement, peatmoss and perlite, don't add the water until you've mixed the dry ingredients well.
I made it a nice peanut butter consistency and just started packing it into the tub a couple inches thick. I used a short piece of PCV pipe to make a hole in the bottom while it was still wet, just push it down in and twist, then pull out and it will leave a nice hole. Then I misted it well and covered with plastic, Every day I misted it and recovered for about 10 days. After its nice and cured. Rince it well several times before planting in it. I still use this pot, Its full of cannas. Also I might suggest that you find a plant dolly to sit it on as after you fill it up with dirt and plants its a little awkward to move around.

Gemfire

I DID IT. I unmolded the pot tonight and it's great! I'm so happy. It needs some dressing up yet, but I did it.

THANK YOU to everybody that put up with my silly questions. I really appreciate all the help.

Don't worry I soaked it down well and covered it with black plastic and constructed a plywood lean to over it to provide shade.

One down... two to go.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:68423}}

Looks good Lizzardly! Wasn't it fun! There are no silly questions. We all were there once and some of us are still "there". Did you stick with the chicken wire or try something different? Kathy

I sandwiched 4" strips of chicken wire from the top of one side down and across and back up the other side. Then I put drywall tape horizontally around the inside in 4 bands. It's overkill I'm sure, but like I've said before I don't want to ever hear DH say something like "I told you it was a waste of time."

Congratulations! I have been wanting to try this and your success on the first go is inspiring me to get going...What mix did you end up using? Did you put several layers on over time or all at once?
Nik

GOOD JOB! Inspiring...and do tell...all the above questions>ditto!!!

Thank you for all the kindness. You guys are really wonderful.

I used a mix of used 1 portland, 1 peat moss, 1 sand and 1 perlite. I was really scared when it was time to de-pot it, becuase I didn't use plastic inside I only sprayed it with WD40. I had to give it a few good hard taps with a shovel handle while it was upside down- after I rolled it into place on it's side, but it came right out.

I plan on painting them all and I'll post pictures of the finished products. I'm going to space them out along the fence at the rear of our backyard.

Thanks so much for the courage you all gave me in attempting this. I've been a lurker on this site for 5 years and finally got started.

I have definately caught the bug. I was looking at the panels at the bottom of our screen room today and I have a plan for a hypertufa living wall to replace the ugly t1-11 paneling that's currently in place. When I get the pots done I'll finish up the planning and post my thoughts to see what you think.

lizzardly, Now you can be the one to tell the newbies how easy this is if you just follow a few rules.
Regarding unmolding your planters, you don't really need a plastic liner for a plastic mold as long as the mold is smooth. Just spray with a mold release.
So glad your first was a success. Enjoy the addiction.

Cool, thanks lizardly! I look forward to seeing the pics.
Nik

Your pot is gorgeous! I never heard of hypertufa until today. Somebody in the container forum posted, and I'm not one for little tiny pots! I'm not messing around with Bonsai here!

I have FIG trees, GRAPEVINES, CITRUS, POMEGRANATES, OLIVES! The herbs do just fine and dandy stuck here and there in the ground, but, I really want instructions for several HUGE 30 gallon+ pots. TREES!!

Can I switch pumice for perlite? It's lighter and cheaper. Just a question.

Thanks!
Suzi

I'm certainly not an expert here but I did a search on google for "pumice for hypertufa" based on the results I would say you can. You may still want to wait for some of the real experts here to respond though.

Okay dumb question: do you let the first layer dry before putting on the drywall tape? If so, for how long
Thanks! I'm getting so close! I already mixed a batch of my dry ingredients.

Everybody has their own way of doing it. It seems its hard to screw it up. Thank goodness for me!

I did one layer with the hamburger patty technique. I covered it with plastic and wetted it down ever 4-5 hours or so. Then I laid in my chicken wire and drywall tape. I actually used my glue gun to get the tape to stay in place. After the second layer I covered it with plastic again and wetted it down 3 times a day for two days being careful to cover it back up tightly. After the second day, I lost all control of my patience and rolled it into place and dumped it out.

I was scared that I was going to break it or something because I had to turn the mold upside down and thump it heavily a few times to get it out, but it was fine.

Good luck! CanÂt wait to see what create.