I�ve seen some lovely stone troughs made from hypertufa, and would like to have a go myself, but �

As I understand it, one has to buy all the ingredients for hypertufa separately and then combine them in the chosen recipe. However, one can buy bags of ready-mix concrete.

Given my total newbie-ness [if that�s not a proper word it should be] I think I�d prefer to start simple and work my way up when I have more confidence and at least a bit more skill.

I�m visually impaired, with a working range of about four inches in good light: I�ve read warnings about Portland cement [why always Portland cement rather than any other type?] I have reservations on a health as well as a practical level.

Is there a significant difference in the performance of hypertufa over concrete? Enough to persuade me to start in the deep end rather than wade out from the shallow end?