Peat Moss Purpose

19 years ago

Hello, all

I just finished my second failed hypertufa project:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hypertufa/msg110827482245.html?16

In this project I introduced peat moss, which I couldn't get for the first and wound up using only cement and sand. I noticed a couple of differences when introducing peat:

1) The mix took a LOT longer to dry. For this project I waited 36 hours before demolding and it was still green. For the first, 24 was more than enough.

2) I could actually still carve the one with peat moss after 48 hours. I couldn't do it in the first after 24

3) I am still confirming this as I still am not satisfied that the resulting stone is dry, but it seems to me like it has the consistency of very compressed sheetrock, is still very brittle

I couldn't compare weights because my second project was much larger than the first.

My perception after this project is that peat adds the liberty of carving after 24 hrs or so, because it helps the mix retain humidity. This comes at the price of structural strengh.

What other benefits/drawbacks does peat bring, as opposed to straight up cement and sand?

Thanks!

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Comments (3)

billie_ann
19 years ago
The original recipe for Hypertufa was Portland cement, sand and peat moss. The peat moss detriorates and leaves the piece with little nooks and crannies. This lets moss and lichens grow and gives more of a stone like appearance. Depending on what recipe you use the peat moss will give you a lighter weight mix as opposed to concrete.
1)the mix is not drying, it's curing. Peat moss retains moisture and will give you a slower cure than the straight mortar mix you used.
2) depending on the recipe you use and how much moisture you get the piece to retain while it's CURING you can carve for a couple of days.
3) "I still am not satisfied that the resulting stone is dry" STONE! STONE! I'm sorry I thought you were talking about hypertufa. sorry I'll go away now.
Make your mix, fill your mold,mist with water,wrap in plastic and put in shade, in 24 to 48 hours (depends on size and outdoor temps too)unmold,gently clean up, carve or wire brush, mist with water and wrap back up in plastic in the shade, depending on the temps...open plastic and mist piece with water and wrap back up in plastic for a couple more days,take out of plastic and place in water bath for a couple of days, plant!
You're off to a great start, a nice lantern would be a good next project for your patio. Take a look in the "Gallery" side of this forum, think there's some pics of planters and lanterns over there. Billie
amaretto
Original Author
19 years ago
Billie

A lantern!!!???

You don't know what you've just triggered!

Thanks for all the input. In spite of this recent failure, your input, and observations on what went wrong and what went right in this project has me feeling VERY confident :-)
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billie_ann
19 years ago
This is really a lot of fun.
Do a search on this forum for lantern and you should see some nice pics and instructions. You can use several containers for molds and stack them when your pieces are cured. Billie