Make these unique containers yourself . Over time , the artificial stone bed will age and cumulate moss for added good luck charm .
To make a plantation owner that mimics hewn gem , handcraft your own using an stilted stone product call hypertufa . Made of a few elementary ingredients , hypertufa plantation owner are lightweight yet durable andmake thoroughgoing small container gardens . Make several hypertufa pots and group them at different heights . These smoke work well for small plants that might otherwise get lost in the garden . you could also make birdbath , steppingstones , spheres , and other garden accents using hypertufa .
Supplies Required
Step 1: Create Mixture
In a garden cart or tub , while wearing India rubber glove and a human face mask , merge 2 share portland cement , 3 part perlite or vermiculite , 3 component part peat moss peat moss ( sieve or break up clumps with your hands ) , and a smattering of polypropylene fiber , which help tone the planter . Mix fibers well so they do n’t clump . Slowly mix in body of water , devote close aid to the body of the mix . When the mixture has the consistency of mud , it ’s quick . If it ’s crumbly , add a niggling more H2O . If it ’s sloppy , contribute the dry mix .
Step 2: Form Mixture In Mold
weigh mixture into the bottom of your mold to form a 2 - inch - duncical base . Continue pressing mixture up the sides of the mold , packing it as densely as potential and creating wall with an even heaviness of about 1½ in . Spray smorgasbord with water supply as call for to keep it damp while you work . We made a disposable foam molding , but if using plastic , metal , or other recyclable cast , trace it with charge plate sheeting to make it easier to remove the plantation owner .
Make drainage holesby pressing a few joggle into the understructure and all the way through the commixture to the mold .
Step 3: Let Cure
Place the mold on charge card and completely wrap in charge card . permit therapeutic for two to three day . Remove mold from plastic . Remove the joggle then the plantation owner from the modeling . A knife or chisel may be needed to loosen the mould . Scrape kayoed boundary as desired using a telegram clash . take into account planter to dry and bring around for at least four workweek out of doors but out of direct sunshine . Your cured hypertufa can be left out in freezing temperature as long as it is off the ground . Once it ’s cure , you ’re ready to plant .
Planting a Trough
1.Prepare . Before adding industrial plant to your hypertufa trough , neutralize the portland cementum by gargle the finished public treasury with ½ cup white vinegar in ½ gallon H2O . Allow container to dry .
2.Fill . Place a piece of wire mesh over drain holes to allow water to drain without suffer soil and to prevent slug from pussyfoot into the trough . Make a planting mixthat defend moisture and drain well by coalesce equal section humus , peat or leaf compost , and sand .
3.Plantthe manger with an array of Lord’s Day - loving alpines or behind - raise plants that have similar needs and are adapted to your climate . Cover the stain with ¼ column inch of pea crushed rock to help hold in moisture and give the garden a finished look .
Kritsada Panichgul.Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
4.Maintenance . Set the raised garden trough on top of a concrete cube , brick , or hypertufa block in a protect place where it receives break of the day or late - daylight sunlight . Water the trough garden regularly(every other solar day in live weather condition ) throughout the growing season . Do not countenance the garden to dry out out . water supply it with dilute fertilizer once a calendar month . Over time , troughs get mossy , weather - look part .
5.Aging . you could " age " hypertufa ( advance moss growth ) by paint the exterior of the trough with yoghurt . Keep the trough moist and shaded until moss arise .
Plants for a Trough Garden
Select from a Brobdingnagian array of compact , low - develop , and midget works including variety of :
Hypertufa troughs are a DIY garden labor that is deserving the effort—they last for years and hold up even in cool temperatures . Create your own hypertufa public treasury and start planting .
Ginny Weiler.Credit: Ginny Weiler
Ginny Weiler.Credit: Ginny Weiler
Ginny Weiler.Credit: Ginny Weiler
Robert Cardillo.Credit: Robert Cardillo
Andreas Trauttmansdorff.Credit: Andreas Trauttmansdorff
