Hypertufa Projects

Hypertufa is a mixture of cement and several other ingredients such as sand, water, peat moss, perlite or vermiculite. Hypertufa is gaining popularity as an ideal medium to create outdoor flower pots and other garden decorations. It is lighter than concrete or stone, and able to withstand temperature extremes without cracking or breaking. There are several different ways to create hypertufa, and even more ways to use it once you have created your favorite recipe.

Before you begin dreaming what kind of container or decoration you would like to create, you need to mix up a big batch of hypertufa to work with. There are several recipes available, each one yielding a slightly different product. One of the simplest recipes includes one part cement, one part peat moss and one part perlite. Be sure to mix the dry ingredients well before slowly adding water until the hypertufa is the correct consistency. Wear heavy rubber gloves and a particle mask.

Now that you have a good batch of hypertufa to work with, it is time to create the perfect flowerpot for your garden. When working with hypertufa and molds, it is important to cover the mold in heavy plastic so that the hypertufa will not adhere to the mold. Try using a large plastic garbage bag. You can create beautiful hypertufa pots by using simple plastic flower pots as molds. Pour a small amount of hypertufa into the mold and press it against the sides to create the appropriate thickness for your pot. If the hypertufa begins to dry before you are finished molding, use a spray bottle of water to keep it moist. Allow the pot to dry completely before removing it from the mold. You may also choose to create your own shape to use as a mold for hypertufa. You are only limited by your imagination. You can create square planters, birdbaths or even garden gnomes.

Hypertufa will age naturally over time based on the environment it is in. If you chose to use peat moss in your recipe, this will begin to decompose and further age your pot or garden decoration. If you are looking for an even older-looking project, you can encourage moss growth on your hypertufa project by placing it in a shady spot. If you would like to protect your hypertufa project from aging, coat your creation with a concrete sealer.

After creating the basic shape for your hypertufa project, you may want to adorn or otherwise decorate your creation. You can do this in several different ways. Use concrete dye in your recipe, before adding water, to change the overall color. You may carefully place shells, tiles or colorful rocks into the hypertufa as it begins the drying process. Or use a weatherproof adhesive if you would like to add the adornments after the project is completely dry.