I'm considering making some "sculptural" planters out of hypertufa,
Hypertufa is concrete mixed with sphagnum moss and either vermiculite or
perlite. This makes a somewhat lightweight porous container.

For my purposes of design and ease of construction shallow containers is
what I would like.

I found this nice list:

http://www.clallam.net/hhs/documents/eh_goodplants.pdf

I suppose some succulents and mosses could be added to that list.

I'm over in 7A, piedmont.

How shallow can I get away with? Hens and Chicks seems like a good
shallow candidate.

I'd like to plant these and attempt to sell a few. What can I grow and
reproduce quickly, I know a small bit about cloning.

Any potting suggestions appreciated.

--
pentapus

pentapus wrote:
I'm considering making some "sculptural" planters out of hypertufa,
Hypertufa is concrete mixed with sphagnum moss and either vermiculite
or perlite. This makes a somewhat lightweight porous container.

For my purposes of design and ease of construction shallow containers
is what I would like.

I found this nice list:

http://www.clallam.net/hhs/documents/eh_goodplants.pdf

I suppose some succulents and mosses could be added to that list.

I'm over in 7A, piedmont.

How shallow can I get away with? Hens and Chicks seems like a good
shallow candidate.

I'd like to plant these and attempt to sell a few. What can I grow and
reproduce quickly, I know a small bit about cloning.

Any potting suggestions appreciated.


The problem with small and shallow, and small shallow pots is they dry out
quickly. So plants that like to be moist (mosses) need to be watered
frequently.

Secondly you seem to be mixing plants of differing water requirement. If
you combine those that like it damp with those that like it dry there is no
good watering regime. Stick to one or the other.

Thirdly mixing in sphagnum to reduce weight doesn't seem like such a good
idea to me. Eventually it will rot. How about synthetic beads instead.
Vermilculite or perlite should be OK.

--
David

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A better world requires a daily struggle
against those who would mislead us.

On 7/20/2014 6:46 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
pentapus wrote:
I'm considering making some "sculptural" planters out of hypertufa,
Hypertufa is concrete mixed with sphagnum moss and either vermiculite
or perlite. This makes a somewhat lightweight porous container.

For my purposes of design and ease of construction shallow containers
is what I would like.

snip

Any potting suggestions appreciated.


The problem with small and shallow, and small shallow pots is they dry
out quickly. So plants that like to be moist (mosses) need to be
watered frequently.

Secondly you seem to be mixing plants of differing water requirement.
If you combine those that like it damp with those that like it dry there
is no good watering regime. Stick to one or the other.

Succulents then. A huge assortment to choose from:
http://www.succulent-plant.com/thumbnails.html

in a dish 5 or 10cm deep but fairly wide

Something short that spreads easily. I'm overwhelmed by the choices, any
suggestions?


Thirdly mixing in sphagnum to reduce weight doesn't seem like such a
good idea to me. Eventually it will rot. How about synthetic beads
instead. Vermilculite or perlite should be OK.

Hypertufa has been around for a while, I just stumbled on it. Here is
Martha Stewart, of all people:

http://www.marthastewart.com/268962/hypertufa-pots

The idea behind the aggregates used is to give it texture and porosity.




--
pentapus

On 21/07/2014 8:46 AM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
pentapus wrote:
I'm considering making some "sculptural" planters out of hypertufa,
Hypertufa is concrete mixed with sphagnum moss and either vermiculite
or perlite. This makes a somewhat lightweight porous container.
(snip)

Thirdly mixing in sphagnum to reduce weight doesn't seem like such a
good idea to me. Eventually it will rot. How about synthetic beads
instead. Vermilculite or perlite should be OK.

Hypertufa always uses some natural material as part of the recipe -
traditionally it's been peat but also coconut fibre has been another
common ingredient used instead of peat.

Usually they are made in a rectangle shape so that they have a similar
shape to aged animal watering troughs.

On 21/07/2014 10:38 AM, pentapus wrote:
On 7/20/2014 6:46 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:



The idea behind the aggregates used is to give it texture and porosity.

If Martha says that, she got it wrong. It's all about the texture.

On 7/21/2014 4:33 AM, Fran Farmer wrote:
On 21/07/2014 8:46 AM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
pentapus wrote:
I'm considering making some "sculptural" planters out of hypertufa,
Hypertufa is concrete mixed with sphagnum moss and either vermiculite
or perlite. This makes a somewhat lightweight porous container.
(snip)

Thirdly mixing in sphagnum to reduce weight doesn't seem like such a
good idea to me. Eventually it will rot. How about synthetic beads
instead. Vermilculite or perlite should be OK.

Hypertufa always uses some natural material as part of the recipe -
traditionally it's been peat but also coconut fibre has been another
common ingredient used instead of peat.

Thanks, I'll try it. Seems like it would be a good look. I like that it
isn't peat.

I haven't made anything out of hypertufa yet. I have been working on a
friend's project, 5' tall cement planters that she inherited from a
deceased famous artist (Mr Imagination).

I knew nothing about cement and she apparently picked up nothing while
watching him work. We've gone through 5 completely different concrete
mixes trying to figure it out when I stumbled on this:

http://www.artistic-garden.com/makin...rt-sculptures/

http://www.littleandlewis.com

Usually they are made in a rectangle shape so that they have a similar
shape to aged animal watering troughs.

I'm not a follower of the usual.

My Alien Sea Planter: http://earlymorningreport.com/images/penelope.JPG

I'd like to try something smaller and decidedly more terrestrial with
the hypertufa. I'd like it to be functional which is why I'm here.



--
pentapus

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