Recently the HPSO Eastside Group (a small sub group within the larger organization) got together to make hypertufa pots. Perhaps you're wondering what exactly is hypertufa? "a lightweight, man-made artificial stone used mainly to make garden pots, troughs, and ornaments. The word combines "hyper" (meaning extreme or over) and "tufa" (a porous, natural limestone rock). It was created as an inexpensive, lightweight substitute for natural tufa and antique stone troughs used in alpine and succulent gardening." (source).
Because the recipe calls for ingredients that are usually purchased in bulk (Portland cement, vermiculite / perlite, peat moss / coir, and perhaps sand), this wasn't something I really wanted to tackle on my own.
There's my work area, south of the Starbucks cup (which is also mine). 
Two of my eventual three containers.
I enjoyed walking around and checking out what the others were up to.
I heard later that this pressed Hosta leaf didn't hold up.
A nice big bowl being filled...
And then another used to create the plating space (some of us just used our fingers to push the mixture to the sides).
When we started mixing this batch I was responsible for sifting the peat moss to remove any large pieces.
And slowly adding water...
I loved this long thin container...
I'm not sure what this one is going to end up like.
This person is a perfectionist, I know it. Look at those edges!
Another batch. Later versions had blue dye added, and then black.
The outer, larger container was so the trough could be carried without flexing the mix as it dried, and possibly causing cracks.
Nice and deep.
Such perfection! Hard lines and two drainage holes.
Plant break! The workshop took place in a member garden—a generous member with an extra big driveway—so of course there were plants to see.
And tomatoes to covet.
The final batch, with the black dye.
Sometimes it takes two.
I loved this sort of hypertufa rock (the stick is making a drainage hole), planted up with sedum it will be an interesting addition to the garden.
When it became obvious there was a little mix left that wasn't going to be used to make a pot, we started making balls. This was the batch with black dye.
Here's what I came home with...
The mix needs to cure for 24-36 hours before you take the shapes out of the molds.
I misted everything regularly and kept them under plastic in the garage. You don't want them to dry too quickly.
Here's what mine looked like once they were free, photo taken August 24th. The pots were made on August 20th.
I brought them out into the light for an inspection on September 6th. You can definitely see how the black dye changed the color.
The first batch (my two smaller/taller containers) had a lot of peat in it. They're so brown! The longer you let them cure the better, and then once they are fully cured you're supposed to rinse them with a vinegar and water solution, because the material can leach lime into the soil.
I have plans for all the planters and the balls, but since we just passed the four week mark (Sept 17th) I'm still letting them cure. No need to rush. In case you're wondering I do already have a few hypertufa pots. A friend of a friend sold me some back when he moved in 2021, they're grouped along the front sidewalk.
This hypertufa story is to be continued when I plant up my new pots!
The Bit at the End
I can't remember exactly what I was Googling (it was obviously something hypertufa related) when I came across Gerhard's posts (Succulents and More) from 2014 when he made hypertufa planters, gave us an update the next day, and then another one about a month later. I asked him how they're holding up after twelve years... great! was the answer, and in fact he's thinking about making more.
And then another used to create the plating space (some of us just used our fingers to push the mixture to the sides).
When we started mixing this batch I was responsible for sifting the peat moss to remove any large pieces.
And slowly adding water...
I loved this long thin container...
I'm not sure what this one is going to end up like.
This person is a perfectionist, I know it. Look at those edges!
Another batch. Later versions had blue dye added, and then black.
The outer, larger container was so the trough could be carried without flexing the mix as it dried, and possibly causing cracks.
Nice and deep.
Such perfection! Hard lines and two drainage holes.
Plant break! The workshop took place in a member garden—a generous member with an extra big driveway—so of course there were plants to see.
And tomatoes to covet.
The final batch, with the black dye.
Sometimes it takes two.
I loved this sort of hypertufa rock (the stick is making a drainage hole), planted up with sedum it will be an interesting addition to the garden.
When it became obvious there was a little mix left that wasn't going to be used to make a pot, we started making balls. This was the batch with black dye.
Here's what I came home with...
I misted everything regularly and kept them under plastic in the garage. You don't want them to dry too quickly.
Here's what mine looked like once they were free, photo taken August 24th. The pots were made on August 20th.
I brought them out into the light for an inspection on September 6th. You can definitely see how the black dye changed the color.
The first batch (my two smaller/taller containers) had a lot of peat in it. They're so brown! The longer you let them cure the better, and then once they are fully cured you're supposed to rinse them with a vinegar and water solution, because the material can leach lime into the soil.
I have plans for all the planters and the balls, but since we just passed the four week mark (Sept 17th) I'm still letting them cure. No need to rush. In case you're wondering I do already have a few hypertufa pots. A friend of a friend sold me some back when he moved in 2021, they're grouped along the front sidewalk.
This hypertufa story is to be continued when I plant up my new pots!
I can't remember exactly what I was Googling (it was obviously something hypertufa related) when I came across Gerhard's posts (Succulents and More) from 2014 when he made hypertufa planters, gave us an update the next day, and then another one about a month later. I asked him how they're holding up after twelve years... great! was the answer, and in fact he's thinking about making more.
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This is a great event to do as a group, all that material and mixing. What a mess, it feels more doable as a party of tufa-makers. I look forward to seeing what you plant up in them!
ReplyDeleteI would have never tackled it on my own, so was thankful the group wanted to do it. Yay!
DeleteI’d love to participate in such a production! I wanted to make hypertufa pots forever. Gerhard’s post has been bookmarked since he published it and I promise myself to get it done one day.
ReplyDeleteI love that you now have three made by your own hand. Waiting for the plant-up extravaganza.
Chavli
You should organize a hypertufa party!
DeleteI'm impressed, although I can't claim I'm ready to jump in and follow your example. Did you calculate the cost of making the average container? I expect it's considerably less on average than a comparably sized ceramic pot bought even at a discount store but how much cheaper would probably fit into a consideration on my part. I expect it's also more fun tackled as a group.
ReplyDeleteNo calculations took place, some people made several small ones (me) and others just one big one. I think all the materials came in at about $130?
DeleteYou sent me down a rabbit hole! After this post I started thinking and searching web if/how I could utilize my shredded cardboard collection
ReplyDelete(I use it in my composter) instead of peat or coconut coir to make Hypertufa. I thought it interesting one guy adds a bit of fiberglass shreds to a ‘normal’ Hypertufa recipe to make it more cold resistant and to last longer. Also people do make Hypertufa with paper pulp instead of peat or coconut coir. It’s sometimes called papercrete. I never found example of cardboardcrete but sounds like it’s doable.
I hope you try it!
DeleteDoing it as a group is the way to go. I did it by myself years ago, and I still have cement left over (a solid heavy weight now). Hypertufa has such great potential, especially for the kind of plants you like!
ReplyDeleteWe had a bag of leftover cement (a solid brick) that got moved around the garage for years before we finally got rid of it.
DeleteHypertufa is truly a group project! I still have the trough i made at mt cuba years ago-we used newspaper i think instead of peat, and it made it across the country in one piece!
ReplyDelete