Topic: hypertufa

[rdak]

has anyone used hypertufa stuff to create troughs or planters? was wondering whether I could make my cheap plastic pots look a but nicer by coating them in this to make them look a bit more rustic!

[The gardener]

I have the recipe but never got round to doing it . I have three Belfast sinks that need doing.

Perhaps this summer!!!!!

Hypatuffa recipe

   * The following mixture can be used for covering old, glazed, kitchen sinks to make an alpine or miniature gardens.

   * Measure out 2 parts (by volume) sifted sphagnum moss peat, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part cement.

Then mix the ingredients thoroughly whilst dry, then add water.

Mix thoroughly until the mixture is of a consistency that can be cast into blocks.

   * Clean the sinks thoroughly, chip the glaze on the exterior of the sink, coat it with a p.v.a. bonding agent to give good adhesion.

Trowel the tuffa mix onto the sides of the sink after the p.v.a. has dried.

The surface can be textured to your own requirements, e.g. smooth, scalloped, or serrated/scratched, the choice is yours.

[campanula]

it look OK too - i did an old polystyrene fish box covered with wire netting - easy

[Palustris]

If you are covering plastic pots, roughen the surface with a wire brush to help adhesion. You could also add some chopped fibre glass to the mix to increase its 'binding' together.
If you fancy some belfast sink size containers then if you can get hold of those black plant trays you see at nurseries (about 2ft by 3 ft) you can cover those with hypertufa and make super troughs. Don't like to boast (liar) but I have got 18 of them at present.

[tina]

About a hundred years ago, when I watched telly, I'm sure that 'they'said you could paint it with yoghurt afterwards, to encourage algae growth, and to stop it from looking so new..... (I think so, but it could all have been a dream?). :-/

[Palustris]

Manure water smells less, just, than yoghurt. You may also add cement colouring to your mix to make it less white or red depending on the sand you use.

[rdak]

thanks guys. Am definately going to do some 'hypertufering' in the spring. Have done a bit of research and think I will cover the plastic pots with chicken wire to help secure the hypertufa in place.
Have also heard about painting with yoghurt to help encourage moss and lichen- another way is with some liquid manure...hmm, lovely  ;D

[Palustris]

Here are some of the troughs, first Summer. Be more mossy now without any additional 'paint'