Building Hypertufa Troughs

A hypertufa is an anthropic rock that is made up of a variety of aggregates that is mixed together using Portland cement.  It is inspired by a naturally-occurring rock known as  tufa which can be commonly observed from springs abundant in lime. Most hypertufas are manufactured as garden adornments. Probably the most common forms of hypertufa are gardening troughs, as they are incredibly resilient and can undergo intense winter temperatures, as opposed to concrete pots. Hypertufa troughs are also simple to construct and can be done using household items. Here are the instructions on how to build one by yourself.

The components required for a hypertufa trough is 1 part Portland cement, 1½ parts perlite, and 1½ parts peat moss. Additionally, you will need a mold for your trough. Select an object that has a structure that can hold plants such as boxes, pots, metal containers, styrofoam ice chests, buckets and the like. Additionally, cover your mold with a plastic or garbage bag to ensure that it will not cling on your hypertufa mixture. On top of that, you can also make use of oil lubricants if your mold is made of plastic.

The first step in making your hypertufa trough is mixing the components with water. Mix it until you attain a firm moldable consistency. After that transfer the mixture to the mold that you've decided on. Fill up the mold to achieve the ideal design and be sure that you leave no gaps behind by compressing the mixture. If you plan to put plants in that trough, it may be beneficial to include drainage holes at the bottom using sticks or dowels.

After padding the mixture in your mold, you need to cover it up with a plastic bag and place it in an spot where it won’t be disturbed. In about 24 to 36 hours, your trough will harden enough so that you can already remove the mold. If you want, you can smoothen the top and edges utilizing a wire brush. Then, rewrap the trough with the plastic and let it sit once more for more than three weeks, occasionally moisturizing it with water every now and then. You’ll know that your trough is already thoroughly cured when it creates a hollow knock when you tap it.

As a ultimate note, before placing a plant in your trough, make certain you leach it first using water for more than the next ten days or so. The newly created trough contains plenty of lime that are harmful to plants and therefore it is not a good idea to use it soon after curing it.