How to Make Hypertufa Troughs

A hypertufa is a man-made rock that comprises of different aggregates that is combined together using Portland cement. It is based from a naturally-o...


A hypertufa is a man-made rock that comprises of different aggregates that is combined together using Portland cement. It is based from a naturally-occurring rock called tufa which can be usually observed from springs rich in lime. Most hypertufas are set up as garden ornaments. One of the most popular types of hypertufa are gardening troughs, as they are very tough and have the ability to bear severe winter temperatures, compared with concrete pots. Hypertufa troughs are also easy to create and can be done using household items. Listed here are the guidelines on how to build one by yourself.

The ingredients necessary for a hypertufa trough is 1 part Portland cement, 1½ parts perlite, and 1½ parts peat moss. You will also need a mold for your trough. Pick an object that has a structure that can accommodate plants such as oxes, buckets, pots, styrofoam ice chests, metal containers and so on. Additionally, cover your mold with a plastic or garbage bag to ensure that it won’t cling on your hypertufa mixture. Besides that, you can also utilize oil lubricants if your mold is made of plastic.

The initial step in building your hypertufa trough is combining the components with water. Combine it until you achieve a firm moldable consistency. And then transfer the mixture to the mold that you have decided on. Fill the mold to achieve the ideal appearance and make certain you leave no spots behind by compressing the mixture. If you intend to put plants in that trough, it is advisable to add drainage holes at the bottom with sticks or dowels.

After stuffing the mixture in your mold, you have to wrap it up with a plastic bag and put it in an location where it won’t be disturbed. In about 24 to 36 hours, your trough will harden enough so that you can already take out the mold. If you want, you can smoothen the top and edges using a wire brush. Then, rewrap the trough with the plastic and allow it to sit once more for more than three weeks, occasionally moisturizing it with water from time to time. You’ll know that your trough is already totally cured as soon as it makes a hollow knock when you tap it.

As a ultimate note, before putting a plant in your trough, just be sure you leach it first using water for more than the following ten days or so. The newly made trough has plenty of lime that are harmful to plants and therefore it is not a good idea to make use of it just after curing it.

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