A hypertufa is a man-made rock that is constructed from numerous aggregates that is mixed together using Portland cement. Since they are very porous and light, they’re generally made as garden decorations, often as planters. A hypertufa is an substitute for tufa, a steadily precipitated limestone deposited from springs.

There are various recipes for making hypertufas, although the basic formula is that it is one part cement for every three parts aggregate. For the most primary recipe, the main ingredients are 1 part Portland cement, 1½ parts peat moss, and 1½ parts perlite. Portland cement comes in two colors: gray or white. Gray is okay for most projects; meanwhile pick white if you prefer a granite look to the outcome or if you need to use colorants. Peat moss is included in the recipe as when it decays, it will leave holes and crevices that imitates the attribute of a true tufa rock. Meanwhile perlite is the substance that makes a hypertufa lightweight.

Instead of perlite, you can replace it with vermiculite, although you may have a harder time getting one. Vermiculite will add a bit more weight to your hypertufa. In addition, it brings a glimmering effect to your hypertufa. The proportion of components is identical with the first recipe.

Occasionally you might like to build a tougher, heavier hypertufa. You can do this with the addition of sand to your mix. Take note that the kind of sand will have an effect on the feel and color of the outcome of your project. For the proportion of this recipe, make use of an equal ratio for all the materials. One more component that may be included to strengthen your hypertufa is fiber mesh. For this recipe you need to make use of 2 parts of Portland cement, 2 parts perlite, 1½ parts peat moss, ½ part coarse sand, and just a tiny bit of nylon fiber mesh.

Peat moss can also be substituted with coir, a processed coconut fiber. The recipe for this variation is 2 parts portland cement, 2 parts coir, and 1 1/2 parts perlite. Keep in mind that coir will not decompose as fast as peat moss and as a consequence this recipe might not look like a real tufa rock, unlike those containing the latter.

You may also use hypertufa as a mortar, to combine genuine or faux rocks. For this purpose, you will need acrylic fortifying base, builders sand, and clay soil. Black potting soil may also be used as a substitute for peat moss. The recipe is 1 part Portland cement, 2 parts builders sand, ½ part peat moss or black potting soil, and the acrylic fortifying additive.

As a final note, the key to every formula is the appropriate adding of water. Add water slowly until you reach the required consistency of your mix. You can always put more water anyway if you figure out that it is not enough.