Making your own concrete pots is very easy and inexpensive to create space for plants both indoors and outdoors, which suits your needs. You can make your own molds from cardboard, used containers, pre-made custom molds, old milk cartons, or just about anything you want. The type and number of plants you will put in this pot will determine the size and shape of your pot.
Step
Step 1. Choose your printout
You will need an outer mold and an inner mold of the same shape, but different sizes.
Step 2. Make sure the smaller prints fit into the larger prints by about 5 cm
The difference in size between these two molds will determine the wall thickness of your pot. If the pot you are making is larger than 60 cm by 60 cm, the walls should be after 7 cm.
Step 3. Make your own mold by cutting two cardboards for the inner and outer molds, with sizes according to your taste
Step 4. Use glass, plastic, and stainless steel as other options for cardboard
Styrofoam can also be used as a mold.
Step 5. Coat the inside of the mold with mineral oil or spray lubricant
This step will help you when you get the finished print out later. If you are using a glass mold, by coating it with a lubricant, you may not need to break the mold when removing the finished pot.
Step 6. Make the concrete dough in a tub or barrel
Crack-resistant concrete is the best choice. Pour as much as you want into the tub or cask, then add the water and mix gradually until you get a dough with the consistency of cookie dough. Follow the manufacturing instructions on the packaging.
Step 7. Protect your hands with rubber gloves when making the concrete mix
Step 8. Add decorative glass, pebbles, shells, beads, or any other decorative material you think is appropriate as long as it doesn't drastically change the consistency of the concrete mix
Step 9. Pour the concrete mixture evenly onto the base of the outer mold to make the bottom of the pot
Step 10. Insert drainage gravel into the bottom of the pot at this step if you want to add drainage, or drill drainage holes later (at least two days after the concrete dries)
Step 11. Flatten and smooth the concrete with a trowel
Step 12. Press the mold deeply into the concrete mixture until the bottom of the pot reaches your desired thickness
The base and walls must be of the same thickness. However, the base can be thicker than the walls and usually not the other way around.
Step 13. Pour the remaining concrete mixture into the space between the molds
Continue to compact with a trowel and press the concrete mixture along the sides of the mold to ensure that the walls of the pot are even, while avoiding the formation of air bubbles.
Step 14. When you reach the top of the pot, smooth it out and smooth it with a trowel
Step 15. - Tap the mold gently to maintain the consistency of the concrete (be careful not to break the mold if you are using a glass mold)
Step 16. Wrap the pot with plastic and leave it for about 36 hours
Step 17. Test the strength of the concrete with a nail or knife
If nails or knives leave marks, the concrete is still too wet.
Step 18. Remove the mold in slowly
If you are using cardboard, peel off the mold. If you're using glass, you may need to break it, although a layer of mineral or lubricant can help you save the glass mold.
Step 19. Remove the pot from its outer mold
Step 20. Smooth the outside with a coarse brush, coir, or scouring wire
Step 21. Leave the pot for a week
Step 22. Scrub the pot with a damp sponge or cloth until it darkens, once a day
Step 23. After drying for at least two days, you can drill drainage holes in the bottom
Step 24. Place the pot in the open, pour in the soil, and grow your plants
Tips
- If you're using a cardboard mold, you may want to consider supporting the outer mold with wooden blocks while the concrete inside dries to keep the shape of the cardboard from changing.
- If you're using wood molding, apply putty to the surface and cover the mold with plastic so the concrete doesn't seep into the wood.
- Placing a heavy object such as a book on top of the bottom of the inner mold after Step 6 will help prevent the concrete from rising.
- Do not pour the concrete mixture If it is expected to rain or the air temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius.
Warning
- Do not put the plant in the pot until a few days after removing it from the mold.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when working with concrete mix.
