Hypertufa Troughs... Here is a Copy of an Email I Received Recently and my Reply. I hope it helps you if you are thinking about making a planter.

Del:

Do you sell a vinyl mold for making the old world shape trough planters out of the hypertufa?

Thanks

JS

Hi JS:

I don't sell hypertufa molds anymore, the shipping cost made it not worthwhile. Even though the mold is very light it needs a big box. Shipping is based on box size so it finally got to the point where I said I did not want to sell small molds - and big ones (my favorites) will cost the customer to much.

You can make your own trough planters using an old - or new- Styrofoam cooler. Just mix up your favorite Tufa mix and plaster it onto the inside and out side of the cooler. You should make it at least 1 to 1 1/2" thick inside and out. You can even use cardboard boxes for a base if you want. It will suck some of the water out of your hypertufa so it is a good plan to put on one coat about 1/2" thick and after it has set for a day add the rest.

Be sure you remember to drill a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Some will say to make these as part of the project by putting dowels through the bottom of the cooler but I find it a lot easier to drill after the Tufa has set up for a week or so. You can use some of your left over Tufa to make feet for the trough if you want. Make them so they have a large surface. You don't want them to break the trough because there is to much weight concentrated on a small foot surface.

The nice thing about this is that you can fill it with water and it will stay full. I normally do this a couple of times and let it sit in the trough for a day, dump it and refill at least three times to remove some of the lime. Things grow better if the ph is changed this way. Straight Tufa that is new has to much lime and needs this treatment.

After you have done this drill your holes, paint or stain if you want, then fill the hypertufa trough you just made with good potting soil and plant your favorite plants.