A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Making Concrete Planters 

Concrete items have a certain allure, a raw quality associated with industrial design. This quality can be found in a variety of ways. Most of the time, they take the form of one-of-a-kind plant accessories designed to withstand the elements in your home or garden. As a result, we’re going to share with you today a fun do-it-yourself project that uses concrete, one that’s not too difficult and is suitable for beginners. 

If you follow these simple steps, you will be able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time! 

Making your own concrete plant pots only takes six simple steps, and you can choose from a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit your needs and preferences. You can also add decorative shells or shards of glass for even more stunning results. Whether you make large tubs for the garden or small pots for cacti, this do-it-yourself project is sure to be enjoyable. 

Before you start making your concrete flower pots, you’ll need the following materials: 

• The concrete subbase (which you can find in hardware shops) 
• Molds, or cartons and scissors for making molds; a bucket or wheelbarrow for mixing; glass flakes, glass beads, shells, and pebbles (depending on your decorations) 

1. Constructing the concrete form 

To begin, you’ll need an outer mold and an inner mold. Both should have the same shape but differ in size from one another. After inserting the smaller form into the larger form, there should be about 5 centimeters of space between the two forms. 

The concrete that is poured into this space after it has been filled determines the thickness of your planting dowel. If you want to make a planting bucket that is exceptionally large and has dimensions greater than 60 centimeters in both height and width, make sure the bucket is at least 7.5 centimeters thick. 

Molds can also be created by constructing two cardboard boxes and gluing them together. You will be able to determine the dimensions and contours of the molds in this manner. Molds can be made of various materials such as glass, plastic, cardboard, stainless steel, or Styrofoam. 

On homify, you can find a wide range of professionals, such as gardeners, architects, and many others. For more information, please see our professional page. 

2. Check that the interiors of the molds are ready

It is critical to apply lubricants to the interior of the molds that will come into contact with the concrete, such as paraffin oil, sunflower oil, or another type of lubricant. If you do this first, removing the concrete bucket from the mold will be much easier in the future. If you’re using a glass mold, be very careful not to crack it when you remove the bucket from its casing. 

Be aware that you are free to experiment with different mold shapes and sizes for this do-it-yourself project, as you will undoubtedly want the end result to be one-of-a-kind and tailored to your specific preferences in terms of both your taste and the layout of your garden. 

3. Mix the cement ingredients together

Wear protective gloves when mixing the concrete in the wheelbarrow or bucket to keep the concrete from getting on your hands. Working with high-strength concrete is recommended for the best results. Pour the concrete into the bucket or wheelbarrow while constantly stirring. While stirring the concrete, gradually add the water. Make sure you follow the required mixing ratio, which is printed on the packaging of your concrete mixture. This will ensure that your concrete is properly formed. 

You can also add decorative items like glass shards, stones, shells, pearls, or other types of jewelry when mixing concrete. You will be able to make fantastic and one-of-a-kind pots using this method; however, keep in mind that the consistency of the concrete must be maintained. 

4. Set the mold in the middle of the concrete 

Let us now move on to the concrete casting process

The bottom of your planter is formed by pouring the concrete mixture slowly and evenly onto the bottom of the outer mold. This creates the planter’s bottom. 

If you want drainage holes in your planting hole, you can either stick pebbles into the ground or drill a few holes later, but you must wait at least two days after the concrete has dried before doing either. 

Smooth the concrete with a spatula or masonry trowel before placing the inner mold on top of the concrete mix. They must be pressed until the desired thickness for your planting bucket is achieved. As long as your plant container is not top-heavy, the bottom and potter walls should be roughly the same thickness. The bottom of the potter, on the other hand, can be slightly thicker. 

The remaining concrete is now poured between the two previously created molds. Using a spatula or trowel to press the mixture will help eliminate any air bubbles that may be present. After pouring the liquid over the rim of the pot, use the spatula to smooth out the surface as evenly as possible.

5. Allow the surface to dry

Patience is required at this point because the bucket and casting molds must be carefully wrapped in a plastic tarpaulin or plastic bag and left for approximately 36 hours. Additionally, pay attention to the recommended time that is printed on the packaging of your concrete. 

Then, using a knife or a corkscrew, check to see if your concrete planters have reached the appropriate level of dryness. If you can poke a hole in the concrete, it is still too wet and should be left standing for a little longer. 

6. Carefully remove the plant-growing container from the mold

When the concrete has dried completely, carefully remove the planter from the mold. You should have no trouble removing it from the material if it is made of cardboard. You can use sandpaper to even out and smooth the surface you’re working on. 

Patience is required because the potter must dry completely for about a week before it can be used. Rub the potter with a damp sponge or cloth once a day until the color becomes darker. After about two days, you can start drilling holes in the bottom of the container to allow for drainage.