Since I got this hypertufa+sempervivums+hardy+succulents idea in my little head, I kept thinking about it. And how cool such a thing would look at my kitchen window, outside, on the 8th Floor.
Crazy?
Nope!
Here it is!
First, I searched online for how-to, recipes, ideas, etc.
Then I tried to find the ingredients.
Not easy...like a recipe from a cookbook, it's hard to find all ingredients here.
Finally the recipe was something like cement+perlite+sand+dried&sifted peat based mix.
Then, the problem was with the mold. I used wood boards etc.
Then I mixed the mix, then carefully made the troughs... a small problem was the walls kinda separating from the mold and leaning inside.
Well, the final result was OK... I am pleased!
After patiently waiting for a few weeks I got them out of the molds, filled them up with a mix rich in gravel and some perlite and then skillfully and artistically planted the sempervivums.
Thinking I still have some space left, I added some Thlapsi stylosum and some cute Sedum. And of course pebbles, rocks, stones


Here's the metal bad my brother gave me for... support.
He also helped me drill the holes for the screws.


Here's the BEFORE pic, with the potted Sempervivums.... waiting for a nicer, cozier home.


Here's the view from my kitchen with the troughs already fixed.


And... details

they look pro ! good job

good call on the metal band
you could take out a car with one of those
that would be ... bad

SPECTACULAR project and results, Calin. You must be so proud of your work!
And the view outside your window is so interesting. Are you in the main castle looking out your window at the minor part of your castle home?
Thanks for sharing!!

I think your first attempts were perfectly pro too Calin. Great stuff!

That metal stripping is great that your brother shared, and used well!

WHAT A VIEW!!!!!

Beautiful scenes from a gardening friend in Romania. Thank you for sharing!

Here are some of my hypertufa containers too. I love hypertufa!
http://www.greenspacegardens.n...

super job.

I love those oblong containers. I wouldn't have thought of using wood boards for the form. I'm going to try to make one now!

GOOD JOB!!!!

Thanks you all!

Mark: well yup... looks like I am not thinking about accidents. I'm on the 8th floor, there's a wide sidewalk down there, but there's some shops too, which are a bit on the outside...meaning, I think if something falls, it's gonna land on the roof/ceiling of the shops... but I am not too good with Physics and the trajectory, and gravity so until I do an experiment and see exactly where things land, I'd better be safe

Bev: Well, nope. I live in a very communist flat building. From 1974. I bought it in 2007. I loved the location and the VIEW.
Before this big step, I always said to myself "hmmm, I'd love to have that view".
And I was shocked when I found this apartment for sale. YEY.
In the view there's a Palace in Baroque style. Used to be a museum but now it's owned by Catholic Church.
And there's also a basilica (big church) next to it. Sometimes the bells wake me up in the morning... but I like them.

Wow David. Great Work-of-Art there. Would love to make some as nice as yours... one-day!

Thanks Hetty!

Sandi... yes... I think it's possible. I made a few mistakes. I made the forms a bit taller than I wanted the troughs to be...and this made it a little difficult to work the mix in the molds (especially the top margins of the troughs are not exactly perfect, but it's ok anyway)... and also the mix+plastic wrap just wouldn't "stick" to the wood.
It would lean forward (inside), making a gap of a few milimeters and I just didn't know how to fix that.

Thanks Marilyn!

Thanks for tips! I think your "mistakes" just made them look more rustic and aged. I wouldn't change a thing.
BTW, that's a million dollar view you have from your window. WOW!

Lovely! And I think they look great on the balcony. As mentioned, the flaws just make them look even better!

They were well thought out; measured for the space and look incredible.

I know you have some sort of bracing holding them on there Calin! I know you do!!!? This would not be the group to accidently knock off the ledge should they not perform as well as you like......

These will never perform poorly!

I just saw this thread...Wow and great job Calin!! I've been considering doing hybertufa and whenever I see a project like this I get re-inspired! Now to get ingredients!

I just saw this for the first time too. They turned out wonderful, Calin! So, these are the first of many yet to come???

David, your hypertufa containers are gorgeous too.

Aftere backtracking throught the pic's I finally got past the coolness of the metal stripping itself and saw the function. Duh!!! Anyway, I can be distracted on occasion and play the fool. Great looking supports for the pots. Now I know you will not be knocking off individuals you don't appreciate as they walk below.
*********************
I'm glad you liked them and thank you Chris.

Wow! Your trough and your semps look equally fantastic!

David I just went to your link, they really are cool pots! I love the metal items on the ones!!

Thank you all.
And yes... I love David's works.
I may even find some ideas... hope you don't mind, David.
:)

Greg... you have no idea how long I was thinking about these pots.
I always found excuses not to get started... such as... no molds of exactly the sized I wanted, etc.

But once you start...you enjoy it really. Especially when they are done and ready to embrace some of your Sempervivums