What a fun ideas Sharon. Heavy walled balloons would do!

I'm looking forward to seeing how your first burlap pots come out. That is your project to share with us.

I really hope a few others actually do this at least once. I'm astounded at the durability and hardness of these.

This process pushes hypertufa forward. I'm seeing it.

Bev. Hermits are frequently genious' It isn't always true though..................................

I always feel that the most well adjusted sorts are usually extroverted uninhibited hermits.

Calgon has taken me away...right into "Comfortville".

Watching in awe and learning. I have seen cement "dyes" or colorant at Lowe's/Home Depot. It is a liquid that tints the cement. Is there a reason why it can't be used to add a bit of color to the new pots?

Cheryl I'm sure it could be!!! If I did this, I have an old bright red towel that I would use, I'd try and let some of the red color come through by leaving some spots cement free...if that would work? But again, I don't have a spot to do this, althoughI love the ideas!!!

I need to know how heavy the large one is, David. If these things weigh more than I do, no way can I deal with them.

I don't know if the red from the towel would work or not, Greg, seems it might if it didn't weaken it. But if I lived where you live, I think I'd for sure try to get moss to grow on one of them.

Good idea, Cheryl, the colorant.

on the moss idea for Greg!

In my early Hypertufa days I did buy the concrete dyes and tried them. They do work well, yet the colors aren't vibrant at all and I have really gotten into staining with paint or oil stains.
These pots and especially when made with the vermiculite dry naturally to a pretty whitish tan color. I usually mist them and start my color washing so it soaks in after a bout 3 or 4 days in...
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I think these would make great lamps to. I used to design tons of lamps in past years, and wired and on the right base, these could be a really interesting Caveman Contemporary look.
That was my first thought when you said you would leave red towel showing Greg....
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To its highest peak the large one is 24 inches tall. The actually plantable growing depth is 11 inches high x 11 inches wide x 14 inches long, and it weighs in at 14 lbs Sharon! I know you don't weigh less then that, and if you do we are talking to a spirit!!!

You can do it!!! I just didn't cut down that first one and it just stretched itself out. I am still shocked at how hard these things are and that they work so well. Its really changing my concepts and uses less material too...

They are drying well now and already lightening up. I'll be colorizing in the next day or so.......YEAH!!!!!! The fun part

I do believe I can handle 14 pounds, thank you very much, David.
But not much more than that.

Did you add weight to the inside bottom when you pulled them from the drape (upside down drying) stage? More of the cement mix?

David are you using concert tint or regular paint. I am cheap and want to use the paint I have left over in the garage and coat it with some poly to protect.

Regular paint Cinta.

I use a much thicker mix then this lady I found on You Tube....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I think for for serious pots with dirt and plants the fabric should be soaked in water first and the mix has to be 3 more cups thicker on the Portland cement. THICK GOOPEY cake batter.

These lightweights would be great painted for the holidays filled with a little pea gravel in the bottoms and with votive candles though!
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I am still curing this new experiment; yet have decided I'm going to do this one in old coral whites. I have this cool pot of assorted Sanseverias with the dwarf Birdsnest form, a medium and a tall form I've been growing together for a couple of years in a plastic pot.

I decided to lift it them out and just set them in the tall pot for a look for a photo, and then placed them back to their original pot.

It looks like old dead coral with living in the middle to me as a terrestrial sustitute for the look.

I also have a few orchids to play with that I think might be effective in this pot.

The pot is hard and tough now yet is not yet finished for use or ready to plant. I may keep it empty for arrangements dried or alive to change through the seasons indoors too.......................................................;Time and finishes will tell.

I'm very fond of the Sanseveria in the future in it though, and inside....

Gosh, that does look good!!

Replication of form and shape, David-- using the Sanseveria-- how beautiful!
Almost surreal.

All I can say is WOW! The Sanseveria is a perfect fit for it.

Thank you Connie, Sharon and Chris!

Don't be shy about trying this technique.

I can hear the music of "The Little Mermaid" playing in my mind when I look at that.

Marilyn!

Sharon said:Replication of form and shape, David-- using the Sanseveria-- how beautiful!
Almost surreal.

You know Sharon,...

All my life I have loved Nature as all of us Gardeners clearly do.

What I am liking the most about these strong solid organic looking forms in pots is how I am believing they can be functional AND most importantly complimentary to nature...

Thank you.

I think it would be fun to create small pots in this style with more rounded flutes for say;............ African Violets!
In the right tones; (complimentary brownish greens not brighter than the leaves) these could create the effect of them growing in Nature without competing with the plant;.......yet somehow spotlight them;.............as though they were in their native habitat and growing in the forest somewhere...
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The cool things about these style pots, is that they will be one of a kind and will never be found anytime soon at Home DePot or yard sales!

All the more reason to get busy and TRY IT!!!

Your crazy artsy friend,

David

That's what is drawing me into this project so completely. I was thinking of texture on the surface, like old bark on trees, and symmetry, there is rarely true symmetry in nature, so the freedom of the flow of the drape and the uneven textural surface just makes it fit into the outdoors, as if it belonged there in the first place. It's like there are no rules, except in the consistency of the cement and the thickness of the fabric.

You are creating the stage for the plant, presenting the plant in all its best for the world to see.

You GO, David!!
I'm just going to be lagging behind a little bit.

Just created a couple new ones Sharon! At least one of these two is unique in some ways in its formation. We'll see tommorrow how it turns up! (literally )

Wow really lovely David!! As I was looking at your photos and reading posts, I realized I would want to make them sideways so they were more the size of a small window box - to plant my succulents in!! I just have to figure out something to set it on to do the process - I'd love an oblong shape with the drapey things on top!!! That would look so cool!!! (live in an apartment, the building manager already feels that I track too much dirt in, he'd hate me doing this project no matter how pretty the finished project was! ) But I still may try it!