I'm just guessing, Bev. But I have the same question you do, to increase thickness and strength?

Sharon...that makes sense too!

But I just wonder how well the second wet coat over a dry coat will adhere, Bill.

David has done a lot of hypertufa, so I'm sure he'll know; I just don't have that much experience with concrete.

If I ever get one of these done, I'm going to coat it with buttermilk and see if moss will grow on it. Cool, huh? I think somebody mentioned that earlier and it's been hanging out in my mind since.

Wow David. You did it.
I have been watching this thread to see how things will work. Looks like you nailed in dead center.

Is it difficult getting the tubs out once the cloth sets?

Hey Orlando Bill!

Its great having another Central Florida Gardener joining in with us on this fun new concept. I use a dash of oil on a paper towel on the plastic items yet;....yes;... on occasion they can be testy to remove.

If they don't come out, just leave them and drill right through to create you drainhole. No throwaways!
*********************
Lynn,......this is a fun workable project YOU can DO! Your beautiful Simpervivums would look undersea and incredible cascading from one indeed. Just sit it out of the freezes in Winter way up and over there.
*********************
The second coat of mix is always applied after just the second day of making these pots Sharon, and will adhere seemlessly as the first stage in two days will never be dry or cured overnight. Mist again the second day before adding the second layer of cement. The ones I've just shared did in fact get their second coat today. After being misted this afternoon, they are now in my garage under plastic bags again to equalize or slow down the drying times for thinner areas.
********************
Bev,
The first dipping process and at a thick gravy consistency worked out perfectly this go round, yet with the thinner tips, which I love on that one piece;... knew a second layer on those areas plus on the inside thickly painted on would make the project more durable of course. Its amazing how a soaked thick towel in concrete can create such a stong armature even to me. These pieces will need to be misted daily fo a week to cure appropriately. This is clearly not a one day adventure.........................
********************
Thank you very much Jonna! You should try it too!

I forgot to tell you all about the other project after the two I've already shown you!
*************************

"David!,.............Look at all that concrete mix left in that bucket! Go find something and make another pot QUICK before that stuff SETS!!!!!!!!"

So then

I ran into the garage and found an old paint rag tee shirt;...soaked it with a hose really quick and wrung it out;...dipped that thing into the slurry a few times;...folded it in half and did it again, and folded that in half and did it yet again.

"David!,........where ya' gonna' put it!!!!!!!"

I grabbed an old "I can't believe its not Butter " container I use for Chicken feed for the Chickens (The Girls) and flopped it over it. It got a healthy second coat today too. Lets see how it turns out!

Thanks, David!! Works just like clay when you add another layer to it, the key is in the moisture and close consistency. Great!!

Cool little Tshirt thingy. Looks a little like a bird with his head tucked. Or maybe an Aladdin's lamp, or maybe nothing at all. Just a very cool shape.

Sharon said:......Cool little Tshirt thingy. Looks a little like a bird with his head tucked. Or maybe an Aladdin's lamp, or maybe nothing at all. Just a very cool shape.

Looks...ORGANIC... Proud that you didn't waste the slurry, David...worth one Xmas present off the list for this year!!

Just found this thread - very interesting! I've seen pictures of these on Pinterest lately too.

David, your pots turned out great.

Thanks everyone for sharing your tips as you've worked on your pots. Can't wait to see more pictures.

Sharon said:Thanks, David!! Works just like clay when you add another layer to it, the key is in the moisture and close consistency. Great!!

Cool little Tshirt thingy. Looks a little like a bird with his head tucked. Or maybe an Aladdin's lamp, or maybe nothing at all. Just a very cool shape.

The Tshirt thingy was kind of a joke really Sharon. I knew that it was an ugly looking blob when I sent the picture yesterday, yet artists always see something in blobs......sometimes!

After covering the "blob pot" after giving it a night time mist and plastic bag, I did see pretty angles in it this morning though. It wouldn't be something I would do again, yet It will work for me personally for an Orchid, Succulent, or Something pot though and its growing on me!

Like us,....even blob pots can have a pretty side!

These pics are of the same pot this morning. The cool thing is that at least the growing area is as large as a big tub of fake butter!

OrlandoBill said:

I know it wasn't the "Blob pot" you were drooling over Bill!

I love it! Place it atop a bigger boulder, -- or something -- plant it and watch it beautify itself.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway and from an artistic/Nature standpoint, I love it!

I have just the boulder too Sharon.

Today was drill the drainholes day............
HaHaHaHaHa!!!! NO you do not need any drill bit even close to this size to make hole in your pots! I just happen to have this one on hand because of an old project that was only used once for drilling only 2 holes in my driveway slab. I have just used it on my hypertufa pots since as it cuts through curing cement like butter.

It makes really nice large drainholes and this is what the huge spikey pots holes look like now...





All of these pots need to be wet throughout the day here and there for another couple of days to secure they cure right.

This picture below shows a prototype for matching saucers in the works...

I love the blob pot and think it has just as much character as the other two !
and the idea for saucers is a good one, David!

Ok, that's my pep talk for the day; Whew! Can you tell I don't get out much? I'm a hermit-in-the-making...

Moving right along, aren't you, David. Looking great and glorious. Love the saucer too.

Now, think about this, what if you drape the next one over something round like a basketball, but if a b'ball, then the top would have to be opened after it was all hardened. I can't think of anything perfectly round except a b'ball that would also be a good size. Any way, have a piece of rope nearby and where the basketball curves inward, form the neck of the pot by dipping the rope in the cement mix a couple of times then tying it just at the indentation. It will gather the folds inward, like a belt does for a waist. You'd have to put feet on it so that it would sit level, or it could be placed in the dip of a boulder -- something like that

See??

Oh Sharon, I do hope he takes your suggestion. I can just see it.
Perhaps an old soccer ball that could be cut in half and placed on his pole then draped and cinched as you suggested.

Can't wait to see it.