Portland cement is used to make concrete and can also be used to lay stone. It doesn't have any gravel in it. If you want to make cement with Portland cement, you have to add sand and gravel or you can even order what is called 3/4 mix. This would be if you're pouring a small slab, sidewalk, etc.

You can also use Portland cement if you are making mortar to lay stone. Portland would also work with garden art stuff.

Rich mortar is used when laying brick. It doesn't have any sand or gravel in it either.

The quick-crete stuff you buy at Lowes or Home Depot is for the homeowner that has a small cement job and you just add water. It does have the sand and gravel in it.

Did that make sense or did I add to the confusion???

The quickrete is a fine mortar mix with no gravel. I use it to make stepping stones all the time and it sets up real quick even when I have to make it a little runny so I can pour it into the molds. I think I'll try a small leaf next week, I'll have to get sand so I can set up an area for one. Thanks

I should have said no large gravel in it. I have used a store brand of cement mix that I screened the large pieces out of. I didn't like the looks of it and had gotten rid of the bag to a friend that used it to add a side area on to his driveway. I'm going to try the quickrete since I already have several bags of it here.

Ok Vic I think I got what you said. Time will tell.

Awesome leaves Sandi. Thanks so much for the good directions. And I liked the one with the red spots. It's hard to replicate nature, but you sure got it close.

I have a source for a lot of shredded computer paper and wondered if it could be used, with 'cement' for garden art....like making pots or planters or tiles or...or....? I hate to throw it away...and it is really a lot!!!!!
TIA

Carol, I don't know but I'm sure some of the talented experts that we have on this forum will come along and be able to help you

There used to be someone who combined wet paper with cement , I beieive I saw it on Dave's Garden, It's been awhile since I read anything. Believe the person was located in Japan and it was gorgeous...

YES Charleen, it HAS been awhile!! I remembered those papercrete creations and went searching. I was looking in the wrong forum, found it...a thread in the Container Gardening forum from 2004!

Wow....thanks guys!!! Gonna try something like that because I can use the planters AND I have all this free material!!!

Hi Carol! Great to have you join us. Looking forward to seeing some pictures of your garden art.

Hi C arol! i like your cute photo!

Carol - we're SO GLAD you're here!

AlohaHoya said:Wow....thanks guys!!! Gonna try something like that because I can use the planters AND I have all this free material!!!

... and pictures of your hoyas ... I ♥ hoyas.

Gosh...with that welcome I need to get my bum in gear and do something!!!!

I have some really large EE leaves and would like to try molding a few of them. Is there something other than chicken wire to reenforce them?

Hardware cloth would probably work, but I think chicken wire would be much easier to work with. If the leaves are really large you really should have the extra reinforcement in them.

I was thinking there was some type of reinforcement cloth that was used in concrete work? More of a fine mesh more flexible that hardware cloth.

You can use fiberglass mesh. I had the chicken wire already, so used it. It made the leaf a little "thick" though, trying to cover the wire.

I'm posting a few photos of one of the first leaves I made about 10 years ago. It's been all over, even to Louisiana, where I helped " the girls" at a swap make some a few years ago. It sits outside under a tree all year long, partially buried, and still looks okay (a little neglected and dirty). I didn't clean it up for this quick pic. It has no wire in it, wasn't cured in any special way, just dumb luck, I guess! Notice the veins are still visible after all the years and this one is a little under 2 feet long. It's not very thick either.
Yep, dumb luck!

Thanks Bubbles, I used chicken wire for a couple of good sized Hypertufa containers and I wanted to keep away from that thicker look.

Love those colors...