This is the link for the Facebook Hypertufa Gardener Group. They are all about HYPERTUFA and not succulents but have been a wealth of information for me.

https://www.facebook.com/group...

and once you are in the group, look at these posts:

My original question on harsh outdoor climates and hypertufa: https://www.facebook.com/group...

Several posts from people sharing their recipes for outdoor hypertufas in response:

Ontario Canada, Zone 5: https://www.facebook.com/group...

North Carolina:
https://www.facebook.com/group...

there are multiple other posts but these are specific to OUTDOOR in nasty winters troughs.

Thank you so much Rita. I split this off and made it a separate thread so we don't lose this info. We can do more discussion on hypertufa here.

@Rhandrich
Here you go Rita. I forgot to post the link in the other thread.

Thanks Lynn. Here is one other very good resource posted in the FB group also from one of their members.

Pictures and quantity information with photos showing placement of sticks for drainage holes!

http://blog.sunsethostafarm.co...

I have been looking at the links. So interesting to see what others are doing.

valleylynn said:I have been looking at the links. So interesting to see what others are doing.

It is very interesting! There is an artist close to me and I'm thinking I might ask her to give me a quote on an Easter Island head mold. I am not able to sculpt so I may even ask her to do an original and mold if I can't figure out how to do it with a sand mold on top of a flat surface. (The guy in the UK says he made one and then made a mold to duplicate.) As I look at the Easter Island heads, they are very angular and not "real life" so I MIGHT be able to make this happen but I'm not holding my breath!

My intent now is to make some small planters to get used to working with hypertufa and then branch out (once the weather is more cooperative) to troughs and finally to what are called "pot heads" out in the skilled hypertufa world.

Still waiting for @goldfinch4 to weigh in on a formula for cold weather troughs.....

@goldfinch4 left a link to her article on hypertufa (containing two formulas she uses) in another thread and I'm placing it here to make sure all the information is together. Thanks Chris! https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

Thank you Rita. Good to have this all in one place.

I'm excited to see what you two come up with! I meant to make some hypertufa this past summer and never got around to it.

With the holidays over I'm getting into my "Ok, can it be spring so I can play in the garden?!" mode!!

Already eyeing my next round of semp purchases for 2020! Please share photos of your project @rhandrich !

I live for the days that no rain falls, at least for part of the day. Tried going out today, but it is blowing and very wet.

Check these out these troughs with the legs!

http://passalongplants.blogspo...

Wondering if this would work as a mold, or if it'd be too difficult to get the bottom part out of it..

https://www.wayfair.com/outdoo...

Jesse, which one on that second link? Love the ones on the passalongplants blog.

I really like this one!


It's a slow day at work so I was just looking for mold ideas and found these which might work and be similar. I want a trough or planter that is slightly elevated on the bottom for really good drainage.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Da...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/26...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bl...

I love that trough. It was my pick of them all. Maybe even a little wider?

On a hunt for large plastic things to make larger troughs.
https://www.zoro.com/orbis-wal...

Here is another one that might make a great reusable form for larger type hypertufa troughs.
https://www.zoro.com/molded-fi...

[quote="JesseInCT"]Check these out these troughs with the legs!

http://passalongplants.blogspo...

I love those! Based on what I have seen you would have to have a mold or build a mold with legs. He appears to have stopped though so who knows HOW he did that.

Wondering if this would work as a mold, or if it'd be too difficult to get the bottom part out of it..

https://www.wayfair.com/outdoo...[/quote]

Based on what I've read (since I have not actually made any yet) I am thinking you could turn the planter upside down and put the hypertufa on the bottom. Then you don't have ridges to get stuck. I THINK anyway. This appears to be the danger of learning about hypertufa. I was eating veggies and dip and found myself eyeing the plastic container (grocery store special) and wondering if it would make a good mold.....

I have a bin in the garage where I am collecting clean plastic containers destined for the trash but stopping along the way for hypertufa possibly.

JesseInCT said:I really like this one!


It's a slow day at work so I was just looking for mold ideas and found these which might work and be similar. I want a trough or planter that is slightly elevated on the bottom for really good drainage.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Da...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/26...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bl...

I think you have an idea here. There are likely plastic and inexpensive troughs at big box stores with legs on them that we could liberate to use as trough molds. Hmmmm.

Or even wooden premade legs. Upside down mold and then stick these in to cure.