Hypertufa Basket

by Jacki
(Grand Forks, B.C.)

Finding lots of old baskets in the thrift store and garage sales left me trying to find a use for them.

If I planted my collection of succulents right in them, they rotted out in a season or two, so I wanted to make them more durable.

I finally hit on the idea of using them as molds for hypertufa, first lining them with drycleaner plastic or other thin plastic film.

After the hypertufa is dry, I just cut the basket away, leaving a pattern on the outside surface of the hypertufa pot.

Then I can plant Sedum or Sempervivum, or other tender succulent plants in them for the summer.

The hardy plants just stay in the pot for the winter - after the first season outside I stopped worrying about the pot cracking or the plants dying, as it came through beautifully.