DIY : 5 Easy Steps to Make Your Own Concrete Planter – Succulent Inc. – Medium
We’ve always had a fascination with plants, especially succulents! They are just so darn cute. Our collection has grown to 80+ now and we have now started making our own concrete planters, using moulds. The moulds are super easy to use, cost effective, and the best thing — we can make as many of them as we need! For our fellow succulent (plant) lovers, we wanted to share some easy steps and tips to follow (with photos!), so you can start making your own concrete planters, too!
Items you will need:
- Quick set concrete (the “just add water” variety)
- Spatula
- Mixing bowl
- Water
- Sandpaper or steel wool
- Newspaper or thick craft paper
- Straight edge stick (popsicle stick or chopstick)
- Mould (we recommend a high-grade silicone mould)
- Optional — Dental oscillator/vibrator
Let’s get started:
Step 1.
Begin by cleaning your mould to make sure it is free of any debris. Having a clean mould will reduce the instance of indents in your finished product. Also, cover your working space to avoid any mess later and a quick clean up. We used thick craft paper.
Step 2.
Add your concrete powder into your mixing bowl and slowly add small amounts of water while mixing. Depending on the size of your mould or how many you are filling at the same time, will cause variation in the amount of concrete needed. It’s best to start adding concrete with a scoop or measuring cup to determine how much you’ll need the next time. The consistency you are looking for is slightly softer than yogurt. Well mixed, smooth and not too thick. You want your concrete to flow into the corners and details of your mould, so ideally your mixing spatula should tip over and not stand erect in the mixing bowl. If you’ve added too much water and your mixture is runny, simply add a small amount of concrete powder until it’s right.
Step 3.
Once you’re happy with the consistency, take small scoops of concrete with your spatula and start filling your mould. Be sure to use your spatula to fill in the corners and detailed areas well, before filling in the larger sections. To reduce bubbles in your pour, gentle tap the mixing bowl with a clean spatula and tap the sides of the mould as you fill each section. The air bubbles will rise to the surface and you can pop in them with the corner of your spatula. If you have an dental oscillator/vibrator, use a low to medium setting as you fill up your mould with concrete. We did not use an oscillator for this example to demonstrate that you can get good results without using one.
Hot Tip: As the top of your mould is actually the bottom of your planter, we recommend using a straight edge stick (popsicle stick or chopstick) to remove any excess concrete. This will reduce the sanding needed to get a flat bottom. Gently glide the stick across the top of the mould and scrape away any excess, making sure the stick is on either side of the mould as you move it across.
