How to Make your Own Container
I am so looking forward to spring! A week ago, I was in Vancouver and the snowdrops were out. Here in the Okanagan, the snow is still on the ground and it will be awhile before the first signs of spring. In the mean time we can make some Tufa containers.
Tufa is formed when water evaporates from lime rich waters. It is a relatively soft rock that is porous and creates the ideal growing condition for plants that like an all or nothing water supply.
Tufa is available in the Rocky Mountains, but not easily accessible. So, instead, I will be using hypertufa which is a man made tufa. It is lightweight and retains moisture but drains well. You can use any mould but make sure you apply oil (I used a baking spray) or smear the surface with grease so your finished project will release when it sets. When making my first container I failed to grease the mould well enough and the hypertufa was stuck in the mould. Also, make sure the top of the mould container is larger than the bottom, otherwise the finished product will not pop out.
The recipe is not an exact science. The following recipe is creative and experimental but this one works the best for me.
One part portland cement. Make sure it is portland cement. This is a type of cement that is made of limestone, clay and gypsum. I also tried to make the container using premixed which had portland in it but it never hardened and the container fell apart.
One part peat moss with one part vermiculite or perlite and then add water slowly and mix well. It should hold together but not be too wet. If it is too wet you will not be able to put it in a form because the mixture will all run to the bottom of your mould. Therefore, add water until the mixture resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mould and let it cure slowly. Have fun and let me know how your container turns out.
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