Make Your Own Rustic Planters

Owners of rock garden plants, and most hobby gardeners in general, can seemingly never have enough planters. On the balcony, patio, or at the entrance of your home, rustic planters can add that perfect finishing touch. You can even make these yourself, making them an ideal gift for any garden lover who appreciates a country house style.

- 2 parts by volume cement
- 2 parts by volume peat or coco coir/bark soil
- 3 parts by volume fine sand
How much of each material you'll need depends on the height and size of your desired planter.

- Mortar tub or empty paint bucket (for mixing the cement mixture)
- Large old wooden spoon or paint stirrer attachment for the drill
- Wire brush
- Spatula
- Old tablespoon
- Wooden sticks
- Screwdriver
- Disposable gloves
- Yogurt or buttermilk (diluted)
- Paintbrush
- Thick drinking straws (for drainage holes) or Phillips screwdriver or masonry drill bit
- Stones of various sizes for weighing down the inner molds
- Newspaper or protective film to protect the work surface In addition, various containers for outer and inner molds, as well as plastic bags, are needed. Old plaster buckets, empty paint or mortar buckets, tubs, sturdy cardboard boxes, or wooden crates can be used as outer molds for the homemade planter. The inner molds should have the same shape (round, rectangular, oval) and be approximately two to three centimeters smaller than the outer molds. Examples include plastic packaging from fruits and vegetables, Tetra Paks, plant containers, pots, bowls, small buckets, and much more.

Whether you're working directly in the garden, in your hobby room, or the garage, cover your work surface with newspaper or painter's foil to keep it clean. Line the inside of your outer mold with plastic bags or sheeting; otherwise, the cement mixture will stick to it after drying.

In the mortar tub, mix the ingredients listed above thoroughly with a wooden spoon or paint stirrer. Add just enough water to create a soft, but not watery, consistency. Use a spatula to evenly spread the mixture to a thickness of two to three centimeters on the sides and bottom of the outer mold. You can use the drinking straws to check if the bottom has reached this height, and they can also serve as spacers or drainage holes.

Now, press the inner mold (also wrapped in plastic bags) into the cement – this will form the hollow space of your new planter. Place stones inside the inner mold to weigh it down and prevent it from pushing out. If the inner mold doesn't fit exactly as desired, don't worry. You can always rework the finished planter later by scraping out excess material.

Place your planter in a dry, shady spot on a flat surface to dry for two to three days. Often, you can remove the inner mold on the second day. At this point, you can use a spoon to scrape out any still-soft, excess wall material and pull out the drinking straws. Like a pudding, the planter can usually be unmolded after about two to three days; carefully peel off the plastic bag.

For the finishing touch, work the planter with a wire brush. You can use a screwdriver to carve irregular indentations or patterns into the often still-soft exterior. If you didn't create drainage holes with the drinking straws earlier, you can use a Phillips screwdriver to make them in the still-soft mixture or a masonry drill bit once the material has set.

It takes about 10 days for the cement to fully cure. To give the planter a rustic patina, brush its exterior with diluted buttermilk or yogurt. This encourages the growth of algae and moss. After this, your rustic, handmade planter is ready to be filled with plants or given to its new owner.