DIY cement pots.

[Neli]

I have lots of trees...probably over 1000, but my gardeners are slowly reducing the numbers. If I have to buy a nice pot for all of them it will be more than reasonable amount for me.
So I decided to make cement pots for them and buy nice ones when they deserve it. I can not buy any bonsai materials/pots here so it is a good alternative for me. At least they look better than the plastic containers I have been using.
Another big plus is the fun I am having making the pots.
I am still at the experimenting stage trying, failing and making few better ones, that I like.
I have not photographed all of them yet...but if people are interested I can do so.
I think they are getting better as I gain more experience.
But I made some really ugly ones too, and I tried all kind of crazy ideas.
The main point is that if a pot is not ready in 15 min I am not really too interested in making that type since I need to make a lot.
I mix white cement with fine sand 1:1, and the pots are very strong. You can throw them 5 meters and they dont break.
This is one of the first I tried and it is not colored...just testing the method.

I use stone varnish to varnish them, but this one is not yet varnished.

 

[Neli]

This one I left to my gardener to push it the little laterite balls.

 

[Neli]

This one my worker made from some left over cement...

I have plenty more and all this are made by different methods. I can post step by step if anyone is interested.

 

[xtolord]

Thansk for sharing Neli

Hi Neli,
Thanks for sharing dear
Any step by steps instructions ?

What are those colored pots (the first imgs posted ) made of?
Colored cement or some other material?

Cheers
Xavier

 

[Eric Group]

I have lots of trees...probably over 1000, but my gardeners are slowly reducing the numbers. If I have to buy a nice pot for all of them it will be more than reasonable amount for me.
So I decided to make cement pots for them and buy nice ones when they deserve it. I can not buy any bonsai materials/pots here so it is a good alternative for me. At least they look better than the plastic containers I have been using.
Another big plus is the fun I am having making the pots.
I am still at the experimenting stage trying, failing and making few better ones, that I like.
I have not photographed all of them yet...but if people are interested I can do so.
I think they are getting better as I gain more experience.
But I made some really ugly ones too, and I tried all kind of crazy ideas.
The main point is that if a pot is not ready in 15 min I am not really too interested in making that type since I need to make a lot.
I mix white cement with fine sand 1:1, and the pots are very strong. You can throw them 5 meters and they dont break.
This is one of the first I tried and it is not colored...just testing the method.

I use stone varnish to varnish them, but this one is not yet varnished.

I like these- they already have an aged look! Do you have any pics of them with the varnish on them?

 

[Neli]

Yes I have ...let me take some pictures and I will post. For this ones I used ordinary taper ware and PVA paint mixed in the cement. That is all I had.

I used several layers of very sovt cement and sand with different color then scrambled it. Later plastered it inside.

 

[Neli]

All pots are made by different methods. some with balloon, some with mosquito wire, some with soil...
Xavier they are all from white cement.

 

[Vance Wood]

All pots are made by different methods. some with balloon, some with mosquito wire, some with soil...
Xavier they are all from white cement.

Good for you Neli I have alway wanted to make pots. I fear the pots you have made would not stand up to the kinds of winters we have here in Michigan. By the way, I have made several replies to your thread about Mugo Pines on IBC and it you have not replied to them. I hope there is no problem.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks for sharing Neli! Good job!

 

[Dav4]

Not sure if you did this but you can add nylon fibers (purchased from a masonry supply business...maybe over the internet for you?) to the wet cement mix. This will help the cement hold together long term. Keep up the good work, Neli.

 

[nairb]

These are great thanks for sharing!

Do the dry cements pots come out of the tupperware easy? or do you have to break the tupperware off?

 

[Poink88]

I agree with adding fiber as reinforcement.

BTW, proper curing is the secret to prevent cracks. After initial set...it is best to submerge the entire thing under water and let cure for 2-3 weeks before letting it dry...slowly. You can also cover it with plastic, wet towel, wet sand, wet newspaper, bury it, etc. and regularly sprinkling it...anything to retard drying. This should help minimize if not eliminate shrinkage cracking.

I am sure Neli knows this but sharing for others who might want to try it.

 

[Neli]

Good for you Neli I have alway wanted to make pots. I fear the pots you have made would not stand up to the kinds of winters we have here in Michigan. By the way, I have made several replies to your thread about Mugo Pines on IBC and it you have not replied to them. I hope there is no problem.

Daring I did not get notifications...dont know why. I can not fail to reply to you. No problems what so ever.
They are very strong...you can throw them...does cement crack in your weather? I have no idea

 

[Neli]

These are great thanks for sharing!

Do the dry cements pots come out of the tupperware easy? or do you have to break the tupperware off?

I put Vaseline on the taper ware and it is a bit flexible, so they come out easy.

 

[Neli]

I agree with adding fiber as reinforcement.

BTW, proper curing is the secret to prevent cracks. After initial set...it is best to submerge the entire thing under water and let cure for 2-3 weeks before letting it dry...slowly. You can also cover it with plastic, wet towel, wet sand, wet newspaper, bury it, etc. and regularly sprinkling it...anything to retard drying. This should help minimize if not eliminate shrinkage cracking.

I am sure Neli knows this but sharing for others who might want to try it.

Yes thanks. I do that. I just wet them.

 

[Vance Wood]

Daring I did not get notifications...dont know why. I can not fail to reply to you. No problems what so ever.
They are very strong...you can throw them...does cement crack in your weather? I have no idea

Cement can crack but I'm not sure just exactly what cement is around here. What ever it is that they do the roads with does not hold together at all for anything more than a year. Once freeze and thaw gets at it on the roads, the roads turn into examples of a WWI no mans' land.

 

[Poink88]

D...does cement crack in your weather? I have no idea

It is amazing what freeze thaw can do. Bricks and cement turn to crumbly material in just a few years if not sealed correctly. Most rocks in nature (in colder locales) disintegrate this way more than any other form of weathering.

 

[Jester217300]

does cement crack in your weather? I have no idea

Yes.. constant freeze thaw cycles quickly damages cement in MI.

 

[Neli]

Not sure if you did this but you can add nylon fibers (purchased from a masonry supply business...maybe over the internet for you?) to the wet cement mix. This will help the cement hold together long term. Keep up the good work, Neli.

Thank You...I dont have fiber...but for my climaate they are OK...I have some pots that are over 25 years old rubbish ones and very big but they are still OK, and they are from normal gray cement
White cement is stronger.

 

[Neli]

Cement can crack but I'm not sure just exactly what cement is around here. What ever it is that they do the roads with does not hold together at all for anything more than a year. Once freeze and thaw gets at it on the roads, the roads turn into examples of a WWI no mans' land.

I believe there are some kind of cement that are stronger...I dont have that here...so maybe for the Florida people