🪨 Hypertufa How-To with Mike and Michele
Following the October General Association Meeting, Mike and Michele Tullai led an engaging and educational demonstration on creating hypertufa containers—a lightweight, durable alternative to concrete that’s perfect for garden use.
Mike began by explaining the simple recipe: equal parts Portland cement, peat moss, and vermiculite, plus a handful of synthetic fibers to add strength. The mixture produces a sturdy but porous material that mimics natural stone while remaining light enough to move easily around the garden.
Michele shared creative ideas for molds, encouraging everyone to repurpose items already at home—old pots, buckets, or any container that can shape the mix. For the demonstration, the group used a larger bucket lined with about two inches of the mixture on the bottom, inserted a smaller bucket inside, and pressed an inch of mix around the sides. To add a coastal touch, shells collected from the beach were pressed into the rim for decoration.
Once molded, the container was sealed in a garbage bag to cure for 24 hours. To finish, the cured pot is filled with water and allowed to drain completely—this step helps rinse out lime from the cement. While additional drainage holes can be drilled, the naturally porous texture of hypertufa makes it an excellent choice for well-draining planters.
Mike and Michele brought several beautiful sample pots and also pointed out containers currently on display in the Rain / Crevice Garden at the Botanical Garden. Each pot costs about $4 to make, offering an affordable, creative way to add custom planters to any landscape.
Many thanks to Mike and Michele for sharing their expertise and inspiring us to experiment with this versatile garden craft!
Mike and Michele Tullai in action
Mike mixing the hypertufa mixture
Our creation!
Hypertufa in the wild (well, the BG)