FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT  HYPERTUFA TROUGHS CLICK ON THE "PLANT IDEAS" BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE AND THEN CLICK ON THE  "TROUGH GARDENS" BUTTON

CEMENT LEAF MOLD STARTS WITH PREMIXED CEMENT.

NEXT MOUND SAND TO MAKE FORM

ADD YOUR LEAF  WITH BOTTOM OF LEAF FACING UP..THEN START TO COVER WITH CEMENT..

ADD CEMENT AND SHAPE TO CREATE FORM OF LEAF..

AS IT DRIES SHAPE WITH A KNIFE..

CEMENT COVERS YOUR LEAF ADDING FORM LEAVING THE STEM OF THE LEAF EXPOSED FOR DRAINAGE...

REMOVE LEAF FROM CEMENT

FINISHED CEMENT LEAF MOLD..REMOVE LEAF AND PAINT..

APPLY WATERED DOWN PAINT TO LEAF AND WIPE OFF PAINT TO HIGHLIGHT DETAILS IN THE LEAF.

HYPERTUFA TROUGHS START WITH EQUAL AMOUNTS OF PORTLAND CEMENT NUMBER 4 ADD PEAT MOSS AND PERLITE OR VERMICULITE..ADD FIBERGLASS FIBERS FOR STRENGTH..ADD WATER SLOWLY TO YOUR MIXTURE..MIXTURE SHOULD BE VERY DRY...WHEN YOU SQUEEZE A SMALL AMOUNT IN YOUR HAND ONLY ONE DROP OF WATER SHOULD COME OUT AND IT IS READY TO GO..YOU CAN ADD VARIOUS CEMENT COLOR  POWDERS AT THIS POINT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE  DIFFERENT COLORED TROUGHS..

WHEN YOUR MIXTURE IS DONE YOU NEED A FORM..DIG A HOLE IN THE GROUND LINE THE WALLS OF THE HOLE WITH BUBBLE WRAP AND THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE WITH PLASTIC OR A GARBAGE BAG SO YOUR MIXTURE DOES NOT STICK TO THE GROUND.. START APPLYING YOUR MIXTURE MAKING YOUR BASE AND THEN TO THE BUBBLE WRAP TO BUILD  UP THE WALLS MAYBE 2 INCHES THICK ...ANYTHING IS A FORM..ALLOW TO DRY FROM 1 TO 2 WEEKS DEPENDING ON SIZE...

THE ROUND HYPERTUFA WAS MADE USING A PLANT CONTAINER...MOUND YOUR MIXTURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CONTAINER..NOTICE THE INDENTATIONS OF THE CONTAINER ON THE SIDES OF THE POT PICTURED...