Okay, so today I’m gonna share my little adventure with making a “tradition flowerpot.” I’m no pro, just a regular dude who likes to get his hands dirty.
It all started last weekend. I was chilling in my backyard, staring at my sad-looking plants, and thought, “Man, they need some better homes!” The plastic pots from the store were just not cutting it. I wanted something with a bit more character, something…traditional.
First thing I did was hit up my local hardware store. I grabbed a bag of concrete mix, some sand, and a few basic tools: a trowel, a bucket for mixing, and some rubber gloves ’cause I ain’t trying to burn my skin off with concrete. Oh, and I almost forgot – cooking oil! Sounds weird, but trust me.
Now, for the mold. I didn’t want to spend a ton of cash, so I got creative. I found two plastic containers, one slightly smaller than the other. The bigger one would be the outer mold, and the smaller one would create the hollow space inside the pot.
I started by coating the inside of the larger container and the outside of the smaller container with that cooking oil. This is super important, otherwise the concrete will stick like crazy and you’ll be fighting a losing battle to get it out later. Seriously, don’t skip this step!
Next up, the messy part: mixing the concrete. I followed the instructions on the bag, adding water slowly until I got a thick, but pourable consistency. Think oatmeal, but grittier. I made sure to mix it really well, breaking up any clumps. Nobody wants a lumpy flowerpot!
I poured a layer of concrete into the bottom of the larger container, about an inch or two thick. Then, I carefully placed the smaller, oiled container inside, centering it as best as I could. I then started pouring concrete into the space between the two containers, making sure to fill it evenly all the way around.
Here’s where it got a bit tricky. The smaller container wanted to float up! To keep it down, I put a few heavy rocks inside. Worked like a charm.
Once the concrete was filled to the top, I smoothed out the surface with my trowel and let it sit. And sit. And sit. The instructions said 24-48 hours, but I waited a full 48 just to be safe. Patience is key, people!
The moment of truth! After two days, I pried the smaller container out. It took some wiggling and a bit of elbow grease, but it eventually popped out, leaving a perfect hollow space. Then, I carefully flipped the larger container over and tapped it gently. The concrete pot slid out pretty easily thanks to the oil.
At first, the pot looked kinda rough, but that’s part of the charm, right? I used a bit of sandpaper to smooth out any sharp edges and then let it cure for another few days before planting anything in it.
The Result?
- A pretty darn good-looking, handmade flowerpot!
- It’s definitely heavier and sturdier than the plastic ones.
- It’s got that cool, rustic look I was going for.
What I learned:
- Don’t skimp on the cooking oil!
- Mix the concrete thoroughly.
- Be patient! Let it cure properly.
Overall, it was a fun little project. It wasn’t perfect, but I’m proud of what I made. Plus, now my plants have a sweet new home. Maybe I’ll make a few more this weekend! I’m already thinking about adding some decorative details to the next one. Stay tuned!
