Making a homemade DIY concrete planter is fun and easy though takes time. If you’re feeling determined, set aside a weekend and use this multi-step guide to get you on your way to accomplishing a custom planter.
Why Concrete Planters
Concrete planters are eco-friendly, heavy-duty, and long-term durable. Unlike other planter materials, they work indoors and outdoors. Concrete and cement are also easy to customize, assuming you’re working from scratch.
Step 1 – Create A Mold
Decide on the size and shape for your concrete planter. A mold can be made from wood or plastic cut into the exact shape you want. Ensure it’s sturdy. Some plastic planters crack in the unmolding process.
Step 2 – Inspect the Mold
A mold should be entirely smooth. Otherwise, bumps, patterns, and/or other imperfections will remain visible once the concrete is fully dry. Ensure it is airtight as well so that there is no leaking once the concrete’s poured in.
Step 3 – Create An Interior Form
Make a spacer for when you want to put the plant. Completely cover the sides and bottom of the interior spacer with packing tape which should be smooth.
Step 4 – Mix the Concrete
You can buy cheap, widely used concrete at any hardware store for your planter. It typically comes in a bag. Add water and then mix. You will likely need to add less water than you think so do look at the instructions and remember to go slow. You want it to have the consistency of a bowl of oatmeal.
Step 5 – Pour the Concrete
Pour the concrete around the interior form. Agitate the concrete as it’s being poured. This will remove all air bubbles. Tap the sides of the mold if you can to ensure any remaining air bubbles get popped as well. Once full, you may add rocks, marbles, screws, or similar materials to the interior form to prevent it from shifting or floating as everything dries.
Step 6 – Let the Concrete Dry
Concrete takes 3-5 days to fully dry. Check up on it once a day and make sure the concrete planter mold hasn’t broken.
Step 7 – Remove the Mold
Pour the screws or rocks from the interior mold. Pull the mold apart. The process should be quick. Sometimes a mold may need to be cut away piece by piece though. Plastic comes apart relatively easily. Wooden molds may need to be unscrewed.
Step 8 – Behold Your Work
Look at that beautiful DIY concrete planter! Wherever you intend to use it, your planter’s ready. Most of the time – despite all the time and effort – it’s cheaper than buying a planter from corporate retailers.
If you aren’t totally sold on the idea of a custom concrete planter, don’t have the time for it, or simply want to cut to the finish line without investing any more of your time, visit ArtiPlanto. See premium concrete planters, cement planters, brass planters, natural planters, and more. Eco-friendly planters like these produce minimal waste and give you the chance to craft a garden perfect, pretty, and personal.
