One thing that I am not short on are hobbies. I like learning new things and I like to share those new things with friends and family. Having so many hobbies available to me does not allow me to get bored very often. Sure, there are times when I don’t know what I want to do at that moment, but that can be a good thing because maybe I just need time to do nothing.
Making concrete pots has recently been added to my list of hobbies. If I recall, I came across either a YouTube video or an Instagram feed of someone making small concrete pots. It could have even been someone with a collection of cacti and they had some pretty cool looking pots for them. I don’t recall which was first, but either way, it got my wheels turning and I figured that I should give it a try so that I have some cool pots for my cacti collection that are something other than Terra Cotta pots.
In this article, I am sharing with you why I enjoy making these concrete pots and maybe it will help inspire you to do something similar.
Why Concrete Pots?
Buying nice pots for plants can become pricey and for me that sometimes takes away the enjoyment of collecting plants, and in my case that would be cacti and succulents. Terra Cotta pots are probably some of the most affordable pots you can get that are not plastic, but the style of them is kind of boring to me, especially in large numbers.
Using concrete pots that I make for my cacti and succulents adds a special touch to the collection by breaking up the uniformity of the Terra Cotta pots by adding more color and texture to the display.
The Creative Process
When I make concrete pots, the styles can be of any shape and size that I can dream up. The colors can be changed with dyes, paints, or stains. They can be left the natural concrete grey color or you can use white Portland Cement (which I have not tried yet).
Concrete pots can be made using various forms, such as sand, plastic pots or other containers, wood forms, Styrofoam, wire, and so on. If you can pour concrete in or around it and you can remove the form (if it needs to be removed) when the concrete cures, it can be used.
I have so far used sand molds by either free forming them by hand or by using plastic containers, such as those from butter or cottage cheese. Some plastic containers have been used to make the sand mold like you would with a sandcastle, while other times I have poured the concrete directly over the plastic container. Both methods have provided good results, but both definitely have their pros and cons.
Joy has told me a couple times that when I am out making the concrete pots, it is the one time that she sees me fulling focused and not thinking about other things like my daily work life. I get into the zone when I am involved with this creative process and think of nothing but where I am going to put that next glob of cement.
I personally enjoy free handing the designs. When you make things like this, the styles you make become their own unique piece because no two are exactly alike.
The painting process I use for most of my pots is also enjoyable to me, which is kind of interesting because I usually don’t like painting things. Some of the pots I colored with wood stain, and they are holding up well so far.
Benefits of Concrete Pots
Concrete pots are great, especially for plants that prefer more alkalinity because the concrete contains lime, which can add more alkalinity to the soil.
They are heavy, tend to be durable, and can provide stability reducing the chances of them tipping over if designed properly.
Concrete is naturally porous, which helps with drainage if they are not sealed. Each of my pots also include a drain hole. This in turn helps reduce waterlogging and root rot.
Because the pots tend to be thicker than plastic pots and usually more so than Terra Cotta, the natural insulation properties of concrete helps reduce temperature fluctuations. This would be more noticeable on larger pots.
Just know that concrete pots are not for all plants, such as those that don’t like more alkalinity. I honestly do not know how much, if at all, this really matters in most cases, but it is a concern some people have.
Another benefit of concrete pots is that they are not plastic. Plastic pots don’t last forever, just like most things, and they usually end up in the landfill at some point causing more plastic waste.
Inspiration and Ideas
I first found interest in making concrete pots when I came across someone on social media, possibly on Instagram or YouTube, who was making concrete pots for their succulents. I thought they looked great and figured I should give it a try myself.
The designs I make are ones I came up with based on seeing what others do and don’t do so that they are unique from what others make.
Looking through various social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest, or even selling platforms like Etsy, you can get ideas on what other people make. I don’t like making things exactly like what other people are making, so I had to come up with a different style of my own and you can do the same.
Concrete can be a beautiful material by itself when left unfinished. But it can also be dressed up more by applying stains, dyes, or paints to change its color. You can also add different textures and designs. Ultimately, concrete can be formed into just about anything you wish if you have the proper tools, forms, and supports for the concrete.
Challenges and Rewards
When making concrete pots, you will experience various challenges as not everything goes as planned, but this can be the same for any project.
Sometimes the concrete won’t stay where you want it. Maybe cracks will appear on the finished pot. Ideas you had visualized came out different than you originally planned. Or you can’t remove the plastic mold from the concrete. There are a number of things that can make it a challenge for you, but don’t give up.
Despite the challenges you may face, you get to learn from them by figuring out what works for you.
In the end, you may have a pretty awesome pot you can display.
Future Plans
Because I really enjoy making these pots and the way they look, I plan to continue making them. I am sure I will explore other styles, colors, different concrete mixes, and forming methods.
There is a chance that you may soon find them on our online shop. If they don’t end up in our online shop, then we may sell them in person. This will depend on various factors we are considering.
Conclusion
Making concrete pots has been a fun hobby for me this year. I have learned quite a bit working with various concrete mixes and learning how to paint with the style I have been using on most of these pots.
Give this concrete pot making a try and find other people online that do the same to see how they go about making their pots. Everyone seems to have a preferred method for themselves, and you will find one for yourself.
Rick Simper has various hobbies, including woodworking, metalworking, composting, and gardening. He is an Architect full time and uses these hobbies to get away from the busy week of Architecture.
