How to Cure Hypertufa

Hypertufa planters resemble stone, but they are made of a combination of cement, peat moss, and sand or vermiculite. Making your own planters gives you control over the size, shape and design of the container while providing a low-cost method of building your own large decorative pots. The hypertufa mixture must cure for several weeks before you can plant in it. Cement requires moisture to harden, so proper curing is vital if you want a strong and durable planter.


Cover the finished hypertufa pot with a plastic trash bag. The bag protects the pot during curing and helps retain moisture, which hypertufa requires to cure and harden correctly.


Cure the pot in a location with temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plastic one to three times daily and spray the surface of the pot lightly with water. Replace the bag after each spray. Cure the pot until it becomes hard, which can take up to two weeks at temperatures near 50 degrees F or as little as one week in warmer weather.


Remove the plastic bag from the hypertufa after the initial one- to two-week curing process. Lift the container out of the mold. Sand off any rough spots on the container with a wire brush. Handle the container gently at this point, because although it has hardened, it can still easily break.


Set the empty pot outdoors and allow it to cure for an additional two weeks so it can finish hardening. Moisture isn't necessary during the final curing process.


Spray the hypertufa with water daily for five to 10 days after the final curing, or set it in a location where it is soaked during daily rainfall. The water leaches out any alkalinity in the hypertufa mixture.

Things You Will Need

  • Plastic bag
  • Garden hose with sprayer
  • Wire brush


  • Combine ¼ cup vinegar with 1 gallon water. Double or triple the mixture for large containers. Fill the container with solution or submerge smaller containers in the solution. Soak the containers in the vinegar solution for 30 minutes before planting. The vinegar neutralizes any remaining alkalinity in the hypertufa so it doesn't affect plant health.

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