15 Stylish Flower Pots Made from Regular Cement

Concrete is a strong, durable material. It can be easily molded into any desired shape. This is a popular choice for those who enjoy creating home decor items with their own hands. Flower pots made at home from cement have recently become especially popular.

General principles for creating pots and planters from concrete

Concrete is mixed in the following proportions: 2:4:8:1 – cement powder, sand, aggregate, and water, respectively. If you plan to use a large pot for outdoor arrangements, coarse crushed stone is suitable as filler. For indoor decor, it is recommended to use fine crushed stone, otherwise it will be impossible to sand the surface properly later.

The principle of making all pots is as follows:

1. Select a mold to pour the concrete into. For small containers, even juice boxes or thick cardboard are suitable. For medium-sized pots, plastic is usually used: neckless canisters, food cups, or simply plastic containers. However, for very large pots (meaning containers taller than 50 cm), you'll need to build a base out of plywood or boards.
2. In addition to the outer walls, you'll need a container to create the space for planting. This means inserting a smaller container into the main container. Plastic cups or inexpensive store-bought pots are almost always used for this purpose.
3. After pouring the concrete into the mold, wait 4 hours. After this, the mold is torn apart or cut and removed, but the pot itself should not be touched yet. It needs to sit for at least 3 days: during this time, it will gain 30% of its strength. It will reach full strength after 28 days, and only then can the plant be planted. If this condition is neglected, the concrete planter will simply crumble.
4. Concrete is porous, and filler often oozes out of the walls after the mold is removed. To ensure the pot looks attractive, you first need to correct its shape with a file and then sand it smooth. But even that's not enough. The only way to get rid of the pores is to use a grout, which is made from the same cement mortar or primer. This is also sanded, but with fine-grain sandpaper or a special paste.

There are a few other things to consider. The concrete piece should be kept in a damp room for the first 4-5 days. Otherwise, it will crack. If leaving it in the bathroom is not possible, mist the surface with a spray bottle 1-5 times a day.

Concrete mix proportions may vary. Before mixing, check the recommended proportions – information is provided on the packaging.

Canister pot

The easiest way to pour the concrete mixture is into a plastic mold. Take a standard 5-liter container and cut off the top to the point where the walls stop expanding. Insert a plastic cup inside. You can use a canister as a basis 9 liters and insert a 5 liter container into it. This will create a ribbed pot. It's perfect for planting succulents and can be safely kept outdoors.

Small pots for cacti

Beginners find it difficult to start with large structures. Some may even struggle to pour the mortar into the container.

Then you can use the following instructions:

1. Buy a few inexpensive glass tumblers. You can find these at IKEA, for example, the "Darroka" ones for 29 rubles each.
2. Mix the cement mortar in a plastic container. It should fit a glass comfortably, upside down. No filler or sand is needed. You'll only need cement powder and water.
3. Paint the glass white. It's recommended to buy a spray can; the paint adheres better to the glass when sprayed. You can also choose a different paint, but the main thing is that the glass is no longer transparent.
4. After the paint has dried, dip the glass into the freshly mixed cement mortar. Let the piece dry overnight.

You can add colorant to the cement to achieve a specific color. Natural shades are recommended.

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Container for climbing plants

This container can also be used as a vase. The manufacturing process is standard: once the concrete begins to set, press a copper wire frame into it. Copper bends easily, so you can shape it even without wire cutters.

Set of flowerpots

You can create several concrete pots at once and combine them into a beautiful composition. An example is shown in the photo. Simply make several molds so the pots can fit together to form a single object, like a puzzle.

Square pots with gilding

Concrete pots are typically left unpainted for a more authentic look. But why not play with their appearance? With a simple paint job, bland gray concrete can be transformed into a statement piece not only for minimalist interiors, but also for spaces in Empire, ethnic, and other styles.

The manufacturing process is similar to that described above. Square pots are best for painting, as they are easy to use with stencils. Once the cube pot is ready, you need to:

1. Wait at least 4 hours for the concrete to set. Remove from the mold.
2. Paint with white paint. If you choose a paint with fine sand added, it will help hide minor surface imperfections. This will eliminate the need for thorough sanding, but it's still recommended to file the corners before applying the paint.
3. Once the first coat of paint has dried, apply a second coat if necessary. This may be necessary if the paint is translucent and the gray base shows through.
4. Wait for the paint to dry. Drying speed and the time required for applying a second coat are indicated on the packaging. Typically, it's 12 hours.
5. Cut a stencil out of cardboard. You can follow the pattern in the photo or use your own sketch. Using gold or bronze metallic paint, apply the pattern through the stencil.

This pot will delight the eye for a long time and is suitable not only for formal masculine interiors, but also for elegant feminine bedrooms.

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Flowerpot for a wooden bucket

It's easy to figure out how to make a planter like this: simply use an old wooden bucket as a mold. You can also knock something like it together yourself. After the concrete has set, it needs to be decorated. The wood grain won't appear right away; it needs to be created with a chisel. The overlay, imitating a metal ring, will also need to be applied separately. Finally, holes are made in the concrete for the rope.

Carrying 10- and 20-kilogram pots is a bit heavy. To make the structure lighter, use foam as a secondary filler. This advice applies to any structure.

Hanging planter

If space is limited, you can hang the pots. To make this, you'll need triangular metal plates. Apply a 3-5 mm layer of unfilled cement mortar to them. After making three such plates, join them together into a single structure, sealing the joints with cement mortar. Before the mortar has completely set, make a hole in each plane. A rope will be threaded through these holes.

A simple option using improvised means

Don't have MDF panels for a large pot, a drill, or other tools and supplies? You can literally make your own succulent pots from the simplest of items. You'll need a juice box and a toilet paper roll. The former will serve as the outer mold, the latter as the inner mold.

hemisphere

To make it you will need a spherical plastic mold, as shown in the photo:

The plastic ball can be found in vending machines, where children's toys are packaged.

Paper towel roll vase

This vase, which can also be used as a tall, narrow pot, can be made from a simple cardboard tube, the kind you always find after using paper towels. You just need to find a flat surface to serve as the base for the mold.

Round base

To create this container, you'll need round sponges. Make a small indentation in them, which will later be used for planting. Then, dip the sponge in cement mortar. The resulting pot is very lightweight, and even a child can make it. Since the planting hole is small, only a succulent can fit in.

Pot from a bag

To make this beautiful container, perfect for garden landscapes, simply use a thick canvas bag. A bucket can be placed inside.

Ball on a stand

To create the concrete ball itself, you can follow the instructions provided above. However, the appearance is greatly altered by the stand. To make it, you'll need paint-coated metal wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nza3Qj890iY

Cubic outdoor planter

To make this container, you need to make a mold out of wood, including the cross beams. These will remain and serve as a stand, but the wooden boards will need to be removed.