sammys cement pot

[bodhidharma]

Actually turned out pretty good Same question as R3, Drainage holes

[Sammy D]

Yeh guys drilled holes with a large masonry bit. Seemed to do the trick. May try some pvc pipe incorperated into the cement in future for drainage but for now drill bit was easy. Total weight you dont want to know. At least it wont blow off the bench. Just the pot would have to say 7 - 10 kg

[Josh]

Total weight you dont want to know. At least it wont blow off the bench. Just the pot would have to say 7 - 10 kg

One of our committee members did a demo on papercrete pots at our last meeting. They were so light and yet very strong. Might be worth looking into.

Josh.

[fredman]

Very innovative Sammy. Would like to see some more detailed photos of the mould so I can copy some... especially from the top lip.

[Sammy D]

Ok can do tonight. Very simple just two bits of wood nailed and glued at different levels to form the lip

[fredman]

Ha the more I think about it the more im embarrassed by the silly question. Comon Freddie you can do it.....

Seriously though... Im at the stage where im going to need a lot of pots and at the prices they go for, the wife will kill me. Concrete temp pots are the answer. There will come a time that the tree will deserve a more expensive pot, but not right now.

[Sammy D]

Yeh fredman that was my thought. As my trees are only starters I will wait till the deserve a good pot before I buy one for them. cement pots is certainly a cheaper way to go about it. I will also make some different moulds in the future to try out

[Sammy D]

more pics of the mould fredman

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[fredman]

Thanks Sammy. So simple yet so innovative. Good onya mate. Now you can start experimenting with adding oxide to get different colours.
Thanks for doing the effort mate. Much appretiated.

[RevoEvoS]

Really cool and I want to create a slab for group plant..where did you purchase the material from, Bunning, Mitre 10 or H&G?

[Sammy D]

Got the sand and gravel from local landscape supplies and cement from bunnings. 20kg of sand at bunnings is 7.50 where as I got 70kg of sand from landscape supplies and it cost 1 dollar. Def the way to go for sand and gravel

[Sammy D]

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[pebble]

you could also use chicken mesh to strengthen up the sand cement mix

[Sammy D]

Have some more info on the pots. So far have put about 5 plants into these pots for at least a few months. Interestingly the pot that was pure sand and cement has now got hair line cracks around the place (the red painted pot with the twin trunk ash tree). The others with 1 third small gravel are fine. No sign of cracks at all. I know its not a true bonsai pot but with a single income family it will do for now will get better pots when my sticks become werthy of a decent pot anyway if you make some of these pots i recommend the use of gravel as well as sand and cement. The finished product you cant see the gravel anyhow. Just a bit heavier. May people that try have fun. I sure have and so has my daughter helping me. I will continue to make more this summer for next repot time