Please post your Container pictures to this link. http://cubits.org/sedumandsemp...

That way we will all be able to find them and an enjoy seeing what everyone is creating, and they won't get lost in the threads. : )

Semps growing on a rock. Hardy little guys.

Cebanese spilling out of their pot.

Pink Pearl filled this small pot and then spilled onto ground and started colonizing. Very productive plant.

Here are a few pics of some hypertufa containers I've made.

Sorry, but I didn't keep track of the names....

Another

And I made a few fairy containers too

The "pond" is a small water dish I bought at the pet store.

Goldfinch you make me so happy. It is very obvious you have a talent for planting a succulent container. The miniature fairy gardens fascinating. I love the way you used color and texture in your plantings.
Seeing your containers makes me wish Spring was here. I am going to make my first ever hypertufa pots this Spring when the weather warms up just a bit. After seeing yours, I am getting even more excited about doing them. : )

I'm so glad you like them Lynn. They're fun to do! You'll really enjoy making the hypertufa pots. They're so easy and semps and sedums do great in them. If you have any questions about the pots I'd be more than happy to answer them. I've been making them for about 4 years now.

Even in my zone 4 I leave the planted pots outside all winter. I just push them up against the house. They usually get a bunch of leaves that cover them in the Fall, then snow that insulates them from the cold.

I will definitely have questions. Thinking of one right now. How long do these pots last? How long does it take you from the time you make the pot until you can use it? I know I'll think of more later.
Is that a semp in this last bowl Chris? If not is it hardy in your area. It's beautiful.

Lynn,

Which Semp is that growing on the rock? It's the second picture from the top. I really like the colors of it!

Sorry to say Clint I don't know the name of that one. It is a small one and not a very good producer of chicks. I'll have to look around the yards and see if it is growing somewhere else that it might be producing better. I like to play around with them and see which ones will do okay growing that way. : )
I just retired and just now am having time to really pay attention to what is going on with them in the different growing conditions. I have yet to lose one growing on rocks but they don't tend to produce as well.

Hi Lynn,

I've been using my tufa pots for 4 years now and they don't show any signs of deterioration. I've heard they have a life span of about 10 years though.

There are lots of opinions about how long to cure the pots before planting in them - anywhere from a few days to 28 days. I personally cure them for 28 days in a waterbath. It "officially" takes concrete 28 days to cure well (but I guess it actually keeps curing just about forever) and I would just rather be on the safe side. But I know a lot of people only cure for a few days and seem to have good results, so I guess it's up to you. It's hard to wait 28 days - especially when you first get started!

No, that's not a semp in the last picture. I ordered a box of mixed succulent cuttings last Spring. Unfortunately none of them were named, just a box full. But they're not hardy in our zone so I just used them as annuals. That one is so pretty after it rains because rain collects right in the center. Then when the sun shines on it it looks like a diamond in the middle.

Congrats on your retirement - I'm so jealous!!! I'm sure you'll be so busy you won't know how you ever found time to work. Enjoy every minute!

I didn't think it would be hardy, but I just had to ask just in case. The soft succulents aren't hardy here either. Sure wish they were.
If I start one now it would be ready to pot up in April. What mix do you use? I've looked on the internet and found different recipes, not sure which one would work best.
I am still learning how to just relax and enjoy the yard. Sounds easy, but it's not. : ) Oh, I do enjoy the yard, it's just the slowing my pace down and learning to really look at things. Been a long time. : )

I think I can do one by keeping it in the laundry room to cure. What do you mean by a water bath Chris?

Very interesting.. I would like to learn to do hypertufa also. So much to do, so little time ;-)

When you cure tufa you can do it a couple of ways. After you unmold it, it needs to remain moist or wet to cure properly. You can stick it in a sealed plastic bag (garbage bags work great) out of direct sunlight and then mist it every day. Or just stick the piece in water. I use big Rubbermaid containers (or something similar). Then you don't have to spend the time misting it. I change the water every couple of days cuz it gets yucky (real technical term )

goldfinch4 is a good source of information on how to do it. I think I will make her recipe as a separate post to the Container Forum so people don't have to search for it.