Photography by Dalilah Arja.
File this one under trial and error: I started the project with high hopes of making a 2-gallon cement planter that I could stock with a variety of succulents.
The materials for this project set me back $30. Sourcing molds is the easiest part; you can use old food packaging, bottles, or cans.
Step 1: Mix the concrete according to the instructions on the package. Be sure to wear a dust mask, as particles go flying when the dry mix is dumped into a bucket.
Materials
Step 2: To start setting the molds, shovel a generous amount of mix into a container. With a little elbow grease, shimmy a smaller container into the concrete, leaving at least a half-inch of mix in place beneath the smaller container to form a base.
Step 3: Leave the molds to dry in a sunny spot for form 24 to 48 hours; the longer the better. After the planters have set, use a utility knife to cut and remove them from the molds.
Step 5: Add potting soil to the containers–and plants of your choice.
Originally, I purchased sand paper to soften the edges, but I decided I like their imperfect roughness.
Mini concrete planters next to a pot of kitty grass.