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Three colorful planters made of concrete. A DIY project with painted pots.
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4.60 from 5 votes

DIY Concrete Plant Pots

The Cheapest and easiest way to make large concrete planters! You can also make all kinds of sizes and styles with colorful painted concrete.
Prep Time20 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Cure Time6 days
Total Time6 days 35 minutes
Yield: 1 large pot
Author: Rachel
Cost: $50

Equipment

  • 2 Containers to Use as Molds- 1 for the outer and 1 for the inner mold. 
  • Shovel
  • Container to Mix Concrete In
  • Paint Brushes
  • Something to vibrate the mold (We use a disc sander)

Materials

Instructions

  • Mix the concrete. In a 5 gallon bucket or pan, mix the concrete with water until the consistency of a thick oatmeal. The more water you add, the smoother the consistency, but your project will also take longer to dry.
    Concrete poured into a container and in the process of mixing with water.
  • Prep the Molds. Wipe the inner and outer molds with motor oil or release spray. Make sure to get crevices or corners well. Place the molds on a level surface.
    Top down view of plant pot inside with oil smeared on it for a mold.
  • Fill the mold. Fill the bottom of the outer planter to the depth of the bottom of the inner mold. Place your mold inside and fill around the sides evenly with concrete mix. As you work up, bang or vibrate the container to get rid of bubbles. Use a board or heavy item to keep the inner mold in place while drying.
    Two planters filled with concrete mix to create cement plant pots. The inner mold is held down with boards and clamps.
  • Remove the Mold. Once the concrete is set up - i.e. very hard but not dry, you can release from the mold. The longer you wait to dry, the harder it will be to release, but not too early because edges may stick to the mold or become brittle. For the largest pots, we waited about 12 hours additionally after releasing the inner mold. Allow to fully cure and dry, which may take up to a week.
    Concrete plant pot waiting to fully dry.
  • Seal and decorate. Concrete is very porous but sealing is not required for planters. Use an outdoor paint meant for stucco or cement for the best bond and protection.
    Large planter for $18 made from concrete. Here's the tutorial for making large planters to refresh your curb appeal.

Video

Notes

What to use for forms?
You can pretty much use anything to make concrete molds. The only constraint is that it needs to be somewhat flexible (i.e. smooth plastic) or breakable. I have used plastic planters, old glass jars, build square wood forms, etc. You can even create a cavity in fine sand to make a mold, although it will need some sanding to finish.