Crafting Concrete Planters

I started DIYing concrete planters because I had seen other people making them on Instagram and Tik Tok. I loved how simple the project was ,but also how endlessly creative you could be. I’m calling these concrete planters, but I have used them as candle vessels and containers to organize my desk. Once you get the technique down you can buy different silicone molds that you can create different shape and size vessels for different uses.

Materials and Tools

This post contains some affiliate links, all opinions are my own and are what I actually use when I DIY

• Cement all or Rockite Cement
• Silicone molds
• Acrylic paint (optional)
• Sealer (optional)
• Silicone bowl / Container for mixing like an old plastic yogurt tub

Preparing Your Work Area

You will definitely want to cover the area that you are working on. I suggest cutting up paper bags from the grocery store or old newspaper. Taping them down with masking or painters tape. I tape everything ,because working with concrete can get messy. It’s nice not having your work area shifting all around.

Choosing A Mold

For your mold you can choose to make one or buy one. The only instance I would choose to make a mold is if there isn’t something already available to purchase that you want. I personally have never made a mold. I feel like the options I have found for sale are what I want to make. If you want something odd shaped or different sizes ,there are definitely tutorials on the internet on how to make silicone molds.

I have purchased a few molds off of Amazon and been super happy with them. One is a 3 inch pot that came with a piece that I have used interchangeably as a drip tray and coaster mold. Another one I purchased is a larger 6 inch pot which I like a lot. Take a look around Amazon there are so many affordable options.

Mixing and Pouring Concrete

Now that your area is prepped and supplies procured, it’s time to get messy! Okay actually it’s not too messy. One thing to note is that the concrete powder is very fine. This could irritate your lungs if you start doing this a lot or if you just have sensitive lungs. It could be a good idea to dig out an old COVID mask to wear while working with the dry concrete.

One thing you want to be careful about is your concrete to water ratio. I’m sure that there is direction on the back of the package that I read once upon a time. Now I just eyeball it and it always works out for me. So if you are a rule follower read your package and follow the directions. If you like to live life on the edge here’s how I do it. Remember that you want more concrete powder than water. If you use too much water there is a chance your pot will crack into pieces when you take it out of the mold.

I slowly add water until the mix is about the consistency of brownie batter. You want it to be pourable but definitely NOT runny.

Once you have your concrete mixed, pour it into your mold. I like to slowly add my concrete mixture, stopping sometimes to tap the sides of the mold to help the concrete fill in and to help eliminate air bubbles. Once the mixture is all poured in I’ll continue to tap the mold for about a minute. This helps to eliminate air bubbles.

Air Bubbles

We just talked about how to eliminate air bubbles. Sometimes, I don’t try to avoid air bubbles. When you do have a pocket of air it can create a hole in the side of the pot. Sometimes I like this as a design element. This is where making concrete planters gets fun. There is a lot of experimenting to be done. This is just one of the ways you can add character to your concrete planters.

Adding Color to Concrete

Another way to add interest to your planter is by adding color. The most effective way I have found to do this is by using acrylic paint. There are definitely other ways like liquid or powder pigment. I have found acrylic paint to be the easiest, most readily available, affordable, and have the most colors available.

I have also used left over house paint testers that I got when picking paint for various house painting projects. It is a great way to use those paints up and added bonus they match your house.

To add color to your concrete add the paint after you have mixed up your concrete mixture. The paint can change the consistency of your mixture. Adjust by adding more water or concrete mix if needed. The color of your concrete mix, versus the dried concrete pot can vary. For example, using black paint the concrete mixture looks super black. Once it is dried and out of the the mold the color usually isn’t as dark. This part is fun, it’s just a lot of experimentation and trial and error.

One thing that I really like to do is make multi color pots and experiment with pouring different colors. You never know what you are going to get, but it almost always is beautiful.

Adding Stencils to Your Concrete Planters

Another fun design element you can add to your vessel is a stencil. I like to keep it pretty simple shapes because the concrete isn’t a good medium for fine detail.

To make your stencil either print out or draw out the shape you want to stencil. Then cut that out with a craft knife . Position your stencil onto the planter where you want it to be and secure it down with some masking tape or painters tape . Once you have the stencil secured nice and flush to the surface use a spoon to smear some concrete mixture over the stencil. My stencil wasn’t flush with the concrete so I used a little bit of glue stick to get everything to lay flat. It’s okay to be pretty messy with this. After about and hour it’s safe to peel away the paper stencil.

You don’t even have to use a paper stencil. Another way to add texture to your concrete planter is by just using the masking tape or painters tape to mask off different parts of the planter.

Curing/Drying Concrete Planter

The back of the package of cement all says that it “reaches structural strength in an hour”. I usually leave mine in the mold for about four hours. Sometime I just leave overnight if I’m not it a rush. I’ve have had a few that I’ve pulled after four hours and they’ve crumbled. Usually I just error on the side of caution when it comes to dry time. However, on these occasions I probably had a too watery cement mix to start out with. This is probably what caused those planters to break.

Removing Concrete Pot From Mold

Removing concrete planters from the mold can take some work. Some molds are easier than others. My only tip is to go slow and to unmold when you have patience. Good Luck!

Sealing

Sealing your concrete planter is optional. I have planters that I have sealed and some that I have not. I haven’t seen really a huge difference in either option. Since I use the vessels as planters and candle holders I typically will seal them out of caution to make sure that the candle wax or water doesn’t damage the cement.

I use the Eco Advance Concrete Sealer I saw someone on YouTube using it, so I decided to give it a try. I bought a gallon. Since I only make these concrete planters for myself and for gifts it will take me probably forever to go through it all. Follow the directions on the bottle. The gist is; brush on the product, let it visibly dry. Brush it on again within 30 minutes of the first application. Then let it dry again. Easy Peasy.

Drilling a Drainage Hole

If you are using this pot for plants or flowers you may want to add a drainage hole. This is super easy. All you need is a drill and a masonry bit. If you don’t have a drill, I highly suggest getting one. I use mine all the time, you can read about all about my obsession with power tools and especially my drill here . A masonry bit is specifically designed to drill through cement. You can get one for about a dollar. You can also get a set with varying sizes, which would be nice for various drainage hole sizes.

Cleaning Up

A few quick tips about cleaning up. NEVER wash your cement down a drain. This is a sure fire way to get clogged beyond repair plumbing. I usually will mix my cement in a plastic container/spoon I’ve saved from take out food and just throw it away when I am done. I also have a silicone bowl and spoon that I will sometimes use. With these I will just wipe out all the excess cement mixture with a paper towel. Then I will take them outside to rinse off with a hose outside my house in the backyard.

Using Concrete Vessel To Make A Candle

Beyond using these vessels as planters, I have started to use them for candles. I have yet to get into candle making, but stay tuned I’m sure I’ll get there eventually. I have however found a great hack. One of my favorite candle scents is made by Mrs Meyers called snowdrop. The glass jar it comes in however is super boring.

To use my concrete containers, I just bought some wood wicks and stuck them in the bottom of the jar. Originally I made a double boiler on my stove to melt the candle wax. Then I realized that glass could go in the microwave and I just microwaved the Mrs. Meyers candles until they were completely melted. Always stand right by the microwave to supervise. It should only take about a minute or two to melt all the wax. Remember to use some sort of hand protection when you grab it out of the microwave ,the glass does get pretty hot. Then just pour it into the concrete container. For the 3 inch pot I linked above it takes about one and a half candles to fill a container. For that reason I’ll usually buy three candles so I can make two new candles with no left overs. Once the wax if fully dry cut the wick down to about 1/4 inch. Viola!

It’s a really simple way to make a customized ,but really beautiful gift. Bonus the concrete vessel can then be used as a container, planter, or refilled again with more candle wax.

Conclusion

As you probably can tell the possibilities of creating cement pots are endless. There is so much experimenting that can be done. We didn’t even cover creating terrazzo pots, but that is a DIY for another day.