Concrete planters usually cost more than the plant, which is why casting one in a laundry basket is such a good trick. The basket is the mold, the ribs in its sides do all the design work, and what comes out looks like something from a garden shop instead of the laundry room. People keep putting me on decor committees because they have learned I will go overboard and never stop, and this is exactly the kind of project that gets me into that trouble. Concrete gives you one shot at the pour, so read the whole thing through first, and then plan on making more than one. Everything after that is paint and bragging. This one is from Shantanu Singh on YouTube.
You make a concrete planter in a laundry basket by oiling the inside of the basket like a cake pan, wrapping the outside in packing tape so nothing seeps out, then pouring in concrete and smoothing the edges. Let it sit at least twenty four hours before you release it from the mold. After that it is ready for paint, and the shape follows whatever basket you used.
Materials:
- Concrete
- Oil of your choice (cooking oil works well for this project)
- A laundry basket
- Packing tape
- Paint
Directions:
In the video, you will learn how to prep your planter for receiving the cement by oiling it and taping the outside so the cement is contained and no seeping through the sides occurs.
Then you will pour the cement into the laundry basket and carefully smooth the edges. Then after 24 hours, you will release the cement from the mold and decorate.
This planter looks amazing when you finish it and the shape will differ depending on what kind of laundry basket you use.
Make A Cement Pot Using A Laundry Basket For A Mold
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a cement planter take to cure?
Give it at least twenty four hours before you try to get it out of the mold. Concrete keeps hardening well past that point, so there is no rush and no reward for peeking early. The video walks through the release, which is the moment the project stops looking like a science experiment and starts looking like a planter.
How do you get the laundry basket off without cracking the pot?
The release is decided before the pour. You oil the inside of the basket the same way you would grease a cake pan, and you cover the entire outside with packing tape so the concrete stays contained and does not seep through the sides. Wait the full twenty four hours, then work the mold away from the set concrete.
What cement mix works best for a planter?
The materials list here is short: concrete, an oil of your choice (cooking oil works well), a laundry basket, packing tape and paint. No specialty mix is called for. Mix it so it actually pours, because it has to travel down into the ribs of the basket and still smooth out cleanly at the rim.
