Make Your Own Planter Easily From Molds

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For myself, its always been difficult for me to find any planters I liked. Something was always wrong with them. The wrong color, wrong size, or I just plain didn’t like it. But now things have changed. By having my own molds, I can make my own planters over and over again. And the best part, Each one you make creates its own personality. No two are ever EXACTLY alike. With a little help, you can make your own planter too!

Not Interested? Go Find Your Right Sized Planter Here!

I never thought about making my own up until recently. I was inspired by this ‘LoveBot a Cement Planter’ on Instructables.com. Since then I have ordered a few molds of my own and am starting to make a few myself.

Let’s get started…

Find or Make a Mold

Buy Your Own Planter Mold

There are many molds available on the market to fit your needs. Find something fun and playful and different from everything else out there.

Here is My Favorite Planter Mold on Amazon.com

Make Your Own Planter Mold

There are plenty of tutorials, so I will not go into this myself today. Honestly, you don’t even need to purchase one. Any plastic cup or container in your house will work. Find 2 shapes that might work well together and experiment. By placing one inside the other, you can create a one-of-a-kind design.

Insert Pic of Idea

At some point, I might start making copies of my planters that I already have. A 3D printer might also be in my future, so 3D printing molds could also be an option.

Start With the Prep Work

Start this project like any other project you might do. I tend to be organized and possibly a little bit of OCD, but let’s focus and not let my ADD take over!

Find a nice large table that you can set up and leave along while you’re doing all of this. Layout your drop cloth or some newspapers to protect your work surface. Tape them down if necessary. Grab all of your supplies and place them around the table where they make you happy. Pay close attention to the mold you have made or purchased yourself as my steps may not work for what you have.

Apply the Mold Release Agent

We want these planter molds to last as long as possible. Using a mold release agent will help with this. You can use most any type of grease and you probably already have one in your house. I have seen cooking oil, petroleum jelly, or many kinds of specific release agents you can find online or in a local store. Some release agents need to be reapplied between uses while others can last over multiple uses. Experiment with different ones using different molds and see which ones work the best for you.

Use a Semi-Permanent Mold Release Agent (Amazon.com)

Using your disposable paintbrush, brush on a light layer of your mold release agent to the inside of your mold. Make sure to get every nook and cranny while keeping a smooth layer as any imperfections that you make will be magnified on the end result. Be careful not to get any release agent on the outside of your mold. Anything your agent touches will cause everything not to stick, including any tape you might need to hold parts of your mold together.

Let’s Get Together

Once your mold is nice and greasy, next is assembly time. Using your strong tape, line up any portions of your planter mold that need to be taped up. Now is not the time to save on tape. Use as much as you feel you need, and then maybe a little bit more. Ensure all seams are generously taped.

Mix It Up

Most of us had made pancakes at one point in time of our lives or another. This is exactly the same thing. Follow the directions closely to start with, but even as with pancakes, you want an even and smooth consistency. You could be required to add a little more mix or a little more water to get what you are looking for.

Pour Your Heart Out

Now we put our drop cloth to the test. Pay close attention to any strange pockets that could trap air. Stop periodically and tap the sides gently to help the mix settle into any areas that need to be filled. At this point, you need to look for any bulges that need to be taped up and supported to maintain the mold shape you desire.

Tap Tap Tap!

Just like before, you need to vibrate out any pockets of air or air bubbles that could be trapped. If you are using a soft-sided mold, simply shake the mold back and forth gently for several minutes until the air bubbles have reached the surface.

If you are using a plastic, metal, or wooden mold, you may use a large spoon. Gently tap all sides and areas of your mold to help loosen any air pockets and bring them to the surface. Tapping should also help bring some water to the surface to help your concrete cure. Continue tapping for several minutes or until you see air bubbles begin to surface. Once this has happened, try again in different areas.

There is no danger in over vibrating your mold. The only downside to doing this too much is just a waste of time and energy. Not removing any air bubbles could cause an undesired look or weakness in your panter.

Long Live Air Bubbles!

Another option you have is to leave the air bubbles in. Yes, as stated before, your homemade planter will be slightly weaker but we aren’t trying to support anything with this project. Air bubbles will give a different look and texture to your piece. Experiment with different options and shapes over time to change up your planter designs.

Don’t Flip Your Lid!

If your mold has a lid that needs to be put into place, make sure you plan room for that. Use your tape once again to hold and seal your top into place just you did before. Again, now is not the time to save on tape.

Take a Break

You have worked hard up until this point. Now we need to rest and let the new planter set up and cure. Waiting for concrete to set up is much like watching paint dry or grass grow. Follow the instructions on the package to ensure you wait long enough. Maybe even wait longer.

I tend to double the curing time just to ensure all is set and ready for extraction later. Remember, the longer and slower these cures, the stronger your planter will be later.

Open Your Creation

Once about 7 days has passed, it should be safe to open up your mold. Carefully remove the tape and slowly pry and pull your mold apart. If something does not feel right, STOP! Try again tomorrow.

Even once your mold is opened, you still can give it more time to set up and cure. Most people working with concrete allow 28 days to fully cure before continuing on. I know, this is a brutally long time to wait, but you have your mold back. Why don’t you start another one??

Sand Down Any Imperfections

When you make your own planter from a mold like this, there will be some rough edges that may need to be sanded down. It is possible to sand concrete to a mirror finish, but not the goal today of what we are doing. A little bit of elbow grease and a bit of sandpaper will help take the edges off. Using sandpaper between 60 and 120 Grit will do very nicely for what we are trying to accomplish.

Aim for any sharp edges and concentrate mainly on where the mold came together. A seam will most likely be visible where any pieces of the mold came together. Step up to higher grit sandpaper if you feel necessary, but most likely not required.

Seal or Not to Seal

Sealing your concrete planter has a few benefits, but in the end not necessary. Concrete seals can help protect your new planter from stains, spills, and the sun’s harmful rays while increasing its strength and durability. Also, this can help deter any mold that may try to form.

Using a silicone seal tends to create a film on your planter. Instead, look for a breathable sealant or water repellent. Better choices while being similar to silicone would be sealant that contains silanes or siloxanes.

Rinse and Repeat

Practice, practice, practice! The more times you make your own planter, the better you will become at this. Remember, your first few tries will probably not be perfect. But don’t ever let that deter you.