I had a set of acrylic nesting bowls that I planned to use to make plaster molds for my clay creations, but on second look I decided they would make good forms for cement planters as well. I chose these because the textured pattern is on the inside of the pot, not the outside, so it allows the outside of the planter to have an interesting ridged shape.
You can make these planters in an afternoon, they are easy to make with small amounts of cement and make unique tabletop planters for flowers or succulents. Spring has sprung here in California so this was the perfect little project to add seasonal annuals to the front porch.
Supplies to recreate these bowls: set of four acrylic bowls; quick-setting cement; tarpaulin; mixing bucket and stick; vegetable or olive oil; measuring cup; gravel or stones for weights; spray paint (optional); earth and flowers.
First step: Prepare the inside and outside of the containers by applying a light layer of oil with a paper towel to help loosen the cement. Mix the cement according to the instructions and pour into the containers so that they are half full. Use the next smaller container to nest inside the larger container and gently push it down to squeeze the cement to form the walls of the planter. Use pebbles or rocks as weights to hold the smaller acrylic container while it sits inside the larger container.
Second step: Allow the cement to dry to the point where it forms a planter shape but is not completely solid. (In my case, I removed the inner container after 45 minutes after the cement had set, then used a stick to make a small hole in the bottom while the cement was still soft.)
Step Three: Allow the cement planter to dry for another 8-10 hours to harden, then turn the lower larger container upside down on a soft surface so that it is free from the acrylic container.
The fourth step (optional): Use two light coats of spray paint to add color to the underside of the planter, in my case I chose white. Once the spray paint is dry, fill the planter containers with annuals or succulents and display them on the table.
