Quikrete is available in the box stores, very easy to find. It is only a pre-mixed cement and aggregate, you will have to supply your own peat. Did you know there is a Quikrete mix which includes fibres? Anyone tried that? Should be good for a larger piece.

I'm hoinh to assume a two inch thickness, you can make it less but you'll need to think about reinforcement to get enough strength. I think you should bank on four or five cubic feet of hypertufa (if you think you can lift that up, even empty, you're wrong!). A good bet would be four cubic feet of Quikrete and four cubic feet of peat. But Quikrete is sold by weight! Roughly, you'd be looking at four 80lb bags plus the peat.

Hypertufa cures just fine in the rain. Avoid heavy rain during the first 24-48 hours because it may damage the hypertufa before it gets an initial set. Hypertufa should be kept constantly moist for at least a week, and ideally a month, to cure properly. Avoid any freezing. Do not let the surface dry out. Keep it between 50F and 70F, curing is quicker at high temperatures but curing at low temperatures creates a stronger result.

You should read a link that Tango posted on February 16, 2006 about a tutorial for newbies. It's a great, basic help about hypertufa before you start; tells about recipes, forms, etc., and you can take it from there. Maybe do a few smaller troughs until you get the feel of how wet, etc. the hypertufa needs to be, and how to pack it, cure it, etc. before you launch into something the size you have in mind. Don't know if you are thinking about making it outside this time of year, but in New York it is still too cold out -- it's not going to cure propertly with these cold winter temperatures well below freezing.

I think that the best way to do anything is to just give it a try, but that being said, you may find a trough the size you are talking about for your first project a little more than you bargained for. That's a lot of mixing, sifting of peat moss, tamping and packing, and it's going to weigh a ton - you won't be able to move it without the help of 6 boys and a mule. Remember, you are going to have to turn it over to get it out of the Rubbermaid mold you are thinking about using (unless you are planning on destroying the mold).

You might want to think about using Portland, peat moss and perlite instead of QuickCrete. You guys correct me if I'm wrong (not that I ever have been before :)... ), but I didn't think QuickCrete was the medium of choice for hypertufa.

Happy learning!!

There is an article in Better Homes and Gardens on Hypertufa Trough. Sept. 2003 Do-it-yourself troughs,
www.bhg.com/planter
Portland Cement, Perlite, sphagnum peat moss seived to remove lumps, small amount of synthetic fiber reinforcement material (from a masonry store) and water, to a mixture like thick oatmeal.
in dishpan size mould, plastic lined, packed about 2 inches thick. After some curing, smooth out with wire brush, and continue to cure slowly.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.bhg.com/planter

I've made a few small planters and one large planter. I used Portland Cement, Perlite, peat moss (sifted through a colander I bought at 99 cent store), a little sand. The large one was made using one of those large toy tubs with rope handles. I left it in the mold for several days, misted it everyday, and kept it covered with plastic. Due to the size I had my husband dump it out of the mold. It was a little heavy. I put it on a plant dolly before filling it with soil and planting in it. You might want to think about having someone rig you up something you can put it on with wheels just in case you need to move it around.

Good Luck,
Pam