The-Artistic-Garden's Blog

How Important Is Peat Moss In A Hypertufa Recipe?
Is It OK to Substitute Another Kind Of Moss??

I received an email in late winter from Becky asking:

Claudia, Thank you so much for writing the Hypertufa How-To eBook as you did an outstanding job! So much info to pour over. It is a great resource guide for newbies like me.

I can’t wait to get started! But my problem is that I’m having trouble finding “PEAT” moss. I have found Reindeer moss, sheet moss, Spanish and Wood moss. Will any of these mosses work?

Is one type of moss better for a hypertufa recipe than another? Thanks for your time, Becky

My reply:
Hi Becky:
First, THANK YOU so much for the kind compliments. I tried my best to “over deliver” the information in my Hypertufa eBook.

About peat moss … I looked at your eBook purchase receipt and see you live in Ohio. Well…you should have NO problem finding PEAT moss (no … it is not the same as any of the mosses you listed). To be more specific, you want to look for “sphagnum peat moss”.

It is pretty darn easy to find, too. You’ll be able to find peat moss at any Lowe’s or Home Depot, or any gardening center that sells packaged soils. It is around $4 or $5 (cheap) to buy a very large package of it. (I suggest you go and look where all the packaged soils are kept in the outside garden depts. of the stores i mentioned. You’ll find peat moss, not to worry!)

The kind you want to buy is compressed into a rectangular “bale” and wrapped in plastic like this photo:

I don’t know the brand name off-hand that Lowe’s or H-Depot sells, but the point I’m making here with this photo is go and look for a very large squared/rectangular shaped compressed bale.

I know I can buy it right now at either store, but I am here in Tennessee and maybe because you are in Ohio and it is still super cold up there, they might not have it stocked yet. But they will … gardeners use it all the time to amend their garden soils with.

This should be the answer you were looking for.   

And welcome to making garden art with homemade hypertufa recipes! Have fun with all your ‘tufa projects!

A Budding Concrete Sculptor Asks Some Questions

I received two emails from Eugen who asked (please note English is not his primary language  it isn’t because he is such a bad typist!):

I have a question – where from peat moss , and if that could be replaced by another material wayting for your suggestions, thank you in advance, yours, eugen

and …

I also find your site very interesting I’m a doctor gp pasioned by sculpture, I intent to build( create) few large statues in my garden with concrete, but still didn’t found some clear overview about waterproof methods. If you have any valid ideas about this, please answer me. Thank you again, eugen

My reply:

Hello Eugen:
Thank you very much for contacting me and as I received two emails from you, I will be happy to try and answer all questions here. Also, please appreciate I am doing my best to understand your questions, as your English is obviously not your native language (I mean no disrespect to you by saying this). It is just that I want to do my best to help you. 

You ask: “where from peat moss … and could it be replaced ….”

#1) Alright, if you are asking me where you can FIND or PURCHASE peat moss, here in the USA it is very easily purchased in garden supply stores. It comes in a compressed square-ish shaped “bale”, and is normally used as a soil amendment for garden beds. Since I do not know what country you live in, I cannot be more helpful at this time. The type of peat moss used for hypertufa recipes is sphagnum peat moss.

#2) “can it be replaced” …. NO. Hypertufa is not hypertufa unless it has peat moss as an ingredient. Any other type of cement based recipe (as hypertufa is), will be a concrete recipe … not a hypertufa recipe. But, that being said, I have a recipe on my site that utilizes coir in place of peat moss. Please refer to: Hypertufa Recipe Using Coir

#3) Or you can use plain soil as a replacement (note there is no perlite in this recipe): Garden Stepping Stones Recipe

Next, you ask about waterproofing methods for concrete statues. Why? As I am sure you are aware, if your recipe is prepared correctly, and you cure your sculpture properly, it should last a life time. However, if you wish to waterproof it as you are wanting part of your sculpture to be a water basin, as example, or maybe you want your sculpture to attain a glossy appearance, then here in the USA I would go to a store that sells cement supplies, and purchase a concrete sealant. Just make sure what you purchase says “Waterproof” as opposed to “Water Resistant”. You should apply at least 2 coats, 3 or more is better.

Or, here is a technique I have pulled from my files for you: For items such as birdbaths and such that will be constantly holding water, instead of using expensive and often questionable sealers…finish just the “bowl” portion of the item with modified cement. Plain old concrete does a pretty good job of holding water, but you can easily take it to the next level by mixing up batch of pure, neat Portland (no sand) and polymer admix to coat that area.

It can be plain gray, pure white (white Portland) or colored using integral color. You can even get a marbleized effect using multiple colors. Poly-modified cement is extremely dense and about as watertight as you can get. It can be visually interesting too since the surface can be as smooth as glass (with a little sanding & polishing) or textured to your taste. It bonds very well to lightly textured concrete. As an added measure, apply a light coat of Carnauba wax and buff it just to finish it off.

So … are these answers of help to you? Please do not hesitate to contact me for further clarification or help if needed.

Also, if you have not reviewed the stain and colorant information, please do. It is the best available on the internet, and though the brands mentioned may not be available in your country (or are you living here in the USA??), the application methods, etc. is valuable information: Colorant Charts For Hypertufa & Concrete

Good luck! I wish you much success with your sculpture project