Hello everyone! In this Instructable, I will show you how to make a concrete planter and a minimalistic wooden stand using a few materials. The result will be amazing and you could always say that the pot where you keep those beautiful flowers was made by you!

Let's start!

Step 1: Materials

To be able to create our own planter we will need:

Materials

-Concrete. Can be bought in any construction hardware store. We don't need anything special.

-Sand (optional). This gives more strength to the concrete. I didn't use it.

-Liquid cement colour (optional). This gives the concrete a different colour. This is optional as the grey colour of the concrete looks really well once dried and sanded. I didn't use it but it is up to you.

-Water. Just water to make the mix.

-A small container or bucket for mixing the concrete.

-Plastic, wooden or cardboard containers. Depending on the size of the planter you want to make. We will need two of them. A big one (with the desired size of the planter) and a smaller one that fits inside letting about 5cm of space between the walls and the base of the big container. This little one is where the soil will be and where our plant is going to grow. For this planter, I used a cardboard box because I wanted my planter to be a square and also wanted it small. For the small container, I made my own because I couldn't find any box that little.

-Sandpaper. Wood sandpaper works great to smooth the planter to give it a nicer look and polish all the possible imperfections.

-Wooden strip. The size will depend on the size of your planter. I used 10mmx10mm

- Wood glue to glue the stand

-Gloves.

Tools

-A trowel or a stick or something to make the mix.

- A saw or something to cut small strips of wood.

Step 2: Making the Small Container

After mixing the concrete, we need to create another small container which we are going to place in the middle of the bigger container because once dried, this is where the dirt and our plant is going to be placed.

I made it from some wood, simply measure it as you want and then draw the lines in a piece of thin wood to cut it easier. Then glue everything and let it dry. When it is dry, we can move to the next step

Step 3: Preparing the Mix

To make the mix we will need a small container because we are not going to make a lot of mixture

The mix proportions are as follows: We will need 1 part of concrete and 3 parts of water. Depending on the size of your containers you will have to adjust this quantity. If we used sand, we would add 1 part of sand to the mix.

These quantities are the ones that have worked for me and the results were great as you can see at the end. However, depending on the type of concrete you use, these proportions may vary. If you are not sure or it is your first time, please refer to the instructions provided with the concrete.

Mix it well with the trowel or any other tool until the mix is consistent and thick enough. If there isn't enough water, you can add a little bit, but be very careful as the concrete can't be too thick nor too thin. Also keep in mind that the less water we use, the less time it will need to dry.

Step 4: Filling the Container

Start pouring concrete into the big container until you fill one-quarter of the container. We do this because, once we have poured the concrete into the big container, we need to put the other container inside the concrete. Put the smaller container right in the middle and push it in gently but make sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the big container. Now, use something like rocks or fill it with water to maintain its position.

In some cases, if we want to make a drainage hole, we need to modify the container, we need to make a hole with a drill and cover it with a stick or using a small cork is also a good idea to prevent the cement from entering this hole. Once the concrete is dried, we can remove the cork and we will have our drainage hole.

As I am planning to have this planter indoors, I didn't make a drainage hole because I will water the plant so it won't get too much water. In addition, the concrete will also absorb part of this water so there is no problem.

If there isn't enough concrete in the walls of the container, we can add more until it reaches the top of the container. Tap the walls of the big container and move it slowly to let out possible air bubbles that could ruin our planter. Another trick is to use the tip of the trowel to "stab" the concrete.

Now, let the concrete dry for about 24 hours.

Step 5: Removing the Containers

After 24 hours or more (depending on the mix) we can remove the containers. Note that the concrete has changed its colour. This means that the water has dried and we can work with it.

Start squeezing or ripping or carefully pulling the small container's walls and push upwards slowly to remove it. Be careful as the concrete might not be totally dry at the bottom. You can use a bit of water to make this easier. Once the small container is removed, start doing the same with the big one. Carefully squeeze the walls and tap a bit harder to try to remove it. Turn the container upside down (hold the planter with your hand) and tap the base of the container with the other hand. Again, use a bit of water if you need to. This should come off easily due to the weight of the planter. After removing the cardboard box, we have our "raw" planter ready.

Step 6: Curing and Smoothing

Now we need to cure the concrete a bit more. To do this, we are going to pour water all over the planter, inside, the walls, the base, everything. Let it dry for a few minutes and repeat twice or until you see the concrete is strong enough.

Once it has dried, we need to sand the edges and imperfections that the planter might have. For this, use a fine sandpaper and start sanding until you get the finish you like. I sanded the edges, the top, and the walls to make it look smoother and cleaner.

If you want, you can also use paint to decorate it, I didn't because I just like the grey finish as it looks very minimalistic.

Step 7: Making the Wooden Stand

This step can be done while we are waiting for the planter to dry so feel free to tackle it whenever you want!

To make the stand we will need a wooden strip. The size will depend on the size of the planter. As mine is quite small I used a 10mmx10mm wooden strip that I bought in the hardware store.

As the stand will vary depending on many factors, such as the size of your planter, the height you want to give to the sand and the wood you use, you can simply follow the images to replicate the way I make the stand.

We will need to make four "pillars" and then some shorter strips that will hold the base of the planter and will be glued to these four "pillars". Please see the photos as it is really visual.

Step 8: Add Dirt and a Plant

Once we have finished, it is time to get some dirt and a plant to put in the planter. You can also use some seeds and wait for the plant to grow!

Add the dirt, put the seeds and pour some water. Otherwise, if you don't want to wait for the seed to grow, just plant a living one and you will have your own concrete planter, as I did!

I hope you enjoyed and liked reading this instructable and making this planter. I am sure it will give a nice decorative touch to your houses or wherever you want to put it.

Don't forget to vote for me in the Stone·Concrete·Cement contest! Thanks!!!