Concrete Mushrooms -- Yard Art

Step 5 Once molded...

Push the PVC pipe into the concrete-filled tubes.  If you want your finished mushrooms to be  tilted, put the PVC pipe in at a slight angle.

While wearing latex or rubber gloves, round the edges of the concrete in the bowls with your fingers to give your mushroom edge a smoother shape.

Let the concrete sit in the molds for 24 hours.  DON'T rush this step as the concrete takes that long to properly set.  If you take it out too soon, the concrete will be crumbly.

Times given are approximate.  Weather, temperature and size of mushroom top will affect the drying time.  If it's cold or damp or if your mushroom is really big, it will take longer to dry.
 

Comments

[mikesnyd]

The best way to tell if your concrete has set up the right amount is with your fingernail or a screw or nail of sorts. Scratch the surface of the concrete (in this case it is the bottom of the shroom) If it really digs in easy it is not fully cured. Wait until it feels hard to scrape. Also your can drape a small plastic tarp over them and place a small space heater on the lowest setting to speed up the cure. After it come out of your mold if you are in no rush to paint your yard at you can fully submerge the pieces in a five gal pail for 28 days. If you do this the concrete will come out the hardest it possibly can providing you added the correct amount of water when you originally mixed it. Concrete is such a fickle and funny thing. It wicks the water off when cured for 12 - 24 hours and requires more water to continue the curing process for the rest of the 28 day period.