I knew I had to do this. With all the tools and materials available, I made a functional planter by using a bowling ball and a plastic dish as molds. Having made several Instructables that utilize concrete, I will refer you to those, for example, and, of course, Wuvie’s excellent instructions listed above.
Step 1: Gather Materials & Tools
You can find the complete list of materials and tools required to complete this project in the above-listed instructions. I have included the exact plastic bowl and ball that were used.
Step 2: Provide for Drainage
As a gardener, I am well aware that any enclosed planter must have drainage holes. Otherwise, the roots of the plants will rot due to the stagnant water at the bottom. To provide drainage for my farmer, I used a 2-inch piece of PVC cut into a tube. This will be put in the bottom mold to support the bowling balls and provide 2-inch sides. It will also allow the drainage needed and eliminate the need to drill the concrete.
Step 3: Pour concrete into the mold after mixing it.
The mold can be filled after the bowling ball is coated with vegetable oil or Pam-like spray. Pour concrete into the mold according to the directions. This pour was completed using eight soup cans of concrete.
Step 4: Decorate Concrete At This Point
Glass beads are available in any craft store. We already had a few, so we decided to use them. This step can be done up to about 45 minutes after pouring the concrete, but I completed it immediately. The design was simple, but the placement of them was done pleasingly.
Step 5: Allow to set overnight before removing the bowling ball
Concrete must be placed to the point that removing the ball from the mold will not cause the sides to break. After 24 hours or more, remove the ball from the mold.
Step 6: Cure the bowl for a week with water in it
I discovered that if I filled the bowl with water and left the ball in it, the curing would be effective. I’m not sure if the one-week time frame is correct, but I decided to wait since it would not harm me.
Step 7: Remove the plastic bowl after one week
Concrete never fails to amaze me. The project was completed after removing the plastic dish. The bowl can now be planted and placed in the garden.
Step 8: Add Plants to the Planter
I chose a cactus mix because I wanted to use the best type of soil for adding succulents. The earth and plants can be added to the planter by placing a screen on top of the hole. This is standard for potting plants.
Step 9: A few shots of the new container in the garden
The choice of succulents for this container was perfect. The bowl looks great in my succulent garden.
