They look like hand-carved stone, but Faux Stone Planters are cleverly cast concrete you can make yourself!
What you'll need:
1. Portland Cement or Quickcrete, vermiculite, peat and water
2. Two cardboard boxes, one about 2-3 inches bigger around than the other, or some other type of containers such as dishpans or flower pots.
3. Duct tape to reinforce box
4. Container to mix the ingredients
5. Plastic garbage size bags
6. Rubber gloves and a protective mask
7. Wire brush
STEPS:
Before beginning the "steps" line the larger cardboard box with plastic, reinforce the sides with duct tape. The second box will be used in step 4.
Step 1: Mix together one part vermiculite, one part cement and two parts peat. Gradually add water. Stir until mixture is the consistency of oatmeal or dry curd cottage cheese. A handful of the mixture should stick together, and you should be able to squeeze out a few drops of water.
Step 2: Add about two inches of the mixture to the bottom of the larger cardboard box. Tamp the mixture down as you go.
Step 3: Using your fingers to make a hole, insert a paper drainage plug and pack the mixture snugly around it. Make at least one hole, and preferably two or three depending on the size of the planter.
Step 4: Put the second box inside the first, centering it. Ideally, there should be two to three inches of space between the boxes. Add the mixture along the sides to make the walls of the planter. Tamp as you go. Put the finished planter inside a plastic bag to cure. Depending on the weather, this takes three days to a week.
Step 5: Once the planter is hard, remove it from the plastic bag, cut the reinforcing duct tape and peel away the box. If any bits of cardboard stick to the planter, wet them and rub them off.
Step 6: Use a wire brush to scruff up the sides and top of the plater to give it an aged look. Tip planter on its side, scrape away any excess on the bottom to expose the drainage paper plugs, and push or pull them out.
Step 7: Add soil and plants. Enjoy!