I have been making hypertufa planters for 6 years. I made some for myself back then and they still look brand new. I started making these planters because I got tired of my plastic planters dry rotting in this Texas heat and falling apart on me when I moved them. To keep these Eco-friendly, I use minerals for staining. Hypertufa planters are a 19th century recipe used in the Alpines to grow their herbs and vegetables because they did not crack in the extreme hot and cold temperatures. The basic ingredients for making hypertufa is peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, Portland cement, and sometimes sand. Each one is unique, no two are ever the same. These last many years without any special care. These planters allow air into the soil through it's porous nature, unlike clay, plastic and ceramics. Roots are able to breathe creating a beautiful, healthy plant.