Cement mixers are often used to produce building materials that fill up urban spaces, but lately they are also being used to produce large-scale cement planters that can house numerous plants throughout any space. If you are a business residing and working in an urban landscape or near an industrial area, then you may want to consider new ways to improve the aesthetics, ecological impact and overall functionality of your space.

 

This article will take you through the benefits of investing in infrastructure to support green corridors and spaces throughout industrial areas, as well as the practicalities of landscaping and planting with the cement pots and planters.

 

Using Cement Mixers To Build Planters

 

For those companies looking to spruce up their place of work, introducing cement planters full of luscious, vibrant plants can be a quick shortcut to renewing the energy of any business complex or corporate estate. Even in the most industrial areas, passersby need to feel welcomed and inspired to continue their work. However, if a place lacks diversity in colour, has minimal airflow and is generally void of aesthetic interest, social morale is likely to remain low. With the introduction of a few large botanical and plant installations, it is amazing to see how any space can be transformed.

 

It is natural to be wary of the practicalities of introducing such features into contexts with heavy traffic flow, unpredictable weather and a tough exterior. Many feel concerned that introducing green spaces into industry comes at a major risk, given the maintenance and temporality of some plants. Although these concerns are valid, there are many fail-safes that can ensure that your green spaces thrive even in the toughest conditions.

 

For example, ensuring that you are planting the correct species for the climate, and also doubling down on research regarding which kinds of planters and pots would specifically protect these plants from industrial weathering and general wear and tear.

 

To suit these unusual spatial needs and ensure a low-maintenance landscaping solution, some urban designers have found value in using industrial cement mixers to manufacture large planters in which plants can be grown. These cement planters are cost-effective, accessible, and long-term in their life expectancy. What’s more, with the right kinds of plants, cement can actually offer major benefits to the plant, ensuring things like good drainage and better airflow, both of which are incredibly important in cityscapes where

 

Benefits of Cement Planters Built At Scale

 

Using mixers, manufacturing companies are able to build large vessels in which plants can safely and securely grow into themselves and their surroundings. Cement planters, in particular, are known for their amazing stability and long-lasting durability in the face of all kinds of weather. Not only does the stability of cement planters ensure the protection of plant roots from temperature changes and erosion, they also hold another critical role in regulating moisture levels.

 

This is particularly vital in industrial areas where weather can be unpredictable, ebbing and flowing between rain and shine. Cement, which is naturally a very porous material, can be mixed and poured with the aid of cement mixers into a massive range of shapes and sizes - it can also be stained and painted to suit new colour schemes and design plans.

 

Another benefit of sourcing planters is that they are generally produced at a larger scale and are thus cheaper to produce. With access to large planters, you can conceptualise an expansive urban garden or industrial sanctuary. These green corridors will improve airflow, offer a place of rest and relaxation, remove volatile organic compounds from the air, improve visual scenery and invite more varied activity.

 

What’s more, they have an incredible visual impact thanks to the juxtaposition of the utilitarian design of cement objects and the cascading softness of the plants.

 

 

The Importance of Understanding Planters For Plant Health

 

If you have a green thumb then you’d like to know the ins and outs of what it takes to tend a beautiful garden and maintain healthy plant life in your surroundings. However, for many of us, gardening can be a tricky thing that requires tons of research and involves many learning curves. Among the many factors that come into play in the gardening process, understanding how your planters work in tandem with your soil, plant species and climate conditions can have a major impact on the life expectancy of your plant family.

 

There are, in fact, seemingly endless varieties of planters, pots, flower beds and vessels in which you can nurture your plants, and each of them has its own unique care requirements, advantages and disadvantages.

 

When beginning your journey of gardening, you must start by considering three key factors: namely climate, light and space. For those hoping to cultivate an expansive garden, a good place to start is by assessing your local climate. Ask yourself whether your location is characterised by certain conditions. For example, is it hot or cold? Tropical or polar? Do you live under a scorching, dry sun or covered in a thick blanket or humidity? Similarly, are your plants going to have to learn to survive wet or dry conditions?

 

Once you have answered these questions, you can begin to unpack which kinds of plants would be best suited to your local conditions. From there, you can assess the availability of light in your area, the amount of shade offered, and the degree of space provided to house these plants.

 

You should also discuss the kind of care and maintenance that you have the capacity for. This will affect the kind of plants and planters you purchase, as your time and availability will dictate how much time you can spend caring for your new plants.

 

For example, if you are a more low-maintenance planter, you may want to consider purchasing simple succulents, which need minimal maintenance, watering or fertilisation. If you are more advanced perhaps you’ll want to aim high and attempt to prune a bonsai regularly, or even build a temperature-regulated greenhouse for a new family of imported orchids. Whatever the case, you must be prepared to work with the plants, according to their needs and requirements, as this is the only way that you will be able to live among them symbiotically.

 

Varying Plant Types to Consider Investing In When Working with Cement Mixers

 

Drought-Tolerant and Drought-Resistant Plants

 

The endless array of plant species can be delineated into a few different groups to help you understand their overarching differences. For example, succulents and cacti are good in harsh, dry conditions and can survive for long periods with minimal water or care.

 

Other kinds of tough, drought-resistant plants are plants native to South Africa, such as agapanthus. There are also hardy plants that bloom all year around in South Africa, including Cape Honeysuckle, Bush Violet and Wild Dagga. Similarly, thyme, lavender, and acacia are all known for being able to withstand dry conditions and even the hands of a semi-neglectful gardeners. And of course, if all else fails, aloe vera is always an easy pick. Since these plants require minimal water.

 

Evergreens

 

These plants retain their green leaves throughout the year and are particularly associated with the cold-temperate and Arctic areas, although there are also many tropical species of broad-leaved plants that flower all year round.

 

Examples of popular evergreens are conifer trees like pine trees and firs, false cypress shrubs, azalea shrubs and rhododendron shrubs. Bristlecone pines, yew trees and ginkgo are also popular evergreens that are known to live for thousands of years. Among these, Douglas firs and redwoods have been marvelled at for their ability to live beyond 1000 years.

 

In South Africa, evergreen shrubs that provide long-lasting colour to any garden include the Dietes grandiflora, the Clivia Miniata, and the Pittosporum Tobira. Naturally, when it comes to caring for larger plants such as firs and pines it’s best to work with more surface area so that roots can spread — thus an outdoor area is best.

 

Alternatively, one could use cement mixers to forge large, deep cement planters to accommodate their extensive root systems, while also ensuring that the soil mix has good drainage and the planter is elevated to prevent water accumulation.

 

Air-purifying plants

 

For those who would like a plant that is both aesthetically pleasing and also functions as an air-purifier, plants like peace lilies and snake plants are the way to go. These plants are generally known for being excellent indoor features that can improve your overall environment and lift the spirits of any space. Peace lilies, for example, are known to remove household toxins and are great ornamental features known for their lovely white flowers.

 

These kinds of plants thrive in bright indirect light and also enjoy some moist soil and slight humidity. To maintain moist soil, most would recommend that you use pots with good drainage to allow for better air circulation. One of the best options, in this case, is a planter made with the assistance of cement mixers or even smaller handmade cement options — either way, cement allows for good drainage that can prevent root rot while maintaining moisture levels and encouraging airflow.

 

Tropical Plants

 

Tropical plants are species that thrive in high humidity. Ferns, palm trees, orchids, hibiscus flowers, birds of paradise, philodendrons and monsters are all examples of tropical plants that require conditions and climate that can mimic that of a rainforest environment with pockets of sunlight. These kinds of plants generally grow south of the equator and are certainly popular in South Africa. They are known for their luscious leaves, rapid growth, ability to thrive in shade and their dense, flowering canopies.

 

Because these kinds of plants require ample water and constant moisture, they are more vulnerable to overwatering and root rot; consequently, many choose to employ cement planters, made with the assistance of cement mixers, to ensure that the moist soil still allows for ample airflow and ensures stability and durability even during growth periods through Spring and Summer.

 

 

Purchase Mixers Today and Build Your Own Cement Planters

 

In the past few years, more and more urban designers and landscapers have become innovative in the way that they approach regenerating cityscapes. Industria and its surrounding urban spaces are often considered to be visually monotonous, unappealing and bad for one’s mental wellbeing, often because of their lack of airflow, shade and colour.

 

To curb this negative impact and prevent urban decay, while also improving the lives of local workers and residents, many have opted into using large scape cement planters to grow a variety of green plants that can eventually uplift the space and create a renewed sense of virality. If you are interested in manufacturing your own cement planters on a wider scale, then consider visiting our online store today, for all your cement mixer needs.