Balinese garden planters and plinths
Handcrafted Balinese garden planters and plinths from CasaPandan are popular for their unique blend of traditional style and durability. Here is a simplified breakdown of their key features:
1. Distinctive Materials
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Carved Limestone and stone: Natural stone that offers an “ancient temple” look. It is porous, meaning it develops a beautiful natural mossy patina over time.
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Fiber Cement: A mix of cement and fiber that is lighter and stronger than solid stone, making it easier to move while still looking authentic.
2. Hand-Finished Design
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Artistic Detail: Each piece is hand-carved or hand-finished with tropical motifs like lotus flowers or frangipani, ensuring no two planters are exactly the same.
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Organic Textures: Unlike smooth, factory-made plastic pots, these have a textured, earthy feel that complements natural garden settings.
3. Built for the Outdoors
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Weatherproof: Designed to handle heavy rain and humidity without rotting or losing their shape.
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Versatile Shapes: Available in everything from tall, elegant urns to low, wide water bowls for aquatic plants.
4. How to make your own plinth with pavers and bricks.
- Building a DIY plinth with pavers and bricks is a great way to elevate your garden statues or planters, mirroring the sturdy, handcrafted look of the Balinese pieces from CasaPandan. Since these structures are heavy, the secret is all in the foundation and the level.
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Materials & Tools Needed
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Bricks: For the core/structure (standard house bricks or breeze blocks).
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Pavers: For the top cap and potentially the base.
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Mortar Mix: Pre-mixed “Post Mix” or a sand and cement blend.
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Crushed Rock/Roadbase: For the foundation.
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Spirit Level: Absolutely essential.
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Trowel & Rubber Mallet.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare the Foundation
Do not build directly on soil; the plinth will sink or lean over time.
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Dig a hole about 100mm–150mm deep, slightly wider than your plinth.
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Fill it with crushed rock and compact it down firmly.
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Pro Tip: Lay a large, flat paver on top of this compacted gravel to act as your “level” starting plate.
2. Lay the Brick Core
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Apply a layer of mortar to your base paver.
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Lay your bricks in a square or rectangular pattern. For a standard plinth, a “hollow square” (four bricks per course) works best.
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Butter the joints (the sides of the bricks) as you go.
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Check level after every single layer. Use a rubber mallet to tap bricks into place.
3. Structural Stability
If you are building a tall plinth (over 600mm):
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Fill the hollow center of your brick square with leftover rubble or pour in a wet concrete mix. This adds “ballast” so it won’t tip over.
4. Capping with the Paver
The top paver acts as the “mantel” for your statue.
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Choose a paver that is slightly larger than the brick column (usually 20mm–50mm overhang on all sides) to allow for water runoff.
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Apply a generous “bed” of mortar to the top course of bricks.
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Center the paver and use your spirit level to ensure it is perfectly flat so your statue doesn’t wobble.
5. Finishing (Pointing)
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Use a small tool or your finger (wear gloves!) to smooth out the mortar joints between the bricks.
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Wipe away any wet mortar from the face of the bricks with a damp sponge before it dries.
Design Tips for the “CasaPandan” Look
Make your DIY plinth match that aesthetic:
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The Aged Look: Once the mortar is dry, you can paint the bricks with a thin “slurry” of cement or lime wash to give it an old-world, stone-like texture.
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Moss Growth: If you want that “ancient temple” patina mentioned in your draft, rub some plain yogurt or manure on the damp bricks to encourage moss and lichen to grow.
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Plinths and plant stands from CasaPandan are durable, artistic garden pieces that age naturally to look like part of the landscape.
At Casapandan we love to support the Balinese. Finding such amazing items to bring back to you is such a pleasure.