About Topedo Planter
Run a hand over the wall and it reads as stone. Cimstone Fibre Cement is Portland cement and finely graded stone particles cast around a structural fibreglass cloth, so the surface carries the grain and the cool touch of masonry while the fibreglass does the holding. The taper is gentle rather than steep — enough to lift the form off the paving visually, not so much that the base gets tippy. Residential patios, garden verandas and interior rooms all suit it, and the composite takes seasonal weathering without fussing.
Three sizes cover most of what walks through the showroom. FS7071/35 (35W x 46H) suits one feature plant on a tiled courtyard. FS7071/48 (48W x 62H) is the everyday doorway size. FS7071/68 (68W x 85H) is where a small tree or a multi-plant arrangement can hold a corner on its own. Textured natural stone grey, white and black are the standard finishes; custom colours come from the Dulux architectural colour range when the planter has to sit against specified joinery or render.
Planting order matters more than most people expect. Lay a piece of fibreglass flyscreen over the drainage hole, add a bed of 20 mm blue metal, then a second piece of flyscreen across the stone before you fill with a quality container potting mix. The mesh stops mix washing down into the hole, the blue metal keeps a free-draining layer under the root ball, and the sequence works the same indoors as it does in an open garden setting.
Work out your media volume before you order, because the 68 cm size swallows more mix than people estimate. Calculate it with the potting mix calculator, or view the Light Stone Planters collection for containers cast in the same finish family.
Which sizes does the Topedo come in?
Three: FS7071/35 (35W x 46H), FS7071/48 (48W x 62H) and FS7071/68 (68W x 85H). Tare weights are recorded in our catalogue, but those recorded figures require verification — confirm them with showroom staff before you arrange transport.
In what order do the drainage layers go in?
Three layers, bottom to top. Fibreglass flyscreen mesh over the base drainage hole so soil cannot migrate through it. A bed of 20 mm blue metal stone across the bottom of the container. A second piece of flyscreen over the blue metal, then quality container potting mix on top of that.
Does Cimstone Fibre Cement keep root balls cooler in summer?
It slows things down, which is what roots want. The wall is a dense mineral composite, so heat moves through it gradually instead of arriving all at once. Put a thin plastic pot in the same position on a warm paved terrace and it will heat far quicker, taking the root ball with it. That lag is the practical difference.
Tall shrub in an exposed spot — does the planter need ballast?
The 20 mm blue metal in the drainage layer already does most of that work. Kept in the lower portion of the vessel it acts as structural ballast, lowering the centre of gravity so a top-heavy plant does not walk the container across an open deck or veranda in a coastal wind.
Can the Topedo sit indoors on polished timber or carpet?
Yes, with one precaution. Leave the plant in its plastic nursery grow-pot and sit an impermeable drip saucer inside the base. Irrigation runoff then collects in the saucer rather than finding its way out onto timber, tiles or carpet.
Cleaning textured stone and Dulux paintwork — what actually works?
Rinse the exterior with clean water first, then wipe gently with a soft sponge and mild household detergent. The textured natural stone finishes hold dust in the grain, so let the water lift it instead of working at it. On custom Dulux paintwork, keep stiff wire brushes, abrasive powders and acidic cleaners well away — they dull the film long before they shift the mark.
