Vases which are to be planted in the soil should be planted several feet beneath the surface. The vases do not need to be wrapped or otherwise protected from the dirt. The main point is to put the vases in locations where they will not be disturbed for many many years. They should therefore, obviously, be well buried, not right on a main path (nor directly beneath one, as that is not appropriate in its own way), and they should be in a place where they will not be disturbed by earth moving equipment, or unearthed within tree roots if loggers come through, and so on. Basically, common sense and a little forethought are all that are required. When a vase is placed, the participants may, if they like, say some prayers or make some wish for the success of the vase in promoting world peace and ecological stability.
Finally, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has requested that a photograph be taken of every vase as it is planted or tossed into the water, with the locations written on the back of these photos. The location of placement of each vase should be noted and reported to the Peace Vase Co-ordinator who provided the vases for placement. The precise locations of each vase that is placed around the world will eventually be mapped either based on longitude and latitude co-ordinates or on the names of major towns in which vases are placed. Fairly precise information on the location of the vases is therefore quite important. In natural areas (such as a state park or river system), the name of a notable town which a vase is placed near to, or the name of a notable land structure near the location of the vase, will assist in the mapping.
Vases which will go into water must first be sealed in a concrete or polymer (some kind of quick to harden plastic) shell. The easiest method we¹ve found is to put the vase in a flower pot, pour the concrete on top and then toss the whole thing into the water (flower pot and all) once the concrete has cured, which can take 2 to 3 weeks for ordinary concrete and a couple of hours for plastic/polymers. One thing to note with water placement is that you don¹t want to put the vases where they¹ll be caught by a strong current and carried away. This is particularly the case with placement by massive waterfalls or at the mouth of major tributaries to the ocean. Calm spots in the water (protected by rocks or . . .) should be sought out.
The following is a very thorough method of encapsulating vases for water immersion employed by vase planters in Scotland which can be replicated or at least employed according to whats available in your own country;
"The material that we used to strengthen the mix and make it more resistant to water permeability is a propriety product sold here through builders merchants and called: FEBOND SBR which is a BUTADENE-STYRENE- EPOXY LATEX CO-POLYMER which is introduced into the dry mix in place of water. This strengths the bond and creates a structure which is more durable and much more resistant to water ingress. We tried using the liquid as per the manufacturers instructions but doing that created an exceptionally wet thin slurry which is almost impossible to handle and which takes longer to begin to set and therefore become workable. Our basic mix was as follows:
2parts coarse sand [containing small aggregate]
1part cement
1part 1/4" granite chips
We mixed sufficient quantities to fill the volume of a large plastic flower pot of:
330mm dia top
240mm dia base
280mm deep
ensuring a very uniform mix before introducing the FEBOND SBR. This was in place of water [and per manufacturers instructions] to create a strong bond. We gradually added the epoxy-polymer until a relatively stiff mix was obtained which is then easily handled. The pot is almost filled to the brim with the mix and allowed to part set before the vase is introduced. [Trying this before hand results in the vase bobbing to the top like a cork due to its natural buoyancy]! You then force the vase down to midway in the pot holding it in position using a stiff thin stick. Carefully remove your hand and puddle concrete mix around the hole you made when introducing the vase. Using a longer stick 'porridge' the concrete to dispell as much air as possible from mix. Slowly remove the stick and fill in the resulting hole so that no evidence of its ingress is evident by smoothing the surface with a trowell. You may gently vibrate the pot to disturb more air if you wish but you may find you have disturbed the vase and will have to repeat the performance! Leave the pot outside in a frost free enviorenment to cure for approximately two weeks. Once the concrete is begining to harden you can fill the remaining space with water BUT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MIX IT IN! The concrete will absorb any added water that it may require as it needs it.
After the initial two weeks they can safely be intro-duced to their final resting place!"
