A Beginner's Guide to Kokedama
27 Jun, 2022
The ancient and stylish art of kokedama has recently become a popular addition to plant collections. Roughly translated from Japanese, kokedama means moss ball. While this sums up what they are, it probably fails to capture their elegance, as kokedama can often be used to create stunning displays.
Making Your Own
- Choose a plant. If you’re just starting out, succulents are the ideal choice as they are hardy and easy to care for. Gently remove your plant from its pot and loosen the root ball and soil.
- Wrap a little moistened sphagnum moss around the roots of your plant.
- Surround the moss-covered roots with Kings Potting Mix. If necessary, a little water can be added to the soil mix, as a firm muddy consistency is best.
- Cover the outer layer with more sphagnum moss, holding it in place as you wrap twine firmly around in a criss-cross motion to create a ball shape.
- Leave enough twine to create a loop if you intend to hang your kokedama. Hang or place your kokedama in a position where it can be enjoyed.
Top Plants
A wide range of plants can be used for creating kokedama. It’s worth using hardy, small houseplants plants such as English ivy, spider plants, tradescantia, or succulents such as echeveria and sedum, as they are easy to care for.
Kokedama Care
Water your kokedama ball by dunking it in a bucket of water until bubbles stop appearing.
Watering requirements will vary depending upon the plant you’ve selected. For many plants, adding a diluted amount of fertiliser while you water can keep them healthy. After watering, allow your kokedama to drain before hanging it back up. Select a spot to hang or place your kokedama based on the plant’s lighting requirements.