Last Updated on September 17, 2024
Discover the recipe for making beautiful and unique kokedama for yourself or others. Find out how super easy they are to make here.
Kokedama is a Japanese form of garden art that uses moss or other natural materials to create beautiful hanging decorations. They are often used as gifts and decorative pieces in homes and offices.
If you are intrigued by the art of Kokedama, you might want to learn how to make these Japanese moss balls yourself. In that case, I think you’re going to enjoy this tutorial.
What Is A Kokedama?
Kokedama, or moss ball, combines soil and plant material into a ball wrapped in moss, providing an artificial ecosystem for plants.
The moss helps keep the ball from drying out too quickly, so it’s possible to grow many different types of plants inside your kokedama.
I’ve seen plants including asparagus fern, staghorn ferns, bird ‘s-nest fern, grape ivy, prayer plant, lucky bamboo, and even African violets in kokedama.
Why Make Kokedama?
Because kokedama is considered a traditional Japanese art object, they make unique decorative accent pieces that can be used throughout a home or office space.
Kokedama can also be placed in vases or bowls, making each a unique gift idea.
How To Make Kokedama
Making a kokedama is pretty easy. The materials you’ll need to start with include:
- A small amount of bonsai soil and peat moss.
- Some sheet moss.
- String or wire.
- And a plant of your choice.
In a step-by-step fashion, this video will show you how easy it is to make a kokedama. Watch and see for yourself.
I hope you enjoyed the video and learning how to make a kokedama! I’m sure you didn’t think creating a unique art form like this was this easy, even if you don’t have a green thumb.
And to recap the steps involved…
- Start by choosing your favorite plants.
- Prepare your soil.
- Add your plant to the soil ball.
- Wrap the soil ball with sphagnum moss and secure it with twine or floral wire.
- Enjoy your kokedama!
If you love kokedama but don’t want to make the moss-covered balls from scratch, you can use a premade moss container like this one. Just drop in your plant, hang and enjoy!
How To Care For Kokedama
Caring for kokedama is pretty simple if you follow these steps.
- Light
Light requirements will vary with the type of plant you choose. Most indoor plants prefer areas with bright indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight. A southern exposure away from a window is ideal. - Watering
Watering can be done weekly by submerging your kokedama in a bowl for three to four minutes.
Remove excess water by allowing them to drip-dry for another five minutes before hanging or re-displaying them.
Remember to adjust the watering schedule depending on the type of plants you’ve chosen. - Fertilizing
Fertilizing can be done during the spring and summer, using a water-soluble indoor plant fertilizer at half-strength. Once a month, add the fertilizer to the bowl and soak as usual.
Following these directions, your kokedama should last several years indoors.
Now that you’ve seen how simple they are to create, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have a collection of kokedama.
Making them is fun, relaxing, and creative – all qualities that most people appreciate. So why not get started today?
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Til next time,
