Plant parenting has gone beyond taking care of greens, swapping them with other plantitos/plantitas, and exploring different propagation methods. Some avid green thumbs explore artful ways to raise beautiful plants. You’ve heard of bonsai, which is the Japanese art of minimizing trees and pruning them for optimal growth. Now you’ll learn about kokedama.
For starters, kokedama refers to the Japanese botanical technique of growing plants in moss-covered balls of soil usually wrapped with string or fishing lines. Creating kokedama plants is an artistic way to present your greens indoors and outdoors. They also make beautiful gifts for plant-loving friends who want to add oomph to their spaces.
If you want to try a new method to grow plants in an artistic fashion, here are four tips to help you grow kokedama plants at home:
Kokedama can either be hanging or open-air plants; you’ll need the right greens for your moss ball to withstand being exposed to ventilation, sunlight, and moisture. The best indoor plants for kokedama include pothos, ferns, bromeliads, anthuriums, dracaena, and philodendrons.
For outdoor kokedama, you want plants that will thrive in partial and full sun. Ideal plant options include English Ivy, aloe vera, String of pearls, donkey’s tail, and peperomia. Herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, basil, and mint, are also suitable for food-producing kokedama.
Whether you choose indoor or outdoor plants, your kokedama will provide handcrafted natural elements to your home. Japanese moss ball plants are perfect for modern zen-inspired homes such as Idesia Dasmariñas’ townhouse units.
To create your moss ball, you’ll need organic bonsai soil, organic peat moss, jute or fishing string, and preserved or living sphagnum sheet moss. First, clean your plant by removing excess soil until its roots are visible. Cover the roots with moist sphagnum sheet moss and secure it with the jute string.
Mix peat moss with bonsai soil in a bowl or bucket; use a 7:3 ratio to create the perfect consistency. Slowly add water into the mixture until you reach a clay-like texture that is easy to sculpt and shape. Test the ball’s durability by tossing it gently into the air; if it doesn’t crumble, you’ve made the right moss ball mix.
Gently split the ball in half to avoid ruining its shape. Insert your moss-covered plant on one of the halves and sandwich it with the other. Add soil if you need to expand the ball to hold your plant better. Dampen your sheet moss, and wrap it around the soil ball. Secure the moss ball by tying it with jute or fishing string. Wrap in all directions to maintain your moss’ form; doing so also lets you hang your kokedama without it falling apart.
While most of the plants suited for kokedama are hardy and relatively low-maintenance, they still need proper watering to thrive beautifully and healthily. Fill a bowl or dish with water and let your kokedama sit on it for five to ten minutes; you’ll know your moss ball is amply watered when it feels heavy. Repeat this step when your Japanese moss balls feel light and dry.
Fertilize your kokedama once every two to three weeks with water-soluble fertilizers. Dissolve a tablet or pellet in a bowl of water and let your moss ball sit on it for ten minutes. You’ll provide your plants with essential nutrients while watering them.
Different kokedama plants will require different amounts of sunlight to thrive. For indoor plants, place them in a partially sunny spot, such as areas close to a window. Use blinds to cover your windows when it gets too hot and sunny.
For plants that require full to moderate sunlight, select an area outside that has shade. You want your Japanese moss balls to receive sunlight without being scorched or burned. If you live in a place that is always cloudy, use LED grow lights to simulate sunlight indoors.
Kokedama plants might seem tricky to make, but they add flair and fun to growing and propagating plants. These four helpful tips give you an idea on how to build and grow beautiful and healthy Japanese moss balls at home.
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