The art of kokedama: All you need to know about this ancient gardening technique

Who or what Is kokedama?

No, it’s not a K Pop group, but it does come from Asia. Translated from Japanese, kokedama means “moss ball” and it’s an alternative to putting plants in containers. Instead of a pot, moistened soil is pressed around a plant’s roots, covered with moss, and then secured with twine to form a ball. It’s plant and pot in one.

Where did kokedama come from?

On the horticultural family tree, kokedama is a descendant of bonsai. First used in China around 700 AD, bonsai is a method of pruning normal-sized trees to remain miniature over the course of their long lifetimes. How long? A ficus tree bonsai in Crespi, Italy is estimated to be 1,000 years old. That’s many years of frequent, meticulous pruning to retain the proper size and shape.

Loving beautiful things, the Japanese adopted this method and modified it. Kokedama, the “poor man’s bonsai,” achieved a beautiful result without the time-consuming care that the average working person likely did not have time to perform.

Why Kokedama?

Because, well, why not? In Japan, kokedama are present at tea ceremonies and special occasions or given to guests. No tea parties on your social calendar? No problem. Kokedama can be enjoyed just because they are simple, natural, and unusual.

Kokedama can be placed on pottery, antique plates, wooden slabs, bamboo baskets, coconut husks, and even in leather pouches. They can be suspended with twine or monofilament, or in tiny hammocks for those who like the idea of plants growing seemingly out of thin air. If you want, you can always plop it in a pot.

What plants are best for kokedama?

As always, indoor plants should be selected by considering the space and light available, e.g., a window with morning light. Houseplants suitable for kokedama include cyclamen, grape ivy, lucky bamboo, peace lily, Peperomia spp., and spider plant. Experiment with succulents and cacti but be sure to use a soil mixture that doesn’t retain too much water. Avoid African violets, orchids, or other plants that require loose, porous soil and good air circulation.

For the outdoors, plants that thrive in partial to full shade are best in Florida. Too much sun can dry out kokedama, killing the plant. Frost and freeze protection should also be considered. Woody perennials such as rosemary are a good choice. Amaryllis and other bulbs can also be used.

Where can I get a kokedama?

You can buy one, of course. However, you can make a kokedama if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, can make a meatball or falafel patty, and tie shoelaces. A little time and patience or a helping hand will make the process easier and more fun.

What supplies will I need to make kokedama?

You’ll need a plant or plant cuttings. Pot-bound plants are excellent candidates for kokedama because they need a new growing environment anyway. If using cuttings, be sure to place them in water until new roots form, making it easier for them to adapt to the soil ball.

Special kokedama soil blends are available online or at local plant nurseries, but potting soil can also be used. Always choose a soil mixture that meets the needs of the plant. The other supplies are sphagnum or floral moss, scissors, twine or wire, a bowl for mixing the soil, and a spray water bottle to moisten the soil or moss.

How is a kokedama made?

Simple and easier with practice:

Soak sphagnum or floral moss until it retains its shape when squeezed.

Mix up the appropriate soil blend or potting soil and add water until it can be pressed into a ball that retains its shape.

After gently loosening the plant’s roots, insert the plant into a hole made in the soil ball or break the soil ball in half, placing each half around the plant roots. Spray with water to maintain workability.

Let the soil ball drain off excess water and then wrap it with moss. (This is where patience pays off.)

Make a sheet of moss in a bowl or on the work surface. Place the plant ball in the middle and fold around the soil ball. Spray with water to maintain flexibility and good adhesion.

Again, allow the ball to drain excess moisture. Now it’s time to finish it up. (This is where an extra set of hands comes in “handy.”) Cut off a piece of twine and begin to wrap the ball snugly and in evenly spaced passes to avoid a busy final effect.

Display your new plant where it will get enough light and you can enjoy it.

How do I care for my kokedama?

If the moss of the kokedama looks lighter in color or the ball is crumbling or feels lightweight, it needs water. Hanging kokedama can be sprayed in place or taken down and soaked in a bowl for about 15 to 20 minutes. Rehang after draining.

In waterproof displays, kokedama can be moistened by pouring water over the moss ball, taking care to avoid spills or dripping onto furniture. Brown leaves… it’s too dry. Yellowing leaves or mold … overwatered.

Feed kokedama with a water-soluble fertilizer suitable for the plant, as recommended on the fertilizer label. Eventually, the plant roots will break through. No worries. Just wrap more soil, moss, and twine around the existing kokedama. Or, gently unwrap the kokedama, separate out the roots, making another for yourself or a friend. Or, plop it in a pot.

Try making one! If you do, we hope you enjoy your kokedama as a wabi-sabi piece of living art that celebrates simplicity, earthiness, and acceptance of imperfection.

For more information on plants, inside and out, visit your local UF/IFAS county website, Facebook page, and Extension office – which are located in all Florida counties.

Mary Janik is a Master Gardener Volunteer with UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Art of kokedama: ancient gardening technique is 'poor man's bonsai'