If you’re a plant person who enjoys the company of varied species of plants, you’ve indeed come to the right place! Kokedama is the perfect eco-friendly choice to complete and decorate your lush green hanging garden indoor as well as outdoor.
Kokedama originates from the term ‘Koka,’ standing for moss, and ‘Dama’ means ball. This traditional Japanese art of Kokedama is ancient and is renowned as a modern art form useful for uniquely presenting and decorating your beloved plants and flowers.
Kokedama art was primitively used to highlight the elegant root system of the bonsai plant. But today, it’s made with houseplants in spherical-shaped mud balls. Almost any plant can be made into a Kokedama with minimalistic skills and tools. It is an elegant Japanese art of taking the root ball of a plant and suspending it in a mud ball, which is next coated with soft green moss. This spherical-shaped planting beautifies the surroundings by acting as a distinctive display piece. This consists of carefully composed soil with a heavy clay base that would adhere to itself. Usually, it is covered with twines or decorative colorful jute threads to add to the look and is fixed on flat platforms or suspended from a string.
Environment and plant enthusiasts prefer Kokedama as it is completely plastic friendly making it sustainable. They are a huge asset when it comes to you as well as your home.
Benefits Of Kokedama
Kokedama – hanging moss balls not only act as an ornament to fill up the empty corners but also as the best air purifiers for indoor spaces. To top it off, these plantations are easy to maintain and care for. The minimal care they require fits our busy schedules. Despite the untamed moss balls, it has a calming effect and relieves your stress. They are very therapeutic.
It has several other benefits apart from being environmentally friendly. It enhances the home or office spaces and also gives the space a boost of energy and creativity. It absorbs the bad energy and removes the toxins from the atmosphere, supplying fresh oxygen. Along with that, Kokedama acts like a trendy decorative plant and also makes for a great gifting option making a statement about nurturing, growth and care.
To be honest, I don’t believe there is anything better than a gift that grows!
The ultimate benefit of Kokedama is that you get to choose any plant suiting your needs – bonsai, ferns, pathos, asparagus, bamboo, or peace lily. It requires limited growing space, making it the appropriate choice for small places.
So if you’re looking for a long-lasting and environmentally friendly product to spice up your dull décor, you have a perfect choice! To dive into the making of the Japanese art – Kokedama, check out our workshops on plants and greens.
This ornamental Kokedama plant is easy to make with your family or even in your free time as a hobby.
3 Steps To Easily Make Your Kokedama Plant
The making of Kokedama requires minimal and basic tools that are readily available like your preferred plant, along with some moss, water, and, lastly, decorative coir twines. Along with this, a bit of patience and focus will help you to make your Kokedama effortlessly.
Step 1 – Make And Form Soil Balls
It’s time to put your planting gloves on! Start with mixing the moss and potting soil. Then slowly add in water and keep checking the consistency. Keep adding water until you’re able to form a firm ball without the chances of it crumbling, about the size of an orange or a grapefruit. You know you have the ideal soil ball for your Kokedama if you’re able to throw the ball into the air without it crumbling apart.
Step 2 – Insert Your Preferred Plant
Remove the plant from the pot with extreme care. Shake off the excess soil from the roots of the plant. Make a hole big enough in the soil ball you made to fit the roots. Then slowly and carefully sculpt your soil ball around the delicate roots. This is done with the help of adding damp soil mix or soaked moss during the process.
Step 3 – Cover It With Moss Ball
Take your plant and place it on the moss sheet. Wrap the moss sheet around the soil ball. Trim the excess moss. Keep pressing the moss around the ball until all the surfaces are entirely covered by it. Spritz the Kokedama with water. Now to bind it firmly, use twines or strings around the moss ball. After two passes around the surface, cut off the excess twine. For hanging it, make an extra loop around it and wrap around one more string for stability.
Voila! Now, your Kokedama is ready to be placed in an empty corner of your space or to be hung in your string garden, adding to the aesthetics.
Kokedama Care
- Avoid direct light as it will dry up your kokedama.
- Mist regularly as the moss thrives in moisture. Humidity is the perfect environment for it.
- Soak it once or twice every week. Let it absorb water as much as it can.
- Drain the excess water before hanging it.
- Regularly trim your kokedama.
- Clip off the dead leaves as soon as you see them.
- Feed them water-soluble fertilizer to keep them healthy.
By following these easy yet effective steps, you will successfully create an eye-catching Kokedama to add a touch of the Japanese culture to your surroundings.
We’ve all known that nature has constantly been a source of wonder and fascination, along with healing and aiding us. Sometimes, plants work their magic just by being present around us.
The art of Kokedama keeps the unique ancient Japanese gardening technique alive. Lately, Kokedama Bonsai has gained a lot of popularity among people. It is suitable for beginners as well as green-fingered enthusiasts looking for additions to their collection. The cute look of this moss ball is practically the definition of ‘Kawaii aesthetic’ – the Japanese culture of cuteness!
Book your experience of making your very own Kokedama, along with the expert guidance of Sangita Porwal.
