How to make a kokedama

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Saturday, 29 June 2019 at 10:22 am

We show you how to make your own kokedama – perfect for hanging indoors or outdoors.

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The word kokedama translates as 'moss ball'. Japan's answer to the hanging basket, kokedama are simple, fun and rewarding to achieve.

To make a kokedama, the root balls of small plants are wrapped in moss and hung up for decoration. Your kokedama can be used to adorn walls, fences, balconies, shady alleys, hanging from trees or indoors.

We used a young pot-grown ivy (Hedera helix) to make our kokedama, but you could also try violas, gaultheria, Helleborus niger or cyclamens for outdoor kokedama.

For indoor kokedama, try plants like string-of-beads (Senecio rowleyanus), asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) or orchids like Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium.

Discover how to make a kokedama with our simple steps, below.

You Will Need

Ivy plant
Sustainable sheet moss
Bonsai compost
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Garden twine
Pair of scissors
Terracotta saucer

Step 1

Mixing the compost

Mix equal parts multi-purpose compost and bonsai compost. If you can't get the latter, mix 2 parts sharp sand, 4 parts multi-purpose compost, 1 parts John Innes No.3.

Step 2

Adding water to the compost mix

As you mix, keep adding water until it is the consistency of wet cake mix. Take the plant out of its pot and gently remove the compost around its roots with your fingers.

Step 3

Forming the compost into a ball

Take a large handful of the compost mix and form into a ball, squeezing out excess water until it holds together well. Divide the ball into two halves with a simple twist.

Step 4

Reforming the ball with the ivy

Place the plant between your two compost halves and reform the ball around the plant. You may need an extra pair of hands for this step. Plug any gaps with leftover compost.

Step 5

Wrapping moss sheet around the ball

Lay a sheet of moss on a table, place the ball in the centre and wrap the moss around it. This can be fiddly. You may need more than one sheet to make sure the ball is covered.

Step 6

Trying ribbon around the ball

Tie garden string round the circumference and knot it, then wind ribbon or string around the ball till the moss is held in place. Leave a long length to hang it by.

How to care for your kokedama

Position: place out of direct sunlight and keep it hydrated as it's susceptible to drying out

Watering: to water, dunk in a bucket of (ideally tap) water, let it soak for a few minutes then hang up to dry. Do this twice a week in winter, and daily or every other day in the summer months. This may vary depending on the weather and plant you've used

Feeding: keep the moss ball moist at all times by spraying it, in situ, with a mister from time to time. In spring use a liquid seaweed feed diluted weakly in the bucket for a boost

Longevity: don't worry if you only keep it going for a few months, it'll have lasted longer than cut flowers! Some plants (like hellebore) can be planted in the garden afterwards

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