By India Hamilton
Kokedama is a Japanese
term meaning “moss ball.” After reviewing Miniature Moss Gardens, written
by Japanese authors Megumi Oshima and Hideshi Kimura, Washington Gardener decided
to try out one of the many projects included in the book. You can find our
review of the rest of the book in the March 2017 edition. Check out our easy tutorial
for kokedama planters below.
Level: Beginner
Cost: Minimal
Use: Decorative
Time: Approximately 10
minutes for preparation and 15 minutes for assembly
Materials
- Soil
- Sheet moss
- Sphagnum or Spanish moss
- Garden soil
- A small, rooted cutting of a
flower or small indoor plant
- Waxed string or floral wire
- Small garden scissors or wire
cutters
- Water
- Mixing bowl
- Small plant pots and/or “s”
hooks for hanging
Step 1: Soak peat moss in water to allow it to become
pliable.
Step 2: Intermix your Spanish moss with moist soil at a
1-to-3 ratio, respectively, to create a ball that will be at the center of your
kokedama planter.
Step 3: Create an indentation in the center of the soil
ball that extends about one-third of the way into the soil ball and place your
plant cutting inside.
Step 4: Take pieces of sheet moss and, after
wringing out any excess water, wrap the peat moss around the soil ball until it
is completely covered.
Step 5: Secure the peat moss to the soil ball by
twisting and tying the string or wire tightly around the ball.
Step 6: To display, place the kokedama ball on top of a
plant pot or use more wire to attach to the ball and hang it using an “s” hook.
Place in a window.
Care: About once a week, or
whenever you notice it start to dry out, place the entire ball in a bowl of
water and let it soak for 10 minutes. Then squeeze out the excess water and let
it drop over a sink, before returning it to its display spot.
About the author:
India Hamilton is a
junior multi-platform journalism major and black women’s studies minor at the
University of Maryland, College Park. She copy edits and writes feature and
event pieces for the online publication, Pulsefeedz. This winter/spring,
she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.
This is a monthly blog series on DIY projects for the
beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog
series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot. com.
It is a good blog about the gardening information and informing people how to take care of their gardens and it shows your helping attitude.
ReplyDelete