DIY: Kokedama

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.