How to Make Kokedama at Home
How does kokedama work? Mix peat moss and bonsai soil, and then slowly add water until the compound adheres as a ball. This is the base. Wrap the roots of a plant (we used a fern) in damp sphagnum moss, bind it with twine, and insert it into the soil ball. Finish it in sheet moss, with more twine to secure it, and spritz it with water.
hand holding kokedama moss above brown paper with glass jar
Make and Form Soil Balls
Mix peat moss and bonsai soil together in a 7:3 ratio. Slowly add water and mix it until it reaches a consistency to form a soil ball that stays together and is about the size of a grapefruit or large orange.
Wrap Ferns with Moss
Soak the sphagnum moss in water until it’s damp, and then rinse. Next, clean the soil from the fern plants’ roots. Use the damp sphagnum moss to wrap the roots and bind the fern with twine.
person holding kokedama plant above wooden table
Form Soil Ball Around Moss Ball
Break the soil ball in half. Place the moss-wrapped plant between the two halves, shaping the resulting ball as needed. Use sheet moss to wrap the ball, and then bind it with twine. When the kokedama is done, spritz it with water.
Kokedama Care
Watering Kokedama
The best way to determine if your plant needs water is to feel how heavy it is. When the ball feels light, there’s a good chance it needs to be watered. Another telltale sign that your plant needs watering is browning of the tips of its leaves. Cut off any brown parts of the plant to keep it from spreading.
Watering your plant is simple: Soak the ball in a bowl of room-temperature water for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer the ball to a colander for a few minutes to allow it to drain off any excess water. When the ball no longer drips, it’s ready to hang again.
Yellowing leaves and mold are two indications that your plant is being overwatered or is not thoroughly drying. If you find mold on your plant, don’t fret—trim the infected leaf or rinse off the mold with a warm, wet towel.
How to Water Indoor Plants the Right Way
Moss Lighting Needs
Like most plants, kokedama needs some light to thrive—but not too much. Since the plant is moss-based, it’s likely to dry out if it sits in direct light. To elongate the plant’s life, pick a semi-shady spot in your home and keep a close eye on it.
Fertilizing Kokedama
Once a month, fertilize your plant to give it the nutrients it needs. Add a water-soluble indoor plant fertilizer to your water-soaking routine, using half of the product’s recommended concentration.
The 9 Best Fertilizers for Indoor Plants, Reviewed by BHG
spring floral arrangements with tulips and decorative grass
Decorating With Kokedama
There are many ways to enjoy your kokedama plant, both inside and outside your home.
Hang kokedama in an office space or bathroom (the moss will love the moisture), above a kitchen island, or as a centerpiece on a dining room table. You can also hang it from a pergola, balcony, porch, or other shady area outdoors.
If you’re interested in adding more color, add colorful blooms like tulips or English roses instead of planting ferns in the middle of the ball.
different types of kokedama moss on landscaping rock
More About Moss
Mosses are nonvascular plants grouped according to growth pattern: acrocarps and pleurocarps. Acrocarps are unbranched and erect, forming a mounded colony. Pleurocarps are branched and spreading, with a fernlike look, creating a colony in a creeping, chaotic fashion. Each type has a different design appeal. The tiny sporophytes reaching for the sky produce spores that develop into the soft green mat we recognize as moss.
Harvest moss from your property or check local garden centers, floral shops, and online sources. Removing moss from protected areas, such as state and national parks and public lands, is illegal.
To collect moss, use a spatula and include a thin layer of soil along with the moss. Always collect responsibly, removing only small portions of a colony. Keep in mind that moss is sensitive to metals and chemicals.
Create Art from Greenery with These DIY Projects
Adding greenery to your home decor is an inexpensive and eco-friendly way of bringing living art to your space. DIY projects combine your artistic skills with natural elements for a unique creation that may continue to change and evolve as it grows.
A succulent piece is 3-dimensional wall art you can make in just a few hours. You can build your own indoor hanging plant holders for a natural look off the ground. Try plant beading to dress up your potted greenery for something different and colorful, or go whimsical with an adorable fairy garden terrarium, a great project for the kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a kokedama ball last?
In general, expect a kokedama ball to last for one to three years. At some point, the plant’s root system will become crowded in the ball and cause it to appear misshapen. You can reform the ball to a larger size with fresh moss and soil for additional time with your refreshed kokedama ball.
If you bind the ball with twine as described here, add two or three long additional pieces of twine securely to the twine wrapped around the ball. Tie the pieces together at the top and hang the ball from a hook. Some people prefer using fishing line to hang the ball because it is less visible but strong.
You can if you have an outdoor location that is always in full or partial shade. Even then, the kokedama may require more water than it does when grown indoors.
