Kokedama is a ball of moss-covered soil with arranged plants. It is a popular art form in Japan and is often called the "Poor Man's Bonsai." There are endless possibilities for setting your Kokedama, including various succulents, flowers, wildflowers, grasses, herbs, and other plants that can be mixed to form a small orb.
Kokedama design is a great way to incorporate your favorite succulents indoors and outdoors or for a show-stopping element at a party or event. Kokedama can also be useful for propagating all loose cuttings sitting around the house.
How to Make
With the soil for succulents and peat moss, form a ball large enough to encompass the root mass of your succulents. Begin with a handful of the soil and add water until a large ball comes together and the soil becomes a malleable clay.
When your ball is formed, break it into halves (it should stay together) and place your plant roots between them. Smash the soils and roots together, keeping your shape circular until they become one and the roots are completely enclosed. Wrap the soil with the cotton yarn until it feels secure.
Take the sheet moss and begin to cover the outside of the soil. As you cover, begin to wrap the twine around the outside. The amount is up to you and how you want your final product to look.
General Care
Depending on the plant type, bright, indirect light is best. Keep an eye out for stretching due to low light conditions.
To water, soak in a bowl and hang to dry. Succulents should be watered generously in the summer, but allow the Kokedama to dry between watering. When the plants go dormant during the winter, you should cut watering back to once a month. Overwatering causes the plant to rot and is the most common cause of plant failure. A succulent should never be allowed to sit in water.
You can water with some of your favorite fertilizer, diluted to 1⁄4 strength through the growing season.
Links
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus