Enjoy the Indoor Art of Kokedama Gardening
Kokedama takes indoor gardening to the next level, literally! This Japanese art is all about hanging plants from the ceiling inside a moss ball. This popular gardening trend is creative, beautiful, and hands on!
This centuries-old art is connected to the practice of displaying the complex root system of bonsai plants, according to Garden Beast. Koke means moss in Japanese, while dama means ball. Revive those potted plants sitting on the floor by discarding the pot, replanting them, and enjoying their beauty from higher heights.
How do you make a kokedama?
This DIY project is fun to do, and is easily described in this Mitre 10 YouTube video. You will need peat moss, potting mix, sphagnum moss, strong twine, and a plant, of course! Many houseplants make ideal kokedama candidates but stay away from using cacti or succulents as they will find the clay-like soil too moist.
Remember to dig in and get your handy dirty as connecting with earth is actually healthy; forget garden gloves this time; dig in and practice some grounding!
Caring for your kokedama
A kokedama is easy to care for if it is in a suitable location. Your kokema will need gentle misting daily. If it looks thirsty, you can take it down and soak it in a tub of water, then drain it in a colander, as suggested by The Spruce. Fertilize it once a month. When it seems to be growing too large for its moss ball, simply make a larger ball, then move it into a newly renovated home!
Adding creative flair
Your kokedama begs for a Japanese Zen ambiance. A nice idea would be displaying your moss plant on a piece of bark or driftwood, as suggested by The Spruce. Or, you can place it in a clear glass vase or repurposed cabinet. Hanging a few together in a group is called a string garden.
You can also place your kokema in a DIY macrame plant holder, or prop it onto a deep box frame, then hang it on the wall.
Use your imagination and have fun with this great DIY gardening project. Make one for the office, or give them away as gifts. And when the weather warms up, you can take your little kokedmas on an outdoor adventure and suspend them from a tree branch.
