A funny word to say and a fun thing to make. The word itself can be bifurcated into ‘koke’ which means moss and ‘dama’ which means ball. So kokedama is basically the art of making balls of moss. And as all the perky innovations usually originate in Japan, the country can have the credit for this one too.
How to make it?
To begin with, gather all the things that you will require. Here’s a list for you –
- Peat moss
- Akadama soil or soil with high percentage of clay
- Sphagnum sheet moss
- Waxed string or floral wire
- Plants that will fit to the size of ball you’re creating
- Scissors
- Bowl
- Gloves
- And some measuring cup or utensil
The next step is to make the balls. Mix peat moss and akadama soil in the ratio of 1:1 and start combining them together like you are kneading a dough. Crush all the big particles into smaller ones. Keep on adding water as per as requirement and don’t add too much moisture as it won’t hold on together then. Once you think the components are coming together, make a hole with your thumb. This the cavity in which you will place your plant. After positioning the plant, cover the ball with sphagnum moss. Use floral wire to keep everything intact. Voila!! You have your very own home made kokedema.
How to take care of them?
Fertilize the balls with water soluble fertilizers. Initially for a few days, keep the ball in a bowl full of water. Place it in such a way that it is partially immersed in water and partially exposed to air. The moss will absorb the water as much as it can and will become heavy. Once this procedure is done, you can place the balls outside or indoors as well.
Preparation of kokedamas can be a very good recreational activity. Furthermore, you can get rid of those boring and conventional pots. You can place them on your desks or they can even be hung as hanging pots. So, its time to make some kokedamas for your minkas!
Happy Gardening 🙂
Written by
Antra Thada
Reema's Garden 