Make Your Own Kokedama

It’s not unusual to see plants in cups, succulents in cute containers, and even air plants sprucing up the home. If you’re ready to take your gardening skills to the next level, you may want to create a Kokedama.

A Japanese art form, kokedamas are moss balls (koke means moss, while dama means ball). It is a combination of bonsai styles wherein the roots of the plant are bound. Aside from adding a very calming touch to any space, it allows you to showcase your green picks without an actual container as the soil and moss perfectly hold it.

Ready to create your own? Take note of the materials, steps, and tips below:

What you need:

• Kokedama soil

- Similar to bonsai, traditional kokedamas use akedama, a reddish, clay-ey soil. It helps hold your plant together. Visit the shops in White Plains, Quezon City to look for akedama.

- You can also use regular potting mix combined with peat moss (7:3 ratio, peat moss to potting mix)

• Your chosen plant

- Choose plants that won’t mind moisture. Leafy houseplants like nerve plants, ferns, and ivy are your best bets.

- Succulents are a bit tricky to work with, but with proper care, it can also be used.

RL Tip: Choose plants with interesting structures to complement the moss ball. Keep in mind that the size of the plant is relative to the size of your finished project.

• Scissors
• Twine or any sturdy string of your choice
• Spray bottle filled with water

How-to:

1. Begin by arranging your materials on a table. Protect it from scratches by covering it with Manila paper or old newspapers.