Try something new! Kokedama, Japanese garden art
By Pam Baytos
OSU Ext. master gardener volunteer
The art of kokedama translates from “koke” meaning moss and “dama” meaning ball. It is a form of Japanese garden art that is centuries old and tied into the practice of bonsai. A moss ball is the focal and supporting point for a sculpted tree or plant. The ball is fixed to a platform or suspended from string with the plant growing out from the sphere. Try attaching them to a piece of driftwood or bark, or nestle in a clear attractive container. Hanging many of these as a kokedama moss garden is called a string garden.
Kokedama is the practice of taking the root ball of a plant and suspending it in a mud ball, which is then coated with soft green moss. The traditional art form relied upon composed soil that would adhere to itself. This soil is called akadama. There are different soil mixtures, you can use peat moss and bonsai soil at a 7 to 3 ratio or mix 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts topsoil, 1 part sphagnum moss and 1 part perlite. Another good mixture is 2 parts potting soil, 1 part peat moss and 1 part compost. Add water to the soil and soak this mixture.
Select your plants using the guideline of ease of care, light needs, and ability to tolerate sodden soil. Avoid succulents and cacti, as the soil ball will remain too moist for them. You need to remove the soil from the roots of your plant and gently break apart the root ball. You might need to prune them.
Pack the soggy mix around your plant as if you were making a snowball. Then you’ll wrap your ball with sheet moss that’s been soaked with the extra moisture squeezed out. Wrap the ball with twine, string, or fishing line. Tie a loop in one end. Wrap the string around the ball and pass the other end through the loop, pulling it tight. You can also use a floral pin to secure your string. Continue wrapping, securing the moss firmly in place, passing close to the crown of the plant and across the bottom.
Wrap the ball several times to make sure the moss doesn’t come undone when you water your kokedama. To water your plant, soak the ball in a bowl of room temperature water 10 minutes. To drain, transfer to a colander for a few minutes. Once a month, fertilize by adding a water soluble indoor plant fertilizer using half the recommended concentration. If your roots show through, it’s time to repot.
Experiment with different plants and methods of displaying your kokedamas to create works of art.