Before you start...
The soil
You need to mix certain soils to create one that will adhere to itself and remain in a spherical shape.
Bonsai soil or a specialist orchid mix are both excellent growing mediums if you need a very free-draining mix. However, for this method you will also need a mesh bag (like the sort fruit or vegetables come in).
Another option is to mix clay soil (85%) and peat moss (15%) together. The clay holds its shape and the peat moss provides the moisture retention for the plant. Experiment with both methods to see which one you like best, or according to the plant you use.
The plants
The central plant can be any y type, although there are certain plants that work well. Succulents, epiphytes like orchids, ferns, begonias, peace lilies and ivy are good plant choices for a moss oss ball.
If making a clay-based ball, all, it will stay damp all the time, so you ou will need to select your plants carefully. ly. Avoid using cacti and succulents, since they prefer to stay on the dry side, e, or African violets and orchids, as their roots need air around them. A porous mix, which provides air spaces for their r roots, roots is best for these plants.
One of the world’s leading kokedama artists is botanist Fedor Van der Valk (www.stringgardens.com). He has used the moss ball method on all kinds of plants, from violets to fruit trees. His tips:
• ANNUALS are ok, but don’t tend to last long;
• YOU CAN use this method for trees – he’s successfully used it with olives, conifers, pears and apples, and you can see examples on his website – but they take a lot of care;
• HIS MOST successful kokedama are tropical plants, like orchids, anthuriums and asparagus ferns, and herbs like rosemary;
• THE BEST options are plants that like medium to full shade, as kokedama burn easily and tend to go brown in full sunlight.
The moss
The moss needed for the outside of the ball can be foraged from your own landscape or you can use sphagnum moss, which you can buy fresh or dried from garden centres.
To harvest fresh moss, use a flat, sharp-edged tool like a paint scraper or metal spatula and gently scrape it off. Make sure to take some of the ‘soil’ under it too, even if it’s a thin layer.