Greens come out of moss ball
NEW TREND IS JAPANESE STYLE WITH HANGING PLANTS GROWING UPSIDE DOWN Kokedama is also called ‘poor man’s bonsai’.
Now that indoor plants are fashionable again, people are looking for unusual ways to display them and the latest craze is Kokedama, derived from a form of Japanese art garden.
Moss is an integral part of Japanese gardens and Kokedama is a moss ball; literally “koke” meaning moss and “dama” meaning ball. It is tied into the practice of bonsai, where a sculpted tree or plant is displayed in a moss ball. In fact, Kokedama is also called “poor man’s bonsai”.
It is made by taking the root ball of a plant and coating it with soft green moss, that is secured by winding nylon wire around the bundle, then more moss is added and the ball is finally secured by winding string around it. The result? A living plant holder.
In its new form, Kokedama acts as an accent for a beautiful indoor plant, whether it is a specimen orchid, a beautifully patterned foliage plant, such as Calathea, or a frilly-leaved bird’s nest fern.
One can see the appeal, particularly considering the current taste for earthy, natural and environmentally attuned products in our homes. It is an affordable, and a “green” alternative to plastic baskets and pots. They are perfect for the home that seeks to reduce its carbon footprint and is a gift that will blend in with any interior style.
In SA, there are two types of Kokedama – one that can be suspended like a hanging basket and the other with an inner plastic lining into which you can drop a pot plant and then stand it on a table. The inner lining holds the water and prevents it from seeping through and spoiling the surface underneath.
In Japan, the hanging Kokedama are displayed in an alcove, or in the corner of a room and hanging up a collection is called a string garden.
Groups always look better. Suspend three or more Kokedama at different heights, as an eye-level feature. Use them to liven up a bland corner in a room.
Go rustic, and find a sturdy, dead branch in the garden, which can be secured by brackets onto a wall. Hang the Kokodama from the wooden branch. Build up a collection around them.
Use Kokedama to decorate the bathroom; they will love the humidity.
Spritz daily or place on a tray of pebbles and water for humidity.
Water once every three to five days, depending on the amount of light and humidity in your home. When the ball dries out or becomes slightly lighter it’s time to water again.
Sink the Kokedama into a bucket of water that comes halfway up, and leave it to soak up the water. When the ball feels heavy, remove it from the bucket and allow it to drip in a sink.
Place it in a position that receives bright, indirect light but not in the sun. The amount of light also depends on the plant. Some, like Spathiphyllum (peace lily) only need low to medium light while roses like brighter light.
Keep away from the heater in winter. Plants also should not be too close to windows as the temperature drops at night.
Feed the foliage with a foliar feed. Clip off any dead leaves. Expect to repot once every year or two as the plant grows.