DIY Kokedama String Balls: How to Make a Japanese Moss Ball

Kokedama is a Japanese gardening method that involves wrapping a plant’s roots in a ball of soil and moss to grow. You can hang kokedama plants from the ceiling on a string or grow them on their own on the ground or on a flat surface, such as a piece of driftwood. The term “kokedama” comes from the Japanese words “koke,” meaning “moss,” and the word “dama,” meaning “ball.”

Making and keeping kokedama plants is similar to bonsai, the Japanese art form of creating a miniature garden. Both forms highlight the exposed root system of a plant and encourage moss growth.

The best plants to use for a kokedama will thrive indoors with indirect sunlight or tolerate part shade. Ideally, the plant should have a small root system so it won’t quickly outgrow the container. The plant should also be able to handle dry conditions and low humidity. Here are common types of plants to grow using the kokedama method:

1. 1. Anthurium: Notable for their vibrant coloring—usually green and red or green and pink—anthuriums have modified leaves known as spathes. Although they come with some unique plant care requirements, anthuriums make great houseplants in climates less becoming to their environmental necessities, making them a great option for kokedama.
2. 2. Begonias: Begonias are common household plants with colorful flowers and lush foliage. These colorful flowers are relatively easy to grow and will continue to flower all summer with proper care. Begonias are a good option for kokedama balls.
3. 3. Ferns: In the home, ferns are an excellent choice as houseplants—their lush greenery will complement your flowering plants. You can grow ferns in everything from clay pots to kokedama balls, and they don’t require full sun to thrive.
4. 4. Philodendron: Philodendrons are some of the easiest houseplants to grow and care for, making them perfect kokedama specimens. The most common philodendron plants produce long vines or stems adorned with thick, waxy, dark green leaves. Gardeners can plant them indoors year-round, and they are fast growers.
5. 5. Pothos: Pothos is a low-maintenance, vining indoor plant that is easy to care for and propagate. Pothos plants are excellent houseplants to grow as a kokedama specimen.
6. 6. Spider plants: Spider plants have long, thin leaves—both solid-colored and variegated—and grow one to two feet tall. Spider plants have long grass-like leaves and produce clusters of small white flower blooms that mature to form baby spider plantlets, commonly referred to as "spiderettes." They thrive in low-light conditions, making them great choices for a dark space in your house.
7. 7. Succulents: Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves or stems, which store water and protect the plants from drought. Succulents are usually small and can tolerate plenty of dryness and sunlight, making them perfect specimens for kokedama.

Make your own kokedama at home to use as a houseplant or stage in your garden with just a few materials found at most garden centers or hardware stores:

1. 1. Potting soil and clay: You will mix potting soil (or bonsai soil) with clay to create the new root ball your plant will grow in.
   
2. 2. Moss: You’ll need either sheet moss, peat moss, or sphagnum moss to wrap around the soil-covered root ball of your plant to keep the structure intact.
3. 3. Twine: Thick jute or twine will help you secure the moss.
4. 4. Scissors: Use scissors to cut the moss, string, and twine to your desired sizes.
5. 5. String: Use string to hang your kokedama plant from the ceiling or other desired place.

Making a DIY kokedama is fun and rewarding, and it allows you to showcase your plants in new and creative ways. The gardening project is also a great group activity to do with friends. Here is a quick step-by-step guide to making a kokedama:

1. 1. Choose the plant. You can use almost any plant in a kokedama, but the ideal plants are small and hardy to various conditions. Plants that thrive in kokedama balls often prefer shade and can tolerate dry environments. Be sure to choose a well-established plant for your kokedama.
2. 2. Dig up the plant. Start your kokedama project by digging up your established specimen plant. Dig around the plant’s root ball to dislodge it from its grower container and expose its root system.
3. 3. Mix the soil. Create a soil mix with a ratio of one-third clay to two-thirds of potting soil to create a thick clay soil mixture.
4. 4. Coat the root ball. Gently spread the soil and clay mixture around your plant’s roots to create a ball around the root system.
5. 5. Apply the moss. Wrap your clay-covered root ball in sheet moss, peat moss, or sphagnum moss. Then, use your twine to secure your moss by wrapping it around the ball multiple times.
6. 6. Hang the kokedama. You can use string or twine to hang your kokedama, though some DIYers prefer fishing line because it is transparent and will be almost invisible as it hangs in the air.

Caring for kokedama plants can be challenging because their exposed root systems make them vulnerable to drying out. There is also a risk of the plant’s root system outgrowing your moss ball. However, following proper pruning, watering, lighting, and humidity guidelines can give your kokedama the best chance at a long life:

• Watering: The best way to water a kokedama is to submerge the moss ball in a container of room-temperature water and soak it for fifteen minutes. Then, gently squeeze the moss ball to get out the excess water. This technique allows the water to permeate the ball of moss, which is better than simply spraying or pouring water over it. Only soak your kokedama when it feels dry to the touch and consider the needs of the type of plant you are using in your kokedama.
• Lighting: Your kokedama plant’s lighting needs will vary by plant type. If your kokedama is a sun-loving plant, give it a few hours of bright or direct sunlight every day. If your plant is sensitive to heat and light, put it in a shady room in your home.
• Humidity: Kokedamas generally prefer a room with at least fifty percent humidity, which is a high amount. The best way to increase the humidity of a room is to use a humidifier, especially if you live in a dry climate.
• Pruning: Ideally, you’ll be working with a plant that you can prune back when it grows too big. When your plant’s root system grows too large for its current moss ball, prune it back and re-do the kokedama process to make a new, larger ball.

Kokedama plants are sometimes confused with marimos—green algae balls found in freshwater lakes and rivers in Japan and Iceland. While gardeners wrap kokedama plant roots in a ball of clay soil and moss, marimos do not contain moss and are made of a rare form of algae.

Some people place marimos in freshwater aquariums and fish tanks as aquatic plants, along with driftwood and fish like goldfish or betta fish. Conversely, gardeners often hang kokedama plants from the ceiling or place them on the ground in their yards.

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