What is Kokedama?

The word Kokedama comes from the Japanese word meaning "moss ball," literally, koke: moss, and dama: sphere or something precious.

This plant art, as you may have guessed, comes from Japan, a country that has developed many plant-related arts and techniques. Kokedama is a unique technique that consists of growing and enhancing plants without the need for a traditional pot. In fact, it's simply a natural pot for the plant, composed of various substrates and covered with moss. A cotton or nylon thread is then placed to hold everything in place.

This art developed in the 1980s and is derived from several other ancestral Japanese arts, including nearai, bonsai (the most well-known and popular), and ikebana, the highly codified floral art that is beginning to develop in France.

There are many schools of thought in Japan dedicated to the art of Kokedama. Both the substrates, the moss used, and even the wire. The key is to have a substrate mix that will be suitable for the Kokedama format as well as beneficial for the plant. It will need to have sufficient nutrients and, depending on this, a more or less water-retaining and well-draining soil.

The Kokedama is a touch of nature brought to your home, and it's completely natural!

But how do you care for a Kokedama?

A Kokedama is an entirely plant-based arrangement that, like a potted plant, requires watering and a suitable location.

Watering

There are several methods for watering your Kokedama. Traditionally, the Kokedama is watered by immersion. We recommend two specific methods: Capillary bathing. Simply place your Kokedama in a small saucer or deep plate with a few centimeters of water and let it drink as much as it needs. After a few minutes, the Kokedama will be much heavier and will have absorbed the water from its support. If your Kokedama is too dry and you've forgotten about it for a while, for example, you can completely submerge it. This method allows you to completely rehydrate your Kokedama, but be careful to remove any excess water afterward. Indeed, this method may slightly disintegrate the substrate over time.

Watering frequency will depend on the plant and its water needs, as well as your indoor climate, which will play a significant role (dry or humid). On average, you can water a kokedama once a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter. This is a general rule; to be sure, you can check the weight of the sphere, which is a good indicator. If the kokedama is light, it will need water.

Placement

Most kokedama will not appreciate direct light indoors. Always favor indirect light to avoid damaging the moss and the plant. You can place some kokedama outdoors in the shade when temperatures permit. Kokedama are also available for outdoor use.

Humidity

You can spray tropical plants or plants that appreciate humidity on their foliage. Be careful not to mist the moss, or only do so occasionally, as it can turn brown indoors.

If your home lacks humidity, you can also place your kokedama on clay balls in a bowl with a little water. The water will rise by capillary action and provide your kokedama with a certain amount of humidity!

Discover our kokedama, entirely handmade in our workshop near Grenoble!

Discover our Kokedama