How to make a Kokodama

Creating a garden on a verandah or balcony usually involves potted plants placed on the ground or stands. If you have limited space, you can elevate your plants through the art of kokedama making.

These awesome mossy creations can carry a variety of plants, including succulents, orchids, ferns, spider plants and bromeliads. And for added colour, you can bind them with colourful twine. So lets get kokedama-ing!

Steps to creating your kokodama:

Step 1

To create growing mixture, combine equal parts peat moss and seed-raising mix in a tub. Add enough water so mixture holds shape when handling. Squeeze out excess water before using.

Step 2

Soak sphagnum moss in separate tub filled with water. Squeeze out excess water before using, this just needs to be damp so it can be molded to the base.

Step 3

Cut 2 pieces of twine, each 80cm long or longer if need be.

Step 4

Open the stocking and place two handfuls of growing mixture. Remove the plant from its pot and tease the roots at the base to loosen up the soil and put in the stocking as well. 

Step 5

With the soil and plant now in the stocking massage the base to create a very rough shaped ball. Don’t worry if it doesn’t stay in form, it will do so when you start to add the moss.

Step 6

Tie the first string around the top of the stocking, which is around the base of the plant to keep everything in place. Don’t tie too tight, as it will restrict the plants growth.

Step 7

Start to line the stocking with sphagnum moss, about 2cm thick, pressing into the sides in batches and wrapping the string around.

Step 8

Continue until the stocking is completely covered with sphagnum moss, if there are any moss sections hanging off don’t worry as your second piece of string will be the decorative piece that you can wrap everything tighter. If your ball doesn’t feel round, keep massaging it to push it into shape. 

Step 9

Tie off your first string and then start your second string to create decorative patterns. Wind around ball a number of times until it is evenly distributed around moss once you’ve used all the string tie off with a double knot at base of plant.

Step 10

There you have your Kokodama! Ready to be watered then hang your creation.

How to care for your Kokodama

Keep out of direct sunlight. 

• To water, either pour water in the top or dunk the whole ball into a bucket, let it soak for a minute and then hang it back in place.
• Depending on the type of plant you use, water about twice a week in winter months and about every second day in summer.
• Keep the moss moist at all times. Spray it with a mister when it feels dry to touch.
• In spring, use a diluted liquid fertiliser to give plants a boost, like Yates Thrive All Purpose Plant Food.