KOKEDAMA
Neon green pothos, N’Joy Pothos, & Dwarf Parlor Palm
Koke 苔 (moss) dama 玉 (ball) is a centuries old growing technique used to display ornamental plants. In their most simple form, kokedama are plants that have foregone the use of pots for growing- instead, their roots are wrapped in a special soil blend, and held together by sheets of moss and string. Traditionally, live moss is patch-worked together to hold the roots, while most modern kokedama are made with preserved sheets of dyed moss. This is ideal as most houses do not have enough humidity in the air to maintain lush, green live moss and over time it would die and turn brown. These special plantings are then displayed either as hanging plants suspended by string, or as a table accent by placing them in a shallow dish.
Hanging kokedama example; Blue Star fern kokedama on red clay base
Intuitively you may think that kokedama, being such a unique way of growing plants, are difficult to care for. In contrast, their care is very straightforward and takes some of the guesswork out of growing houseplants. The only real difference in care from potted plants is how they are watered.
WATERING
Deciding when to water kokedama is more clear cut than typical potted houseplants. You will know exactly when it is time to water!
When you first get your kokedama home, soak the entire ball and plant in a large bowl or the sink for around 20 minutes. You should fully submerge the moss ball portion, however it is not necessary to soak the foliage of the plants. Then, remove from the water and allow to dry long enough for it to stop dripping water. You may even give the kokedama a light squeeze to get rid of excess water. Weigh the kokedama in your hands- take note of how heavy it is. When your kokedama is ready to be watered again, it will feel very light- much less than after its soaked. Depending on the species, slight wilting of the leaves can also be an indicator that it is time to water again. Keep in mind that, like normal potted plants, certain species appreciate staying more on the dry or damp side, so use your own discretion as a new plant parent when watering.
When watering, it is only necessary to soak the ball portion of the kokedama
LIGHT & FERTILIZER
Other elements of care, such as light or how often to fertilize, are the same as they would be for other houseplants. It simply depends on the species planted in your kokedama- these are questions best asked at time of purchase if you are new to growing. Otherwise, give them the same light and type of fertilizer as you would if they were growing in normal pots. To fertilize kokedama and keep your planting thriving, every few waterings you can add dilute liquid fertilizer to the kokedama’s bath- use at half strength recommended on the label.
LONGEVITY
One of the limitations of using artificial moss in our kokedama is that over time, the dyes in the moss will lose their vibrant color. To combat this there are two options- both are very easy. The first option is to purchase a new sheet of moss, and simply wrap it over the existing moss using any strong thread or string you have. The other option is to take it out of the kokedama completely, and pot it as you would a normal houseplant. This is also ideal when you have a plant that has drastically overgrown its kokedama. Soaking the kokedama no longer than necessary will help prolong the moss color.
To remove a kokedama from its planting, cut through the sheet of moss as shallowly as possible to avoid cutting the roots. Then simply break up the root mass a little and plant in soil as you would any other houseplant.
At Tabula Rasa we strive to take these traditional plantings to new creative heights, curating a number of different terrestrial and epiphytic plants together to create an ever changing living masterpiece. Provide them with the right conditions and they will continue to evolve and reward you with their natural beauty for many years to come.