This week, a lesson in the simple beauty of Japanese hanging planters
WORDS: SUSIE WHITE; WWW.SUSIE-WHITE.CO.UK,
Kokedamas are an unusual Japanese alternative to hanging baskets, and are a fun creative project for both adults and kids. They are a type of bonsai, a little hanging garden that is great for small spaces.
The word “kokedama” literally translates as “moss ball” and you can make one to hang indoors or out so they’re very flexible.
The technique involves wrapping up the root balls of plants in moss and binding them with twine to hold them together in a decorative way. They can then be hung in trees, from fences or balconies, or from an indoor shelf.
Small and slow growing plants are best to use so ivy, fairy foxglove, houseleeks, acer seedlings, ferns or violas are good choices.
You can use fresh moss from a florist or foraged from the garden. I collect the carpet moss that grows on our drystone walls for making Christmas wreaths, and this is ideal for kokedama, too.
Use a peat-free potting compost and a bonsai mix at 2:1 and combine with water to make it sticky enough to mould into a ball. Gently twist the ball into two halves so that you can clasp them around the root ball of the plant, firm it up, then wrap the sheet of moss around it.
Tidy loose bits with scissors and wrap it around with natural twine (waxed thread will last longer). The twine can be used to create a pattern around it before encircling the top with twine to create a hanging loop.
Kokedamas are best hung out of direct sunlight because moss thrives in moist environments. Bathrooms or shady garden spots are good places to display them. They need to be kept damp, and the best way to check is to weigh one in your hand and see if it feels light or heavy. If it’s light, it’s time to soak it in a bucket for 15 minutes before draining off any excess water and re-hanging it.
A mister spray keeps the moss moist, and a monthly feed with diluted fertiliser will keep it fed. As well as hanging, kokedama can be displayed in shallow bowls for a freestanding sculptural effect. Then you can choose between wrapping the root ball or firming the moss so that it holds together.
Either way, it’s a fascinating technique and will definitely be a talking point.
