Kokedama (苔玉, in English, literally "moss ball") is a ball of soil, covered with moss, on which an ornamental plant grows. The idea has its origins inJapan, where it is a combination of thenearai (根洗い literally "root wash," but meaning "no pot")bonsai andkusamono planting styles. Today,Kokedama is very popular in Japanese gardens.
Kokedama is also called poor man'sbonsai.[1] It is made of wetakadama soil andketo (peat) formed to a ball.[2] The plant is set into the ball and afterwards the moss is wrapped around. Aluminium wire or nylon wire fixes the whole bundle, and is sometimes used to suspend thekokedama in the air.
Kokedama must be watered regularly. One method suggests feeling the weight of thekokedama over time – when the ball feels light, it can be submerged in water. The best plants forkokedama making are ones that require medium to full shade, since direct sunlight will likely burn and ultimately turn thekokedama a shade of brown.[2]
Media related toKokedama at Wikimedia Commons