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How to Make Kokedama: A Step-By-Step Guide

Kokedama, or Japanese moss ball, is a unique and eye-catching plant arrangement that can enrich any space, including lounge rooms, offices, kitchens, bathrooms, or backyards. Kokedama has gained international popularity for its unique beauty and the touch of green serenity it adds to any space. To help create and care for your Kokedama, we have put together a helpful guide with all the need-to-know information.

What You Need:

  1. A small fresh plant (See our suggestions below, but feel free to explore our Botanicum collection for more options)
  2. Peat moss soil
  3. Bonsai soil
  4. Fresh sheet moss
  5. Water
  6. Twine

Interflora’s picks for kokedama plants:

It’s best to start with a kokedama made from a plant that is fairly easy to grow, tolerates dry air and grows slowly. Succulents, like Echeveria and Christmas cacti, also philodendrons, golden pothos, ferns and epiphytes, such as orchids and bromeliads are a good choice for beginners.

Step 1:

Begin by gently removing your chosen plant from its pot, being careful not to damage the roots. Lightly shake off any excess soil, but there’s no need to remove it all. For denser root balls, a slight trim might be necessary to shape them for the kokedama.

Step 2:

Mix one part of peat moss soil with one part bonsai soil in a bowl. Add water gradually and knead the mixture until it forms a consistency that can hold its shape without dripping water. This soil mix is crucial for the kokedama's health, providing the right balance of water retention and drainage.

Step 3:

Form a small "volcano" from the soil and place the plant in the middle. Try to strengthen and stabilize the plant with the soil mixture. Keep in mind that all your plant roots must be covered by the soil ball with none overhanging. To make sure this doesn’t happen, try to make the ball 2 – 3cm bigger from where your roots end.

Step 4:

Lay out your moist moss on a flat surface and wrap it around the soil ball. This step might be a bit messy, but it's also where your kokedama starts to take shape.

Step 5:

Using your string, wrap around the moss ball in a criss-cross pattern to hold everything together securely. The string not only keeps the moss in place but also adds a decorative touch to your kokedama. You can be as creative as you like with this step, making patterns with the string or keeping it simple and rustic.

Step 6:

Once your kokedama is wrapped and secure, trim any loose ends of string or excess moss to give it a neat appearance. Now, it's ready to be displayed! Kokedamas can be placed on a decorative dish or hung in the air with string, adding a unique touch of nature to your home or office.

As succulents love light, it's best to place them to to the sunny sites, while shade tolerant houseplants like philodendrons, golden pothos and spathiphyllums are best for spots with little natural light.

Caring for Your Kokedama

Caring for your kokedama is quite simple. Submerge the moss ball in water when it feels dry to the touch, which is typically once a week, but this can vary depending on the humidity and temperature of your space. Let it soak for 15-20 seconds, then allow it to drain before putting it back in its place. Fertilize your kokedama every few months with a liquid fertilizer to keep your plant healthy and thriving.

See our plant selection here:

View Botanicum collection