Kokedama rustica

19/10/2016

Never dispose of failed Kokedama, keep them if the moss is healthy and make them part of your display. I try to make sure my moss thrives, after all it's a large part of the scheme of things. Use binding string that rots away and you'll have perfect mossy balls with no sign of how they were made. Here's a bit of serendipity (the photo) - the plant died (maybe it's resting) but what a joy, tiny fungi have popped up. I have my own woodland scene in miniature in my garden.

26/07/2016

Saxifrage, can't remember the variety looking good as a Kokedama. This one was made more than year ago and has happily been through a Winter. Rather than hanging I have it in a dish specially made by Sharon so that rain or misting water is collected - enough to sustain the plant but not water-log it.

19/06/2016

My photos of Kokedama in the July/August issue of Landscape magazine....works well.

17/03/2016

Through the Winter the moss on my Kokedamas has grown well and totally hidden the string...I like that. The plants are not yet showing a Spring flush of growth, this Carex still looks rather 'Winterish' but in the late afternoon light had a nice glow. The dish is a ceramic one specially made by a friend who as passion for pottery.

04/02/2016

It's no surprise that Snowdrops lend themselves nicely for Kokedama, after all they are often sold 'in the green' as little clumps bound with moss to keep them moist. Here is a Kokedama using Snowdrops from my garden.

22/01/2016

Here's the Cyclamen coum as a hanging Kokedama. I've used a nylon hanging string so as to avoid rot causing the string to fail.

22/01/2016

I love moss. In this Kokedama the main plant, a Hakone grass is completely dormant and of no interest but the moss has been growing away and in just a couple of Winter months completely hidden the string.

22/01/2016

Cyclamen coum is a tough, weather proof species with a lax habit unlike the more delicate bedding Cyclamen of the Autumn. I have given this one a large root-ball to allow the development of a chunky corm that should last for several years in Kokedama.

11/01/2016

Most plants in Kokedama seem to thrive, with good root development and healthy growth. This Viola was done about three months ago when it was a small green plant with no flowers. Mild weather has helped but I'm thrilled with the amount of blossom and freedom from that nasty leaf spot that Violas get.

11/01/2016

A couple of months ago I made a Kokedama from a tiny wild Primrose plant. It has grown quite a bit in that time and so has the moss. The moss now conceals the string completely....I like that. It has been sitting in the lid of a Kilner (Mason in the USA) jar to keep it upright and to stop it drying out. It will look very cute when it comes into flower.

24/12/2015

11/12/2015

Kokedama is as much about moss as the plant growing in it. This is an interesting view on the Japanese passion for moss.

In a country known for its eccentric tastes, is this simply another flash-in-the-pan fad?