Get To Know Kokedama, The Creation Of Japanese-style Ornamental Plants

Illustration of kokedama, arranging Japanese-style ornamental plants (Pexels/Armand Valendez)

JAKARTA – Kokedama is the art of arranging Japanese-style ornamental plants. This creation in assembling living plants absorbs the concept of the Japanese philosophy, Wabi Sabi.

How to make kokedama is not easy. But the result looks very beautiful. Kokedama does not use flower pots or vases. How to assemble it is quite unique, namely with a 'moss ball'. Kokedama comes from Japanese, koke meaning 'moss' and dama meaning 'ball'.

Reported by Better Homes & Gardens, Thursday, July 29, the practice of kokedama is fairly ancient. Because they practice the spirit of utilizing wild plants and materials around them, live grass and moss can make the planting medium more solid so that it can become a place for other plants to grow.

If you take into account the advantages and disadvantages, kokedama can realize the desire to grow ornamental plants in a narrow area. Kokedama can be an ornamental plant that is hung by a rope from rattan or coconut fiber. Where is the best place to put it so that it continues to thrive?

Kokedama can be placed indoors or outdoors. As long as it is not exposed to direct sunlight unless dried in the morning. Well, kokedama care is different from other ornamental plants.

If ornamental plants need regular watering, then kokedama need to be soaked in water for one minute. Not every day, it only needs to be done every three days.

How to make kokedama, first prepare the planting media. The ingredients include soil, husks, and fertilizers. Don't forget to also prepare live moss and grass to decorate the outermost part.

Second, prepare the plants to be planted as kokedama. Freely chosen ornamental plants, meaning that they can use monstera, alocasia, calathea, and ficus or rubber plants. In general, the plants used by kokedama are plants with small or fibrous roots.

Third, to make a circle of planting media, put on a mold. The easiest mold to use is a trash bag or you can also use clear plastic. Shape into a round and make holes for good drainage.

Illustration of how to make kokedama (Instagram/@mossybolakokedama)

The last way to make kokedama, after it becomes a circle containing the planting medium as well as the plant. Wrap it with coconut fiber and tie it neatly using rattan rope or hemp rope. How easy is it to make kokedama? So that the display is more beautiful, give a wooden base or board.

In terms of benefits, usually the hobby of farming or caring for ornamental plants is done by adults. Well, caring for and making this kokedama can be done by children. Can be supported by planting media in the form of a round or cube.