Kokedama Jap Moss Ball and String Gardens

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Put an ancient twist on the art of growing indoor plants with kokedama, the Japanese practice of growing plants in a soil filled moss ball.

These moss balls can be used for bonsai, seasonal wild flowers or just about anything green. Japanese gardeners displayed these moss ball gardens on alters. Gardeners today are also wrapping them in twine and hanging them from the ceiling. In either case the construction is similar.

Find or make a clay based planting mix. Some gardeners combine akadaka clay-based bonsai soil alone or combined with peat moss or potting mix.

Thoroughly mix, then moisten and form into a ball the size of an orange or grapefruit. Wrap the ball with sheet moss and secure with fishing line, twine, or wire, depending on your taste. Punch a hole in the ball. Set a bare root plant in place and tamp to insure good root to soil contact. Adjust these planting steps as needed.

A bit more information: You will need to do a bit of experimenting, but isn’t that what gardening is about, to find the planting mixture that works best for you and the plants. A search of the internet will provide additional insight. Check out Tovah Martin’s fun insight on the background and construction of these gardens by clicking here.

For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com.