Kids Go Gardening - Kokedama, ball of fun!

It’s mucky, it’s creative, it’s the latest craze - and it’s so much fun!!   Try making your very own Kokedama – a Japanese hanging string garden (or ‘moss ball’).  Don’t worry about the mess – it’s worth it to end up with something so beautiful!

You will need:

• Small plants
• Heavy clay soil
• Potting mix
• Spagnum moss
• String

1. Remove your plant from its container. Gently loosen the roots then wrap them in a layer of sphagnum moss.
2. In a big bucket, put a few handfuls of potting mix with an equal amount of clay soil. Use your hands to mix it together.
3. Pack the mixture around the moss covered roots, packing it tight as you shape it into a ball. Stay as close to the plant as you can. You may need some help here.
4. Press sphagnum moss all over the ball to cover it.
5. Cut a long piece of string at least 3m long. Lay the moss covered ball over the middle of the string then wind the string all over the ball, crisscrossing it so that all the moss is held inside. Attach string at the top of the ball to make the hanger.

Tips:

Kokedama needs watering more than most other plants, depending on the plant you choose and where you hang it. To keep it well watered, soak the ball in a bowl of water (or hold a bucket of water up to it), then leave it to drain. You can also mist spray using a squirty bottle.

Small plants are best. Try oregano (a fragrant herb), Pratia (‘baby’s tears’) and a succulent from the garden. Succulents are great because they don’t need much watering. Shade loving plants like baby’s tears and other baby houseplants are ideal because they like the shade so they stay moist longer.

You can dig clay soil out of the back yard. Dig deep until you find soil that sticks together when rolled into a sausage shape.  If you don’t have this type of soil, you might know someone who does – it’s common in new housing areas.

You can make a kokedama with seeds. First make your ball then water it thoroughly before pressing your seeds into the top half of moss. Use a mist spray bottle to keep it moist without washing the seeds away. Seeds to try: creeping herbs such as thyme or oregano, quick growing salad greens such as cress and microgreens, and flowers like alyssum, violas, pansies or dwarf sweet peas. 

 

Look for these products, tips and advice at a Go Gardening Store near you.

This is what you need to get started

Step 1

Step 2

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Step 4

Finished!