Today I’m going to share an embarrassingly easy DIY kokedama tutorial. My quick start guide will explain how to make and care for a hanging kokedama that’s so easy even plant novices can master the art in minutes.
Below, you’ll find lots of beautiful ideas for ways to display these mysterious hanging indoor plants, a gorgeous visual guide to the best plants to plant in a moss ball kokedama and a tutorial on the care of your new DIY kokedama plant.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links and if you make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
CREDIT | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
WHAT IS A KOKEDAMA?
Kokedama is an artistic, sculptural form of bonsai which uses very little soil and instead of a container, the root ball lives inside a layer of preserved moss, bound with string. The word Kokedama actually directly translates to “moss ball” in Japanese.
As beautiful as they are, you may be surprised to hear Kokedama is sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s bonsai”. However, considering this artform dates back to 1600 AD, it’s easy to imagine clay pots may not have been as plantiful as they are now at your trusty neighborhood Home Depot. Those smart Japanese indoor gardeners made do with what they had and now we have the gorgeous and mystical Kokedama.
“Misting and a weekly soak is all your kokedama needs to thrive.”
Kokedama are so beautiful that they are assumed to be difficult to care for, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only are they easy to care for, the plants that thrive in this form are some of the easiest to care for (hello impossible-to-kill SNAKEPLANT!). Misting and a weekly soak is all your Kokedama needs to thrive. Keep reading below for my Kokedama care tips.
CREDIT | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
CREDIT | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
HOW TO CARE FOR KOKEDAMA
Watering
MONSTERA ADANSONII “SWISS CHEESE PLANT” | @KOKETEANDOTE
In addition to a daily misting, most kokedamas require a weekly soak in room temperature water for 10-15 minutes. You’ll know if you need to water if the moss sphere feels light (ie dry) or if the plant foliage begins to droop or wilt. Once a month from March through October, fertilize your kokedama by adding a small amount of liquid fertilizer to it’s water when soaking.
SUSPENDED KOKEDAMA IN OPEN SIDED METAL DISPLAY BOX | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
Fertilizer
Liquid organic sea kelp plant food is widely accepted as the ultimate choice for all types of plants, inddor and out.
ASPARAGUS FERN | CREDIT
PINK PRAYER PLANT KOKEDAMA | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
Light
The exact amount of light a kokedama needs will depend on the plant variety. In general, most tropical, kokedama-friendly plants will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and out of cold drafts. If you choose to hang or display your kokedama in front of a window, keep in mind the amount of direct sunlight that window receives and close a sheer curtain during the brightest part of the day or relocate your plant. Direct sunlight will scorch most foliage on houseplants.
CREDIT
MONSTERA ADANSONII “SWISS CHEESE PLANT “ | CREDIT @KOKETEANDOTE
CREDIT
Still worried you’ll kill it?
I have you covered! You can still enjoy displaying a faux kokedama! One of my favorite stores, Cost Plus, has a set of three faux fern kokedamas ready-to-hang and create an instant indoor string garden.
Or if you want a colorful kokedama, this set of two faux succulent kokedamas are a great find, again, thanks to Cost Plus! If it were me, I’d get one of each set for a total of five kokedamas. I can imagine them floating at varying heights in a corner spot near a gallery wall, perhaps?
Target also has a Threshold faux kokedama, though on their site, they refer to it only as “moss ball”. Here’s the link.
DIY a set of completely custom unique faux kokedama! If you’re like me, you probably have faux floral stems and greenery bits laying around in a bin or drawer. If you do, you can use them to DIY an entire grouping of faux kokedama! I currently have a Target shopping bag full of faux fern bits and pieces in my craft room that’s BEGGING to become faux kokedama.
In addition to your faux floral scraps, an assortment of various sized styrofoam balls, moss and thin twine is all you need to DIY the hanging indoor string garden of your dreams. Check out the DIY Kokedama tutorial in-depth at Joann Crafts.
A WALL OF FAUX DIY KOKEDAMA | JOANN CRAFTS
Ready to DIY a Gorgeous Kokedama? Keep Reading…..
If you’re intrigued with the versitility of hanging and displaying kokedama plants and want to know more about how to DIY your own live kokedama, keep scrolling.
VARIOUS POTHOS KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
TALL SUCCULENT KOKEDAMA | @_OMUSGO_
BIRD’S NEST FERN | CREDIT
EXTRA LARGE LADY PALM KOKEDAMA | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
NIGHTSTAND KOKEDAMA | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
SNAKE PLANT AND FLOWERING KOKEDAMA | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
Before assembling your kokedama moss ball planter, you need to choose a plant. DIY’ing kokedamas is fun, but choosing your plant is EXTRA fun! So, what types of plants do well in moss ball indoor gardens? Thankfully, some of the easiest to find indoor plants like Pothos, Philodendron and Snakeplant (Mother-In-Law’s Tongue) thrive in kokedama moss planters. Plant newbies rejoice!
If you’re a more experienced gardener, orchids, ferns and pilea are common kokedama-friendly plants used by the pros. Let’s take a closer look at the best plants for an easy diy kokedama, so you get the best outcome possible, even if you’re a plant newbie.
What types of indoor plants are commonly found planted in a kokedama?
Aglaonema Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | MODERATE
LIGHT | BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, DAILY MIST
DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | SOME VARIETIES NOT PET SAFE
AGLAONEMA “CHINESE EVERGREEN” KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
Alocacia Amazonica Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | EASY
LIGHT | BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, DAILY MIST
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | NOT PET SAFE
ALOCACIA KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
Anthurium Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | MODERATE TO HARD
LIGHT | BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | SOAK TO KEEP MOIST AS NEEDED, DAILY MIST
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY RED PINK PURPLE WHITE
NOTE | A. SCHERZERIANUM AND A. ANDREANUM VARIETIES ARE EASIEST TO GROW
NOTE | NOT PET SAFE
ANTHURIUM KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
ANTHURIUM KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
Caladium Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | HARD
LIGHT | INDIRECT TO MODERADE SHADE
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, DAILY MIST
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | NOT PET SAFE
NOTE | GROWS FROM BULBS AND HAS SHORT BLOOM PERIOD
CALADIUM KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
Fern Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | MODERATE
LIGHT | FLITERED INDIRECT LIGHT TO MODERATE SHADE
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, DAILY MIST, KEEP MOIST
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | NORTH OR EAST-FACING WINDOWS ARE BEST LOCALE
HANGING FOOTED FERN KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
HANGING FERN KOKEDAMAS | CREDIT
Orchid Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | EASY
LIGHT | EARLY MORNING, INDIRECT
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, LIKES HUMIDITY
NOTE | ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE
NOTE | EAST-FACING WINDOWS ARE BEST LOCALE
A TRIO OF ORCHID KOKEDAMAS | CREDIT
Pothos Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | EASY
LIGHT | BRIGHT FILTERED TO LIGHT SHADE
WATER | WEEKLY SOAK, OCCASIONAL MIST
NOTE | ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE
NOTE | NOT PET SAFE
PHILODENDRON KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
POTHOS KOKEDAMA | @KOKETEANDOTE
LONG TRAILING POTHOS KOKEDAMA | @KOKETEANDOTE
Pilea Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | MODERATE
LIGHT | BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | ALLOW TO DRY COMPLETELY BETWEEN WATERING
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | ROTATE OFTEN FOR EVEN GROWTH
PILEA KOKEDAMA | CREDIT
PILEA KOKEDAMA | @ALINEAGROPAISAGISMO
Snake Plant Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | EASY
LIGHT | SHADE TO BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | ALLOW TO DRY COMPLETELY BETWEEN WATERING
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY
NOTE | NOT PET SAFE
SNAKE PLANT KOKEDAMA | @KOKETEANDOTE
Christmas Cactus Kokedama
DIFFICULTY | EASY
LIGHT | BRIGHT INDIRECT
WATER | ALLOW TO DRY SLIGHTLY BETWEEN WATERING
ADDITIONAL DETAILED CARE | BUY RED PINK WHITE YELLOW
CHRISTMAS CACTUS | CREDIT
CHRISTMAS CACTUS | CREDIT
Ridiculously Easy DIY Kokedama Tutorial
Now that you’ve chosen your kokedama plant, it’s time to get your hands dirty! And I am not kidding when I say even a DIY novice with two left hands can do this.
I found the best way to DIY your first kokedama. An all-in-one kokedama kit!
Literally, everything you need is inside the box, except the plant. After gaining a little hands on experience with the kit, you can venture out on your own to create a kokedama completely from scratch. Maybe even give some as holiday gifts! Christmas cactus in bloom are plentiful in winter and would make a spectacular and one of a kind gift for a plant lover.
Depending on the type of plant you choose, you can DIY a kokedama for under $50. Even better, if you have a houseplant in need of trimming or dividing, maybe those should be a candidate for your first kokedama? Nothing beats a free plant!
Are You Fired Up to Make a Kokedama?
I know I am! Keep your eyes open for an update to this post where I will show a step-by-step faux kokedama tutorial with ferns, succulents, maybe even cactus! I have such an abundance of faux floral extras, I could make a kokedama for everyone on my block!
