The Japanese gardening technique of kokedama will bring a touch of magic into your home
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/06/the-japanese-gardening-technique-of-kokedama-will-bring-a-touch-of-magic-into-your-homeThe Japanese gardening technique of kokedama will bring a touch of magic into your home
Recreate a centuries-old technique from the far east with moss, soil, twine, bonsai compost – and a little patience
Alice Vincent
Fri 6 Feb 2026 07.11 EST
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The ones in the cafe were a more contemporary version: the kokedama was a squat little mound, sitting quietly as if growing straight from the table. While the moss looked green and plump, it was home to a few artfully placed sprigs of limonium (sea lavender) and dried sanguisorba – kokedama as a non-polluting answer to florists’ foam.
It prompted me to think about how I could use them in and outside the house at this bleak time of year. On the other side of town, the Chelsea Physic Garden’s Heralding Spring festival traditionally kicks off my gardening year in late January. There, among the miniature theatres of irises, crops of snowdrops rise from kokedama hanging in the trees; a welcome dose of magic at this time of year.
Kokedama can be made at home with moss, soil, twine and a good bit of patience and practice. You’ll need to mix peat-free potting soil with bonsai compost or sharp sand (which encourages drainage) to make a mixture that feels mud-pie-ready. Remove the plant from its pot – hardier ferns are a good bet for beginners, or bulbs in the green – and make a coconut-sized ball from the compost mix around the rootball, squeezing out excess moisture. Wrap it in sheet moss, then crisscross the twine around the ball, tying and leaving some excess to hang it from.
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Kokedama has its roots in the Japanese bonsai tradition. It evolved as a minimalist approach to gardening, focusing on the aesthetics of simplicity and nature. With kokedama, plants are removed from their pots and wrapped in a ball of soil, then covered with moss. The result is a living work of art that can be displayed in various ways, from a tabletop to a suspended ornament.
Plant: Choose a small plant suitable for your indoor conditions. Ferns, peace lilies, and ivies are popular choices.
Potting Soil: A mix that retains moisture is crucial.
Peat Moss: Helps in retaining moisture.
Sphagnum Moss: To wrap around the soil ball.
String or Twine: To bind the moss ball.
Water
Preparation: Start by soaking the sphagnum moss in water until it’s fully saturated.
Root Preparation: Remove the chosen plant from its pot and gently shake off excess soil.
Soil Ball: Mix potting soil with peat moss and add water until it’s malleable. Form a ball that fits the plant’s roots comfortably.
Plant Placement: Make an indentation in the soil ball and place your plant inside. Gently mold the soil around the roots.
Wrap with Moss: Take the wet sphagnum moss and wrap it around the soil ball.
Binding: Use the string or twine to wrap around the moss-covered ball to secure it in place.
Displaying Your Kokedama: You can place your kokedama on a tray or dish, or suspend it using string to create a floating garden effect.
https://gardenersemporium.com/kokedama/]
