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is a ball of soil, covered with moss, on which an ornamental plant grows. The idea has its origins in
''Kokedama'' must be watered regularly. One method suggests feeling the weight of the ''kokedama'' over time – when the ball feels light, it can be submerged in water. The best plants for ''kokedama'' making are ones that require medium to full shade, since direct sunlight will likely burn and ultimately turn the ''kokedama'' a shade of brown.
is a ball of soil, covered with moss, on which an ornamental plant grows. The idea has its origins in Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, where it is a combination of the '' nearai'' (根洗い literally "root wash," but meaning "no pot") ''bonsai
Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of ''penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produce ...
'' and ''kusamono
''Kusamono'' (literally "grass thing") and ''shitakusa'' (literally "undergrass") are a potted collection of plants designed to be viewed either in accompaniment with ''bonsai'' or alone. Normally, the term ''kusamono'' is used when the planting ...
'' planting styles. Today, ''Kokedama'' is very popular in Japanese gardens.
Creation
''Kokedama'' is also called poor man's ''bonsai
Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of ''penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produce ...
''.
It is made of wet '' akadama'' soil and ''keto'' (peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficien ...
) formed to a ball. The plant is set into the ball and afterwards the moss is wrapped around. Aluminium wire or nylon wire fixes the whole bundle, and is sometimes used to suspend the ''kokedama'' in the air.
Care
''Kokedama'' must be watered regularly. One method suggests feeling the weight of the ''kokedama'' over time – when the ball feels light, it can be submerged in water. The best plants for ''kokedama'' making are ones that require medium to full shade, since direct sunlight will likely burn and ultimately turn the ''kokedama'' a shade of brown.
References
External links
* {{Authority control Japanese style of gardening