Kokedama. Koke: moss, Lady: ball.
Or those decorative plants that grow in little spheres of moss and are very much in vogue these days. It is a living moss, hence its name, but also a technique of Japanese origin Let one know why, one fine day it crossed borders and became fashionable in many countries around the world.
In a way, we could think of them as an alternative to bonsai because here a small-sized bush is also kept, perfect to use as decoration. Although the advantage is that it is much easier to grow and care for.
They come in different sizes and allow you to add some green to any environment, even if there is no room for large pots. They are beautiful and have that typical air of the Japanese gardens so unique and distinctive. Perhaps that is why they have been adopted with pleasure.
There are many reasons to know more about kokedamas and that is why today we dedicate ourselves fully to them, to know their secrets and needs.
Care of the kokedama
La kokedama technique it is not difficult and you can do it yourself with some skill. The process is easy, although you have to take some care so that the plant can survive without problems.
Remember do not expose the kokedama to direct sunlight or squeeze it to drain the water. If the environment is dry, remember to spray the leaves with water and if you notice that the moss ball is too dry, you can even submerge it in water for a moment.
Kokedamas are not ideal plants for a home with animals or young children as they are tempting and are likely to be attracted to their shape. If they undo the moss ball, chaos reigns because in some way it is the brain of the kokedama so try to keep it away from restless glances.
As with many plants, kokedamas are attracted to sunlight so it is best that you rotate it on its axis so that it does not grow to one side. Another important aspect is irrigation because although the plants develop with a certain humidity, an excess can be fatal as it gives rise to the proliferation of fungi and other enemies. Here the rule is repeated as it happens with any other plant that grows in a pot: lack of water is always better than excess.
In any case, check your kokedama regularly in order to warn of any problem and combat the appearance of pests and diseases. You may add fertilizers and organic manures although always mixed with the irrigation water in order to strengthen the plants. It is also recommended to carry out a small periodic pruning in order to remove dry leaves and if you want to clean the leaves you can do it with a cotton swab dipped in water. Finally, if you notice that the threads of your kokedama are misaligned, you can sew them with a needle. And the grandmothers say that you have to talk to the plants so that they grow in harmony so do not forget this wise advice that always gives great results.
With these cares, you are likely to help your kokedama to grow in harmony.
The kokedamas dress up for a party
If up to now you believed that kokedamas only admit a single physiognomy (moss ball in a transparent receptacle), you were wrong. Design has been put at the service of this technique and today there are a thousand ways to add glamor to your kokedama.
As with traditional pots that vary in size, materials and colors, the market offers different options of bases for kokedamas. There are terracotta, glass and even some 100% original designs, such as a base made with disused buttons. Do your research and you will find an option that suits your taste.
There are also cork and ceramic bases, which come in various colors and allow you to combine your kokedama with the colors of the house.
I am interested in learning more about how to make my own kokedamas
My kokedama has the edges of its brown chlor flower as if it were drying, what can I do?
My kokedama is drying, what can I do?
Hi Ines.
How often do you water it? Kokedamas need to be watered often, but letting the moss dry out a bit to prevent the plants from rotting.
Treat it with a systemic fungicide - sold in nurseries - to avoid fungi, and cut off the leaves that are bad.
Good luck.
What to do when the roots begin to grow, can it be transplanted into a pot? with moss?
Hello Nancy.
You can transfer them to pots with normal growing medium if you want. No problem.
A greeting.
Hi there.
Why is my kokedama dry?
Hi Viviana.
Usually it is due to excess watering. My advice is to decrease the frequency of it.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, I have a kokedama cove, but it turns out that my dog disarmed the base of my plant, she is quite discouraged, the leaves are down. I need to know what I can do so that the plant does not die ... Please, thank you.
Hi Pamela.
You can plant it in a pot with growing medium for plants and water it with powdered rooting hormones for a few days.
A greeting.
How do I water a Kokedama if it is wrapped in jute cloth?
Hi Marlym.
You can buy a syringe without a needle in the pharmacy of about 50ml, fill it with water and irrigate with it.
A greeting.
What is the Substrate for normal cultivation? Is the land prepared?
Thank you
Hi Margot.
Yes, it is the one that they sell in the nurseries in sacks.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a question about my kokedama, do I have to transplant it to a pot after one year?
Hello Carol.
If the plants are healthy, it is not necessary.
A greeting.
Hello. I have an orchid and bought it with b flowers but when the flower fell 4 months ago it did not bloom again. Only leaves grow. Cut the stem as I was told and leave 2 knots. What I can do?
Hi Nita.
There are many plants that bloom only once a year. Water it with distilled, rain or lime-free water regularly and you will see how it will bloom again next year.
A greeting.
Hi! I have a coquedama that got very ugly. Before, its leaves were fat (When watering them, even more), and up. When I returned from vacation (10 days away), I found her very ugly. It had already seemed to me before I left that his leaves were down.
Now I soaked it for a while in water, washed the leaves that had white spots and removed them, and cut the ugly leaves. But it does not recover. What I can do? How do I attach a photo?
Hi Ines.
I recommend planting the plant in a pot with soil, since kokedamas are usually made with plants that, yes, they are beautiful, but with a low water requirement.
Anyway, you can send us a photo to Contact@jardineriaon.com to se her.
Greetings.
Hello I have a Kokedama that is a stick of water, the issue is that all the leaves are drying, they are very yellow and brown, what can I do to save it?
Hi Pamela.
The Palo de Agua is a plant that, although its name may indicate otherwise, does not grow well in water or on substrates that are always wet. My advice is to plant it in a pot with a universal growing medium mixed with equal parts perlite, and water it twice a week.
A greeting.
Hello I have an elephant ear kokedama and the leaves are turning yellow. What I do?
Thank you
Hi Mariana.
It is probably overwatering. Remove the yellow leaves and space the waterings. In the event that it continues to get worse, my advice would be to plant the plant in a normal pot with universal growing substrate mixed with perlite or river sand in equal parts.
A greeting.
Good afternoon! I have a Painter's Palette kokedama and from February until now it was growing in height and the lower leaves were falling and some roots began to come out of the moss ball. Do you recommend that I prune it now that it is in bloom or do I wait a little longer? Thanks!!!!
Hello paola.
You can power it when it finishes blooming. In this way, you will be able to recover better.
A greeting.
Hello, I wanted to know where I can buy the plants and in what state do I buy them as seedlings or what? To perform the kokedama.
Hello Ceci.
You can buy plants at small nurseries and garden stores.
A greeting.
Hi! I have a ficus elastica in indoor kokedama, about 8/9 months ago. You are looking beautiful with leaf growth and now (this winter) some of its leaves have started to yellow and fall. What I do? Did I exceed it in water? I pass it to pot?
Hello Sun.
Yes, it is best to put it in a pot with a growing medium for plants.
Ficus are not suitable plants to make kokedamas 🙁
A greeting.
Hoka I'm Rosa, by profession a pastry chef but I love plants.
I have a koke but it has very long twigs for the base bun and I don't know how to make a tutor for it.
Could you help me.
Thank you very much
Hello rosa.
Could you send us a photo? You can upload it to tinypic or imageshack, and then copy the link here. So we can tell you better.
If you don't know how to do it, write to us and we will tell you 🙂.
A greeting.
Hi! Help!!! 🙁 I have a Kalanchoe kokedama, and it is super sad, many flowers fell and the ones that still remain are not as orange as when I bought it. I think it was overwatering.
How do I relive it?
They gave me a kokedama, I wanted to know about the base, doesn't it have to be covered?
Hi Mariana.
Kokedamas look like hanging plants. They are not usually covered. But if you are going to have it on a piece of furniture, then I would recommend putting a plate under it.
A greeting.
Hello I have a Kokedama Mariana subs leaves are down, when I compared it they told me that I have to submerge it in water and drain it and I leyengo this page says the opposite, how should I do?
Hi Mariana.
I recommend you more to spray it until it is very wet. This will largely avoid the risk of rotting.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, I'm Sofia, I'm 11 years old and I love my Koque very much and I always take care of her, her name is Tita, she is 9 months old, 2 days ago it was very hot and my house is small, her leaves woke up brown, I cut them, dipped them in water and I carried out all the cares d always but it is down, I see it sad, it is running out of leaves. What can I do to improve my Tita? I want her to be cute as always. Help xfa
Hello Angela Sofía.
From what you count, it seems that your kokedama has gone thirsty. My advice is… wait 🙂. Wait to see how it continues. The normal thing is that now that it has water again, it will recover little by little, even if it has lost the leaves.
Cheer up!
My kokedama is from the coin plant. I have it for two months. No bubbles came out when submerged in water and now it is losing leaves. Can I do something? Thanks
Hello Silvia.
It is likely that it is overwatering. It is important not to water more than 2 times a week, or 3 at the most during the summer.
I also recommend treating it with a spray fungicide to prevent the appearance of fungi.
A greeting.
Good evening, I have some inquiries for succulent kokedamas.
(1) For the substrate I use soil, humus, moss, sand, charcoal and perlite. It's fine?
(2) To wrap it I use moss. And I spray the moss ball every day so it doesn't dry out. It's okay?
(3) They say that you have to take the succulent plants out in the sun for about 4 hours a day. But become kokedamas, do you have to do this? considering that the moss would die.
(4) What are the care for succulent kokedamas? (Light, irrigation, ventilation, fertilizers, fertilizers, etc.)
Hi Flower.
Succulents are not suitable plants for kokedamas: moss requires a lot of water and shade, succulents few waterings and sun.
You have more information about these plants here.
A greeting.
Hey.
I have an anthurium kokedama, the substrate is made of earth, humus, moss, sand and perlite, they told me that the ball should be submerged for 24 hours, but on several internet pages I check that it is only 15 to 20 minutes, you have to see the substrate with which they are prepared to see how long to immerse them?
And my other question is if Orchids can be kokedamas.
Thank you!
Hi Patricia.
In the case of anthurium, I recommend submerging the ball for 10-15 minutes, more would be too much.
Orchids can be kokekadamas, but you have to water them little. 🙂
A greeting.
Good afternoon, I have a kokedama for a month and a half, it was very thick when I bought it, but at the time I began to notice that as soon as I touched the leaves they fell easily, my question is if it is due to lack of light or excess water. I would appreciate your help, thank you
Hi Carla.
It will probably be excess water. I would recommend watering it less, once or twice a week at most.
A greeting.