My first Kokedama

[tcrane]

Jim, I'm looking forward to seeing the evolution of yours - seems like the ones with multiple types of plants really develop in interesting ways.

-Tristan

[bballr4567]

Is the dirt hard? How does it keep the shape without suffocating the roots? Really interesting way to grow.

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by Paul

Interesting! Was the moss used a sheet of live moss?

What keeps the moss from unraveling?

Do any roots that try to exit the moss ball get snipped off?

Paul;

I used a moss commonly found in the aquarium hobby called Java moss. I just pulled the excess out of one of my tanks and wrapped it around the soil ball. For the next one, I'll be using a local moss called Fern Moss which looks like miniature fern fronds. In most of the videos I've seen, they use dry sheet moss which is available in any craft store or garden center.

Right now, the moisture of the soil ball is keeping the moss from unraveling. I'm hoping the moss will knit together before it dries out and comes off. Generally, black cotton thread is wound around the moss ball to tie it all together.

I don't know about the roots growing through. I'm assuming any root tips that venture outside the moist moss ball will dry out and die off. As this is my first one, I'm expecting to learn a lot.

Cheers.
Jim

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

Is the dirt hard? How does it keep the shape without suffocating the roots? Really interesting way to grow.

Josh;

I imagine it's just like growing in the ground for the plant. The soil shouldn't get hard unless you let it complety dry out.

Cheers.
Jim

[nenella]

Tristan thanks for posting the link! Those photos are incredible! I may try this...one day... couldn't believe some of those plants like the medinilla magnifica, monstera etc. being grown like that!