Japanese Kokedama: Moss Ball Plant Art Guide

It’s almost time for us gardeners to say ‘good night’ to our gardens and head back indoors for the winter. But that means it's time to say ‘hello!’ to our houseplants yet again! They’ve been there patiently waiting for us to come back and give them some attention anyway!

It’s no time to hibernate or sulk - It’s time to pick up a new houseplant obsession and maybe even a new hobby!

Nature Hills makes it easy with our new line of ready-to-ship Kokedama plants just for you!

The Ancient Art of Kokedama
Plant Varieties Available
Displaying Kokedama
Kokedama Care
DIY Kokedama
Order Now!

The Ancient Art of Kokedama

Kokedama is Japanese for "Moss Ball" which this planting style literally is! It’s a plant, wrapped in moss into a ball shape around its roots and suspended or set in a tray in an artful and lovely manner!

Perfect for interiorscapes of all sizes and plant root systems of nearly any size, Kokedama (sometimes called String Gardens) is a beautiful and space-saving form of gardening that is an inexpensive thing to try! Plus it’s perfect for new gardeners too!

Centuries old and easier than Bonsai to master, Kokedama is a fantastic practice that combines art and nature! Fantastic home accents and even better gifts, a display of plants wrapped in moss balls is sure to be pleasing to the eye! Plus with a bit of imagination, they’ll match every home design style!

New Kokedama Plants Available at Nature Hills Nursery!

From Bromeliads to Snake Plants, Nature Hills has a wide variety of tropical houseplants wrapped in either 6-inch or 7.5-inch Moss Balls available and ready to ship to you or someone special!

Plants Available in Kokedama at Nature Hills

We’re proud to carry many varieties of your favorite houseplants and tropical evergreen plants as Kokedama here at Nature Hills! Including Chinese Evergreens, Jade Plants, Money plants, Ponytail Palms, Ficus, Bromeliad, and many types of Calathea!

All the houseplants available as Kokedama are easy to care for and require minimal maintenance to keep them looking incredible! Bright, indirect sunlight and moderate moisture needs make them perfect when included in this unique art form and for your home!

Plus these are all air-purifying plants that improve your health while improving the air quality and oxygen in your home or office!

Kokedama Display

Your Kokedama arrives already put together and ready for your enjoyment! Simply unbox, check over and display! You can either suspend your plant in a sunny window or display it on a desk, table or atop a sunny kitchen shelf for a really unique focal point! Set display plants on a bed of pebbles or in a pretty drip tray.

Kokedama look great on their own but are especially unique in groupings! Hang in groups of three by fishing line for an invisible display, or in an artsy geometric wire plant hanger. Hang in your latest macramé project or with shimmering chains or wire. Just as long as you can reach them easily and remove them conveniently when it is time to water.

Standing displays of Kokedama look incredible under a glass cloche dome, in a tray of pebbles, or set atop a pretty stone to elevate them and keep any moisture away from the furniture. Try setting one atop a cut crystal vase so it catches the light. Or in a beautiful stone tray, shallow ceramic dish, or carved wooden bowl.

Display on an office desk at work, hang in your bathroom, create a beautiful cascading display in the corner of your living room or decorate your bright entry console!

Just avoid direct sunlight and drafts, AC and heating vents, and keep out of reach of pets or small children.

About Kokedama Care

These are some of the easiest houseplants around! Provide bright indirect light and check for water on a regular basis and that’s it! Because of the root ‘binding’ method - never need to be repotted! Nothing could be easier or more convenient, yet as designer-looking and versatile for home décor!

To water your Kokedama, simply submerge the bottom 3/4ths of your moss ball in a dish or the sink and let soak for 5-10 minutes or so. Remove to a draining area for 20 minutes to let excess water run out of the root system. Then place it back into its display.

Air temperature, relative humidity, time of year, the size of your root ball, plus many other factors will determine how often you will need to water your Kokedama, so check every week to two weeks at first and once you know your plant's routine, on average they need to be soaked every two weeks.

But because of those many factors, you may need to water more or less frequently throughout the year. Dry winters with dehumidifiers running - you may need to water a couple of times a week! If your Kokedama is as light as air or your plant is wilting, you need to check it a bit more often or soak it a bit longer each time.

If the plant is heavy and it's a humid summer week, you can skip watering. Root rot is a death sentence for many plants.

During spring and summer, add a bit of half-strength fertilizer for houseplants to your soaking dish to feed your Kokedama. For flowering varieties, you can use a blooming plant fertilizer at half-strength around the time your plant usually blooms.

Tips for Care:

Use room temperature filtered, purified, or bottled water - even rainwater
Avoid direct sunlight
Avoid AC & heating vent drafts
Keep out of reach of pets and small children
Don’t squeeze the water out of your plant's roots

Are your leaves turning brown on the tips? - need more air humidity or it dried out too much between waterings

Leaves turning yellow> - might be just an old leaf that’s done its job, or maybe needs a bit more sunlight.

Are the leaves turning brown fast or falling off still green? Check the root ball for excess sogginess or a rotting smell. You may have root rot from too much water. Let your ball dry out a bit more between waterings. If it's too bad, you may need to gently unwrap, remove the rotten roots and soil, replace them with new soil and rewrap.

DIY Kokedama

Do you already have a plant you’d think would be perfect as a Kokedama? This traditional art form uses sheet moss of any kind, good soil with adequate moisture-holding capabilities, peat moss, and twine or string of your choice!

Gently shape the root system into a ball
Pack with peat moss and moisture-holding soil
Wrap in the soaked sheet moss, allowing the leaves to poke out the top only
Wrap with the twine as randomly or methodically in a pattern as you are able!
Tie off and leave ends long enough to suspend the Kokedama
Follow the care instructions above

Order Now!

Whether to cheer someone up, celebrate an achievement, or with the holidays right around the corner, Kokedama shipped from Nature Hills Nursery is the perfect way to share some art while giving the gift of garden greenery!

Simple and versatile, yet elegant and mystical, Kokedama has captured the imagination of gardeners for centuries, and now you can easily find out why!

Hurry and check out all the Kokedama plants available for shipping today from NatureHills.com!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I water a kokedama properly, and how often should I soak it?

To water a kokedama, submerge the entire moss ball in a bowl or sink of room-temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the moss and root system to fully absorb moisture. Gently squeeze out any excess water before returning it to its display spot, as kokedama should feel damp but never waterlogged. Watering frequency varies by plant species and your home environment, but a general rule is to soak every 7 to 14 days, checking more often in warm or dry conditions. When the moss ball feels noticeably lighter than usual, that is your cue that it is time to soak.

How do I know when my kokedama needs water versus when it has had enough?

The easiest way to check moisture is to lift your kokedama and feel its weight. A light, dry moss ball needs water, while a heavier ball still retains adequate moisture. To water, submerge the entire moss ball in a bowl or bucket of water for 10 to 15 minutes, allow it to drain thoroughly, and return it to its display location before the moss begins to dry out completely.

What are the best plants to use for kokedama, and which ones should I avoid?

The best plants for kokedama are those with moderate moisture needs and a tolerance for bright, indirect light, including Chinese Evergreens, Jade Plants, Money Plants, Ponytail Palms, Ficus, Bromeliads, and Calathea varieties. These plants thrive in the moss ball environment and are forgiving enough for beginners to manage successfully. Avoid plants that require consistently wet or bone-dry conditions, heavy fertilization, or full direct sun, as the moss ball format makes it difficult to meet those extreme needs. Browse Nature Hills' ready-to-ship kokedama selection to start with a proven, easy-care variety that suits your light conditions.

How do I make a kokedama step by step at home?

Making a kokedama at home starts with mixing akadama soil, peat moss, and bonsai soil into a firm, clay-like ball around your plant's root system, then wrapping the entire root ball tightly in sheet moss and securing it with twine or fishing line. Choose a houseplant with moderate moisture needs, such as a fern, pothos, or Chinese evergreen, and aim for a finished moss ball of at least 6 inches in diameter to retain adequate moisture. If you prefer to skip the DIY process, Nature Hills offers ready-to-ship kokedama in 6-inch and 7.5-inch moss balls featuring popular varieties like Jade Plants, Bromeliads, and Calathea that arrive assembled and ready to display.

How do I care for a kokedama long term to keep the moss and plant healthy?

Kokedama thrives with bright, indirect sunlight and consistent but moderate moisture, which you provide by submerging the moss ball in room-temperature water for about 10 to 15 minutes every one to two weeks, then allowing it to drain fully before redisplaying. Avoid overwatering, as soggy moss can lead to root rot, and mist the moss surface between soakings to keep it vibrant and green. Feed your plant with a diluted liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season to support long-term health. Monitor the moss regularly for dryness or browning and adjust your watering frequency based on your home's humidity and the season.

Should I mist my kokedama daily, or is a regular soaking routine enough?

For most kokedama, a regular soaking routine is the preferred method and is far more effective than misting alone. Submerge the moss ball in room-temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing it to fully absorb moisture before letting it drain. Misting can help maintain surface humidity between soakings, especially in dry indoor environments during winter months, but it should not replace a thorough soak. Monitor the weight of your kokedama and when it feels noticeably lighter than when freshly watered, it is time for another soaking session.

How much light does a kokedama need, and can it tolerate direct sunlight?

Kokedama plants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and should be kept out of direct sun, which can scorch both the moss and the plant within. The tropical and houseplant varieties commonly used in kokedama, such as Chinese Evergreens, Calathea, and Snake Plants, are naturally adapted to filtered light conditions. Place your kokedama near a sunny window where it receives plenty of light without direct rays hitting it, such as a few feet back from a south-facing window or directly in front of a north- or east-facing one.

How do I fertilize a kokedama without damaging the moss ball or the roots inside?

Fertilize your kokedama by mixing a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength and applying it during the soaking method, allowing the moss ball to absorb the diluted solution for 10 to 15 minutes in a bowl of water. Feed monthly during the active growing season from spring through summer, and hold off on fertilizing entirely during the fall and winter months when most houseplants enter a rest period. Always use a gentle, water-soluble formula to avoid salt buildup in the moss, which can burn roots and degrade the structure of the ball over time. Start with a half-strength dose, monitor your plant for signs of healthy new growth, and adjust frequency only if the plant shows a clear need for more nutrients.

Can I grow kokedama indoors, and what conditions does it need to thrive inside?

Yes, kokedama is perfectly suited for indoor growing and thrives in bright, indirect sunlight with moderate moisture levels. The plants available at Nature Hills, including Chinese Evergreens, Snake Plants, Calathea, and Bromeliads, are selected specifically because they adapt well to interior conditions and require minimal maintenance. As a bonus, all of these varieties are air-purifying plants that improve oxygen levels and air quality in your home or office. Display your kokedama in a sunny window away from direct rays, water consistently but avoid overwatering, and enjoy a living piece of art that practically cares for itself.

How do I reshape or rebind a kokedama when the moss starts falling apart over time?

When your kokedama moss ball begins to deteriorate or loosen, it is time to rebind it by soaking the entire ball in water for about 10 to 15 minutes to soften and rehydrate the moss and soil. Gently reshape the ball by hand, pressing fresh sheet moss or sphagnum moss against any bare spots, then rewrap the entire ball tightly with jute twine or fishing line, winding it in multiple directions to hold everything firmly in place. This refreshing process is also a great opportunity to check the root system and, if the plant has outgrown its current ball, add a bit more bonsai soil mix or akadama clay soil to the root zone before reshaping. Plan to rebind your kokedama every one to two years, or whenever you notice significant moss loss or roots beginning to escape the ball.

The Art & Beauty of Japanese Kokedama!