Making a kokedama is one thing. Taking care of it is another. But don’t worry! Unlike bonsai, kokedama doesn’t demand constant attention.
Stick to some simple rules and you can enjoy your flowery “moss ball” for much longer.
To figure out the right watering time, trust the moss. It’s your best guide:
A quick daily check keeps dehydration in check.
You’ve got several options for watering your kokedama.
As you’re making your kokedama, consider adding a watering well. It’s a small funnel you nestle into the ball as you make it, leading to the center of the clump and opening at the top. Sprinkle water into it bit by bit, letting the soil soak it up.
This method offers gentle watering and gives the substrate time to absorb the drizzle. Do this over a sink to catch the runoff.
Easiest, but not the top choice: this method risks turning your soil ball into mud. If you do this too often, your kokedama might see some wear and tear.
Don’t use tap water when watering your kokedama. This is especially important if it’s too hard: the minerals will accumulate and kill your moss and plants. Much better is to go for rainwater or bottled water instead.
Over time, kokedama soil will lose its lushness. That means you’ll have to step in and give your plant the nutrients it craves. About 5 or 6 months after creating your kokedama, it’s time to start to fertilize the soil. Just mix a tiny dose of orchid fertilizer into your watering. Repeat this every 15 days, or at least monthly.
As plants grow, some leaves or stems might lose their elegance when they get too old.
Instead of letting your plant waste energy, give it a little pruning right at the base.
Doing this paves the way for sprouting shoots that will make your kokedama come out like new.
