On the Ball
Although it’s now famous worldwide, the art of kokedama originated in Japan. Its origins lie in bonsai, another ancient form of gardening, where, over time, very small, incredibly old trees become totally rootbound in their pots. By removing the pot, the nearai style was created, showing off roots so bound together that they held their shape even without a container.
The contemporary method is to encase the plant’s roots in moss, strung together by twine. These moss ball plants became known as a kokedama: ‘koke’ meaning ‘moss’ and ‘dama’ meaning ‘ball’. This modern art form is much freer and suits modern interiors, especially where access to outdoor garden space is nonexistent. The plant choice is usually evergreen indoor houseplants. With the moss surround, the result is delightfully fresh and verdant.
I first saw this technique used in
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