Kokedama:

Is a little plant pod adapted from traditional Japanese bonsai. The plant's root system has been bound to transform it into a living sculpture.

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The story of kokedama is about a stylised evolution from the Nerai bonsai form. This form of bonsai contained the plant's roots in a spherical shaped dish. To show off the spherical root system the bonsai would be temporarily displayed nude (with soil removed).  

 

With time the root system supports moss growth and the sphere would be blanketed in green. A lovely co-operation between nature and time to produce a beautiful botanical form.

 

This process can take many, many, years. And so to achieve a similar striking look, a form of kokedama (moss ball) has been developed. Simply, it is a plant grown in a soil mix medium, covered with moss (usually sphagnum moss) and bound into a ball with string. If left outside, garden moss will inoculate the sphagnum moss and begin to grow around the ball.

 

Kokedama embodies the Wabi Sabi philosphy - the ancient Japanese art of recognising and celebrating the beauty in the naturally imperfect world. And so while also being a beautiful looking thing, a humble kokedama can remind us to live with humility and simplicity while being at one with nature (Wabi) and to accept the life-cycle and transience of anything as it is (Sabi).

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