Congratulations on the purchase of your new Kokedama!

Kokedama, or moss ball, is a traditional Japanese garden art that provides an environment for the plant to thrive without encasing it within a pot.

Kokedama are susceptible to over- and under-watering just like any other potted plant. Leave browning and crisping around edges tends to indicate under-watering. A brown “mushiness” of the leaves or stems, black stems at the base, and leaf-yellowing tends to indicate over-watering.

Watering: Water the kokedama only when the moss ball (outer covering) feels dry, and moss ball feels light. When you touch and feel the moss ball, if it is moist, it does not require watering. Fill a bowl, bucket or sink with room temperature water depending on the size of your kokedama. Place it in the water, plant side up. Push the moss ball down so that it is fully submerged and begins to absorb water or bubble. Allow to soak for 5-15 minutes (less for orchids), or until fully saturated with water. Remove kokedama from the water, give it a gentle squeeze to allow excess water to drain, and drip dry in a colander before replacing it to its given home.

Feeding: During spring and summer, fertilize your kokedama a few times with a liquid indoor plant fertilizer at ½ the recommended concentration. Simply mix the fertilizer into the water and soak as usual.

Orchids are epiphytes that grow in the crooks of trees in warm, humid forests. They’re ideal for kokedama because, as epiphytes, they require little root space. Don’t place the crown (or stem) of your orchid in the water, just the bottom half of the moss ball when it’s completely dry.

Ferns on the other hand, love moisture. Water when soil at the bottom of the plant feels barely moist and the moss begins to dry. Place Kokedama in medium to bright indirect light. Ferns with fine/small feathered leaves appreciate frequent misting. Can go dormant when shocked; new fronds will appear from the furry rhizomes as long as the plant is kept moist,