I love finding fun alternatives to traditional centerpieces when I decorate for holidays. A centerpiece really sets the tablescape, but it can sometimes take up more room than you’d like. That’s why I absolutely love this idea of a hanging centerpiece. Kokedama, which means “moss ball,” is really easy to make and is so stunning.
Gather:
Bonsai soil
Smart-Release Plant Food
Water
Bowl
Sphagnum moss
Reindeer moss and hairpins (optional)
Miniature ferns or other mini low-light plants in 2-inch pots
Twine
String for hanging
Vintage curtain rings
Create:
1. Take the plants out of their containers and free the roots, gently.
2. In a large bowl, make a mixture bonsai soil and a sprinkle of plant food. Pour in enough water so that you can form balls of the soil without crumbling. These should be about the size of a snowball. Squeeze out any excess water as you form the balls.
3. Using your thumbs, gently press a hole into the top of the ball. Set the plant’s roots inside the hole and mold the ball back into shape around the roots.
4. Wrap a layer of sphagnum moss around the ball so it covers all of the soil. Using twine, wrap the ball tightly, keeping the end free. Wrap until the moss feels secure, then cut the twine, leaving a few inches. Tie the ends of the twine together to secure.
5. I added reindeer moss around the ball for fun … it’s a great lime green color, so it makes the Kokedama really pop! Secure the reindeer moss with hairpins so it’ll be easier to wrap. Wrap the same way you did in step 4.
6. Cut 2 lengths of string double the length that you want your Kokedama to hang and adding about 12 inches. Fold both strings in half and feed the ends through a curtain ring. Tie the strings around themselves to create a knot.
7. You should have two loops of string at the bottom. Criss-cross the loops so the form an X, then criss-cross again. Hold the X open with your hand and place the Kokedama on top. Hold up the strings by the curtain ring and you should have a lovely hanging Kokedama plant!
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