Special thanks to Takahiro for the original translation.
The Japanese are renown for their under stated sense of beauty and elegance. The Japanese have once again triumphed in these regards with their creation of the Moss Ball. While the name may sound silly, the effect is stunning. This kind of floral arrangement is quite popular in Japan and is only just now making it’s way to other parts of the world. Read on to learn how you can create this peculiar but breath-taking floral arrangement in your home.
What you will need: Small house plant, (something stylized works best, like orchids), old sock, toothpicks, thread, sheet of live moss, peat moss and potting soil.
- Take the old sock and cut the top part off, so that when the toe part of the sock is filled it makes a closed ball with nothing extra to interfere with the shape.
- Place some of the soil into the toe of the sock. Next, fit the small houseplant into the toe and fill the rest of the sock with potting soil.
- Squeeze the sock into a ball shape.
- Next you will need to secure the peat moss onto the ball. Hold some peat moss on the ball and use the thread to wrap around ball to secure the peat moss. Repeat until the ball is evenly covered with peat moss.
- Take the sheet of live moss and wrap it around the ball. Wrap the thread around the moss to hold it onto the ball. The moss will eventually grow over the thread and hide it.
At this point, your moss ball is done, but your care for this unusual floral arrangement does not end here. Moss Balls will live for several years if properly cared for.
The most important thing to remember about your moss ball is to keep it moist at all times. This does not mean wet. Your moss ball should be misted daily, preferably in the morning or the evening. Once a week or so, depending on the humidity and temperature of the area you live in, your moss ball will need to be dunked. This involves submerging the entire moss ball underwater for a few minutes until air bubbles stop coming out of the ball.
Your moss ball should be kept in indirect light, preferably somewhere where it will get only 3-4 hours indirect light. Remember, moss grows in shady areas.