How to make a snowdrop kokedama

If you’ve visited Winterbourne this month, you may have spotted our display of 125 hanging kokedamas along the Nut Walk, blooming with snowdrops. The installation forms part of the widespread celebrations across University of Birmingham, marking 125 years since the University was established by royal charter.

If the display has inspired you to get creative in your own garden (or even in your home), Horticulture Supervisor Fumiko has shared a handy guide for making your own kokedamas.

You will need:

• A small mixing bowl
• Moss (you can buy wreathing moss or just scrape your lawn)
• Compost mix (we used one-part multi-purpose compost, one-part loam)
• Snowdrop bulbs
• Black twine or string

Method:

1. Line your small mixing bowl neatly with moss.
2. Compact your compost mix into a ball and fill the cavity in the mixing bowl. Plant your bulb in the centre of the mix and make sure it’s carefully wedged in.
3. Gather the moss around the top and carefully remove it from the bowl. Continue to bind the kokedama by squeezing and compacting it together.
4. Tie the ball together with twine, making sure there is excess at the top for you to use for hanging the kokedama. Use your hands to give the ball a final shape, but don’t worry if there are a few bits of moss hanging loose.
5. Find somewhere in your garden to hang your kokedama, tying it with the excess twine. Keep the kokedama well-watered and enjoy watching it flower over the coming weeks.

Caring for your kokedama

We recommend hanging your kokedama out of direct sunlight (branches and metal structures in your garden can provide gentle shade). And don’t forget to keep your kokedama hydrated!

If there’s a dry spell in the weather, you can do this by carefully dunking the kokedama into a bucket of water or spraying it with a mister.

Once your kokedama has finished flowering, you can carefully remove the twine and moss and plant the bulb straight into your garden ready for it to reflower next year.

If you’re feeling inspired, you can also make kokedamas with ivy, violas, daffodils or indoor plants, such as ferns or succulents. Share your creations with us on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @winterbournehg.