It started in Japan, moved to the Netherlands, and now it’s an emerging décor trend in the United States. Kokedama, a Japanese word that translates into “moss ball,” is the art of binding ornamental plants into string gardens. Also known as “poor man’s bonsai,” kokedamas are becoming increasingly popular for their simplicity, beauty and versatility.

“They are very on trend,” Karen Bachman Thull, director of marketing and corporate communications at Bachman’s Inc. in Minneapolis, told The Produce News. “There are a couple of home décor trends that are going on right now —like the fiddle-leaf fig in green plants — and the kokedama are just starting to emerge. People are learning about them. The plants are completely liberated from their container or pot and they are wrapped with clay and moss and twine, to create the moss string garden.”

The original Japanese form of kokedama was displayed on an altar-like platform but today there are a variety of ways to present the moss string gardens.

“People hang them in kitchen windows, or in bathrooms, or even in living rooms where there is bright, yet indirect light,” said Bachman Thull. “And we are displaying them on a piece of slate or a shallow basin — they don’t always have to be hanging, but they are impressive when they are.”

You may also find them sitting on a coffee table, dangling from the ceiling, cascading above a side table, suspended from pulleys, or even hanging outside during summer in a partially shaded location. They’re ideal for small spaces, never need to be repotted and live for years.

“The way you care for it is that you actually soak them and you spritz them with water,” Bachman Thull said. “You feel the weight of the ball. If it feels light and is dry to the touch, you just put it in a basin of water and let it soak until it’s fully saturated, then you can place it back where you regularly display it.”

Watering frequency will vary depending on where the ball is located, and plant misting should be done in the morning when the light is gentle, in order to avoid sun burn.

“There are certain plants that thrive as kokedamas, such as ferns, ficus, and other plants that have a little more substance,” said Bachman Thull. “We make them here. We have a small collection right now because this is new at Bachman’s. We’re proud of all the gardeners and green thumbs who want to try it — they are beautiful and it’s a fun new trend.”