So today was a little different, I took a part in a kokedema workshop. This was organised by the lovely Sophie Lee, founder of Geo-fleur and hosted in a brand new independent shop in the Northern Quarter called Form Lifestyle Store.
Although, you may be thinking, hold up…what an earth is a kokedema?
Well Kokedema, is Japanese and directly translates to ‘moss ball’. This has become a craze by which people remove the root system from the container, surrounding it in a mud ball, wrapping with moss then winding string around it to hold it all in place.
The workshop was in a gorgeous location and to be doing a workshop involving mud here – I felt a little bad!
The workshop was situated upstairs in Form, everything was laid out by Sophie and even a glass of prosecco was provided. There was a brief introduction full of facts, information then followed by a demonstration.
It was then our turn to somehow replicate the neat and precise work of Sophie’s for our selves. So we let the muddy fingers and the mess commence. We had to mix the 3 soils together, the akadama clay, peat moss and john innes soil. Gently adding water, making this a very damp consistency, basically making a mud pie!
Then removing our chosen plants (mine was a fern) from their original pots and removed the soil until only the roots remained. Then using the newly mixed mud pie applying this to the roots until a smooth ball shape was created. This was more difficult than expected as the mud kept slipping off and wouldn’t stay in shape for very long.
Next, wrapping the whole thing like a moss parcel. This was then bound in place with green bakers twine. Eventually getting the hang of this, mine finally stayed secure and I could tie a knot making it all secure.
I must say this is one of the most random things I have ever done or made, but I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop with Geo-Fleur. They made it informative, very creative and fun. I can’t wait to try another workshop with them in the future – although I am not sure that Alex appreciates all the plants I keep bringing home!
Ness x
Ness' bit of everything 