Moss balls.

Alright, so what’s a moss ball?

It’s a plant that is removed from its container and instead wrapped in dirt and moss. Its more proper name is kokedama, a Japanese word which translates to “moss ball.” Imagine that! The practice of gardening in this manner started in Japan, and then spread across Europe and to the United States. I first heard about it from my friend Alicia, who actually had a get-together last night to make these balls of moss. It’s a rather simple process: First, choose what plant you’d like to use. We were making specific mosquito-repelling balls, but you can plant just about anything in this manner! I chose to use a citronella plant for mine, since I’ve been wanting one anyway. Remove the plant from any container it may be in, and wrap the topsoil in sphagnum moss that has been soaked in water (you simply need to grab a bucket, fill it with water, throw the sphagnum moss in, and you’re set to go). Then use some twine to secure the sphagnum moss in place. Don’t overthink this step—random patterns will do. Tie it off and you’re set to start your next layer. Next, grab a handful of peat moss, dunk it in the water (the same bucket as the sphagnum moss is fine), and add it to your ball. Completely cover the layer of sphagnum with a layer of peat moss. It may have a tough time sticking—try wetting it more and be patient as you pack. Once you have a layer of peat moss completely surrounding the ball, it’s time to add the final layer, sheet moss. Cover the ball once more, and finish it off with another round of twine. Remember to leave a section of twine with which to hang the ball. And, you’re done! To keep the moss ball moist, dunk it in water for a few minutes once every week or so, depending on the climate. You can bring them inside in the winter, just make sure there is something under them for when they drip.