Growing plants without pots: A breeze once you get started!
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Key Takeaways
- Instead of using traditional containers, kokedamas feature small plants suspended in moss and soil, held together by twine.
- When choosing a plant for your kokedama, we recommend going with a flowering plant or bulb that’s already sprouted and isn’t too large.
- Kokedamas effortlessly pair with trending Japanese-inspired, biophilic design, blending nature into home decor while offering a fun, eco-friendly DIY project for plant lovers.
The cheeriest container for your spring blooms and plants actually isn’t a container at all (or a pot, or a vase): A ball of dirt and moss tied with string, kokedamas allow you to show off your favorite small plants in an organic way.
If you’re looking to create seasonal window decor or striking displays to hang outside on your porch, patio, or trees, kokedamas are versatile and simple to make. Plus, most small plants can thrive in one—at least for a short time. All you need is some soil, twine, moss, and your plant(s) of choice.
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Why Kokedamas Are Trending Right Now
A newfound interest in making kokedamas makes sense: People are getting in touch with their inner child with at-home hobbies, and these containers make for a fun, innovative DIY. Not to mention, they encapsulate a couple major design trends.
Pinterest pointed out that Japanese-influenced decor has grown in popularity within the past several months, with zen-inspired, minimalist, and organic designs transforming homes throughout 2025. It fits perfectly into this concept as a way of potting your plants so minimally, you don’t even need the pot. Biophilic design also continues to climb, bringing the outside world indoors. Plants and greenery, wood, and other natural materials are essential—and kokedamas showcase how gardeners are bringing the beauty of nature straight into their homes and gardens.
Best Plants for Kokedamas
Flowering spring plants, bulbs, and younger plants that you started over the winter are prime candidates—especially those that have already sprouted or grown but aren’t too large. The system relies on the dirt being compact enough to hold together, and if your kokedama is too big, you’re more likely to find that it crumbles on you.
It’s also important to choose plants that thrive in rich, solid soil. (You can shape regular potting soil together once it’s been wetted.) Orchid bark, which is loose, needs to be covered in potting soil to ensure it holds its shape. Whatever you choose, be sure to leave lots of moss showing—that’s the point of a kokedama, after all!
