Japanese gardening techniques are rooted deeply in tradition, and in many cases, the goal is to work alongside nature to emphasize its beauty, not to simply tame it. Kokedama are physical proof of this. The English translation of “kokedama” is simply “moss balls.” Thank goodness for the elegant Japanese language. These charming spheres of moss encase a plant, allowing it to thrive in a manipulated yet natural package. Plant aficionados often grow flowers in kokedama, and delicate spring blooms make great candidates for this planting practice. Although plants like violets take beautifully to kokedama life, bulbs seem to be especially well-suited to moss living.

Along with violets, seek out spring-blooming bulbs on the smaller side; you can make kokedama with larger bulbs, but assembling the ball can be more challenging. A few popular choices are hyacinths, iris reticulata, aconites, crocuses, snow drops, scillas, jonquils, or other small daffodils. Opt for bulbs that are close to blooming. Some of these bulbs even do well without soil added to the moss container. Make your own springtime kokedama with living sphagnum sheet moss, potting soil or bonzai soil (Akadama), and floral wire, fishing line, or gardening twine.

Gather up your stunning spring flower of choice and the listed supplies. Grab a couple of medium to large bowls. Fill one with water, and let your sphagnum moss soak while you complete the other steps. Measure 2 cups of soil into the other bowl, and add a bit of water. Combine the soil and water with gloved hands, adding more water until the mixture feels like a firm dough. Form it into a ball, sprinkling it with more water if needed.

Brush excess dirt from the plant roots, and trim them a bit if they’re particularly long. Make a hole in the dirt ball that’s large enough for the root bundle, and carefully place it inside the hole. Press and smooth the soil around the plant. Take the soaked sphagnum moss out of the water, lightly press out extra water, and lay it on a work surface. Set the soil ball on top of the moss sheet, and wrap it around the ball. Trim off sections that are too long, and add them in spots that need more coverage if necessary.

Next comes the tricky string-wrapping detail, so be patient with yourself! Whichever string or wire you’re using, start by tying (or twisting, if you’re using wire) a loop around the ball to start the process. Wrap the material around the ball several times, trim excess, and tie or twist it to hold the wrapping in place.

Many of the steps and supplies are the same for making kokedama with flower bulbs versus a more standard one. The bulkiness of a bulb will make less soil necessary. Set aside a spray bottle of water to dampen the soil as you work.

If you’ve dug up a bulb from your garden or are taking it out of a nursery pot, gently brush the soil from the roots. Soak your moss and mix up about half the amount of soil “dough” as you would for other kokedama. Instead of making a separate ball, pat the mud around the bulb, spritzing it with water when needed. There aren’t any rules for how thick the soil needs to be, but since many people create bulb kokedama without any soil at all, a layer of about 1 inch should be plenty. Wrap the mud-caked bulb in moss and string as you would for a standard kokedama.

Hang your kokedama, or set it on a watertight tray or dish. Maintain the kokedama’s humidity with frequent spritzes of water. You can also display your kokedama under a glass cloche, a vintage decoritem that’s finding its way back into trendy homes that will seal in vital moisture while looking fashionable.