DIY hanging garden

Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination. You are always living three, or indeed six, months hence. I believe that people entirely devoid of imagination never can be really good gardeners. To be content with the present, and not striving about the future, is fatal."

So, why not try something different this season? Kokedama is a Japanese variant of bonsai, which is gradually gaining popularity among the artistic green thumbs across the world. Instead of conventional pots, strings and moss are used as containers for these decorative danglers.

Initially, one might take them for a weaver bird's nest. But they are not. The perfect way to bring the outdoors inside of your little city apartment, you can add a new dimension to your interiors by building a small hanging garden in one corner of your dining room or balcony with these suspended greens.

String gardens are really simple and fun to make. For those who are struggling to save their delicate plants from the heavy monsoon rains, this is a simple-yet-innovative way to protect them.

Instructions

1. Remove as much soil as possible from the roots of the plant you are working on. Be thorough and gentle! Do not to disturb the roots too much, as you might have to tug them apart if they have wrapped around themselves in the pot for too long.

2. Once you've managed to free the roots, give them a quick dip in room-temperature water.

3. Mix peat and soil. You know the consistency is right when you are able to make a spherical dough out of it without it breaking apart.

4. Break it in half and sandwich the roots between the two halves. Make sure each ball has enough room to accommodate the roots of your plant. Be careful to close the shape back to a sphere. Use a little bit of water if required.

5. Take a bunch of moss and cover it carefully around the roots. If you want, you can again wrap the moss ball in polyfelt (commonly used in vertical gardens). The plant looks vibrant as it emerges from the dark grey material. Tie a string (natural and biodegradable) around it several times. Continue to fasten until the ball feels secure. Don't forget the other cord that your plant will be hanging from after wrapping.

6. Choose a nice, shaded place to hang the plant.

7. Install a hook and string up your wonderful planet of moss.

8. Add as many danglers as your room or balcony can accommodate.

Maintenance

To keep these plant balls alive, soak them in water for 10-15 minutes once a week (ferns twice). Fill a bucket with about 2 cups of water. Place the string garden in the bucket and wait for it to absorb all of the water. Let the garden drain in a sink until water stops dripping. Hang it back in place.