gnatster
Active Member
Expanding on the conversation from the "What did you do...today" thread on Wabi-Kusa, it was suggested that we start a new thread.
There are many different views on what Wabi-Kusa is and what it's become. After reading many articles, posts, etc, watching videos by dozens of different creators. I settled on what I felt was a simple method that, to me, felt its Wabi-Kusa in its most basic form.
My first attempt is in its current state.
This video was my main tutorial.
I wanted to experiment with Wabi-Kusa to add more greenery to my home. They are fabulous little living pops of light and color that can be placed around the house. I also wanted to use only the materials and plants on hand to start, except for a spool of green nylon or polyester thread. Cotton will degrade over time.
It took a bit to get the hang of wrapping a ball of "dirt" into an actual object. The ball is moistened coir with a center of 3-5mm lava rock. One can use pebbles, too. I don't know what role the rocks play in my case. I'm using RO water. Initially, the plant stems were wrapped on the top side of the ball with green thread. Wrapped some Christmas moss on the sides, then using emersed trimmings of Rotala super red and Kedagang Red Buce*. I started it in a quart deli cup. with a lid and some holes for ventilation. Placed it in a south-facing windowsill and turned it every day. Much to my delight, it started growing. Then I got a bit fancy and ordered a Chihiros Glass Pot, AquaWorx SOL LED, and Adjustable Stand. Found a dish of Hydrocotyle tripartita “mini” tissue culture at the LFS, plopped some of that in the middle, and it's starting to spread.
Maintenance is easy. Once a week, I pull the ball out, rinse the rocks, and clean the glass. Refresh with RO water, add one drop of APT 3, and spray twice a week with APT Dew.
Mistakes I've made. Not using enough moss on the sides. Flipping the lid on the Glass Pot, that allowed the humidity to escape, drying the tips of the Rotala.
For mold control, I'm using springtails.
Workstation for ball creation.
Made another dozen balls yesterday. I'm thinking of gifting some grown-out balls as gifts this season. Until I plant them, they are in the fridge.
Do you Wabi-Kusa? Please post about yours in the thread, and let us learn more about this together.
* I have an emersed Buce experiment going.
There are many different views on what Wabi-Kusa is and what it's become. After reading many articles, posts, etc, watching videos by dozens of different creators. I settled on what I felt was a simple method that, to me, felt its Wabi-Kusa in its most basic form.
My first attempt is in its current state.
This video was my main tutorial.
I wanted to experiment with Wabi-Kusa to add more greenery to my home. They are fabulous little living pops of light and color that can be placed around the house. I also wanted to use only the materials and plants on hand to start, except for a spool of green nylon or polyester thread. Cotton will degrade over time.
It took a bit to get the hang of wrapping a ball of "dirt" into an actual object. The ball is moistened coir with a center of 3-5mm lava rock. One can use pebbles, too. I don't know what role the rocks play in my case. I'm using RO water. Initially, the plant stems were wrapped on the top side of the ball with green thread. Wrapped some Christmas moss on the sides, then using emersed trimmings of Rotala super red and Kedagang Red Buce*. I started it in a quart deli cup. with a lid and some holes for ventilation. Placed it in a south-facing windowsill and turned it every day. Much to my delight, it started growing. Then I got a bit fancy and ordered a Chihiros Glass Pot, AquaWorx SOL LED, and Adjustable Stand. Found a dish of Hydrocotyle tripartita “mini” tissue culture at the LFS, plopped some of that in the middle, and it's starting to spread.
Maintenance is easy. Once a week, I pull the ball out, rinse the rocks, and clean the glass. Refresh with RO water, add one drop of APT 3, and spray twice a week with APT Dew.
Mistakes I've made. Not using enough moss on the sides. Flipping the lid on the Glass Pot, that allowed the humidity to escape, drying the tips of the Rotala.
For mold control, I'm using springtails.
Workstation for ball creation.
Made another dozen balls yesterday. I'm thinking of gifting some grown-out balls as gifts this season. Until I plant them, they are in the fridge.
Do you Wabi-Kusa? Please post about yours in the thread, and let us learn more about this together.
* I have an emersed Buce experiment going.
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