PokeSephiroth
Member
Well, I've been really fascinated at the idea of doing a Wabi Kusa tank for a while now, and finally got the chance to do it! . . . . sorta.
The more I think about it, the more I think it's a Kokedama, than Wabi Kusa, however... I WILL NOT GIVE UP! My journey in this art form has definitely kept me motivated to learn more about it!
I'll see if I can get some better glass containers to work with. I want something that's more like a dish, but deep... I know what I want, so it's just a matter of finding it
I will start growing some of my aquatic plants immersed, maybe some crypts, or anubias, or some stem plants... mermaid weed maybe? Who knows. Possibilities are endless!
For now, I've started with terrestrial plants first... kinda "testing the waters" to see how *green* my thumb really is, before I start doing something with aquatic plants grown immersed.
Keep in mind, this is NOT exactly the way how you're supposed to do a Wabi Kusa... which is probably why it's more of a Kokedama... anywho...
Plants:
Protasparagus setaceus (aka Asparagus Fern)
Neantha Bella (aka Parlor Palm)
-Supplies:
Plants
Dirt/Potting Soil
Red Clay
Dolomite
Potash
Sphagnum Moss
Cotton Thread (Black)
Water
- I mixed the potting soil, dolomite, potash, bits of red clay, and water... I kinda just eye balled all the ingredients... I made sure I didn't use a lot of water... just enough to make the soil become moist. I mixed and squeezed all the stuff together so that the soil turned into a "clay-ish" consistency. I set it aside to let everything "settle" so to speak. Then rolled some into balls.
- Took the plants and took off as much of the soil as I could, to expose the roots... makes separating the plants MUCH easier.
- I split the dirt ball I made, and placed the plant in the middle, and placed the other half of the dirt ball back... squeezed it REALLY WELL to make sure that it was nice and firm.
- Next, I rolled the dirt ball in some Sphagnum Moss, compacted it more, and added more Sphagnum Moss to any patches that still had some exposed dirt. Then I got some thread, and tied it all around the ball to make everything nice and secure. Looks pretty now!
- I accidentally made the first one too big, definitely wouldn't fit in the glass container I had originally planned to put it in... thankfully I do have a larger glass container for this large one.
- There we go... much smaller... much better!
**** At this point, this is where you would start to attach more plants within the spagnum moss and thread...since I don't have any other plants or java moss, that will have to wait. =P
- Add em into your container, add some substrate, decorate, presto!
I'm now at the point where I just...wait everything out... and perhaps add more plants WHEN I trim my aquatic plants... I'll most likely have to transfer the Wabi Kusa balls to a bigger container... or maybe just keep them as is, and just make MORE, improved Wabi Kusa balls!!! WHO KNOWS!!! Hahahaha!!
-=Video Tutorial=-
[flash=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/v/0fD3GWyWY20" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true[/flash]
The more I think about it, the more I think it's a Kokedama, than Wabi Kusa, however... I WILL NOT GIVE UP! My journey in this art form has definitely kept me motivated to learn more about it!
I'll see if I can get some better glass containers to work with. I want something that's more like a dish, but deep... I know what I want, so it's just a matter of finding it
I will start growing some of my aquatic plants immersed, maybe some crypts, or anubias, or some stem plants... mermaid weed maybe? Who knows. Possibilities are endless! For now, I've started with terrestrial plants first... kinda "testing the waters" to see how *green* my thumb really is, before I start doing something with aquatic plants grown immersed.
Keep in mind, this is NOT exactly the way how you're supposed to do a Wabi Kusa... which is probably why it's more of a Kokedama... anywho...
Plants:
Protasparagus setaceus (aka Asparagus Fern)
Neantha Bella (aka Parlor Palm)
-Supplies:
Plants
Dirt/Potting Soil
Red Clay
Dolomite
Potash
Sphagnum Moss
Cotton Thread (Black)
Water
- I mixed the potting soil, dolomite, potash, bits of red clay, and water... I kinda just eye balled all the ingredients... I made sure I didn't use a lot of water... just enough to make the soil become moist. I mixed and squeezed all the stuff together so that the soil turned into a "clay-ish" consistency. I set it aside to let everything "settle" so to speak. Then rolled some into balls.
- Took the plants and took off as much of the soil as I could, to expose the roots... makes separating the plants MUCH easier.
- I split the dirt ball I made, and placed the plant in the middle, and placed the other half of the dirt ball back... squeezed it REALLY WELL to make sure that it was nice and firm.
- Next, I rolled the dirt ball in some Sphagnum Moss, compacted it more, and added more Sphagnum Moss to any patches that still had some exposed dirt. Then I got some thread, and tied it all around the ball to make everything nice and secure. Looks pretty now!
- I accidentally made the first one too big, definitely wouldn't fit in the glass container I had originally planned to put it in... thankfully I do have a larger glass container for this large one.
- There we go... much smaller... much better!
**** At this point, this is where you would start to attach more plants within the spagnum moss and thread...since I don't have any other plants or java moss, that will have to wait. =P
- Add em into your container, add some substrate, decorate, presto!
I'm now at the point where I just...wait everything out... and perhaps add more plants WHEN I trim my aquatic plants... I'll most likely have to transfer the Wabi Kusa balls to a bigger container... or maybe just keep them as is, and just make MORE, improved Wabi Kusa balls
!!! WHO KNOWS!!! Hahahaha!!-=Video Tutorial=-
[flash=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/v/0fD3GWyWY20" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true[/flash]
