The Palazzi Community Center wouldn’t be what it is without its serene outdoor garden space, its vine-covered trellis, or the bevy of vibrant succulents that decorate the indoor tables. In a city where greenspaces aren’t always easy to come by, the PCC feels like a calm, green oasis. On the evening of October 10, the space got just a little greener with the help of a botany workshop entitled 'Kokedama’: how to build it and maintain it.

Kokedama, or otherwise known as moss ball in English, is exactly what the name suggests; it’s made of soil and a blanket of moss, bound together with wire or string. This allows the miniature ecosystem to sustain decorative plants as they put down roots in the sphere’s hydrated, nutrient rich soil.

Open to the public and to students, attendees were welcomed by Lapo Morgantini, an AUF professor and kokedama enthusiast. Morgantini led the evening event, demonstrating how to make and care for these unique, living creations.

The art of kokedama has its historical roots in Japan, but today, the planting style has flourished around the world. Morgantini says he was captivated by the kokedama he saw in shops across Europe, and he decided to try his hand at it during the pandemic.

“I started to get curious for that because I love plants. I have a garden,” Morgantini explains. “So I said, Okay, maybe I can do something here. Let’s try. So I started to research, to see different videos, to read books, little by little, and I came out with this skill.” 

And it was Morgantini’s skill that was on full display at a small table in the PCC gallery. As he transformed a clump of soil into a ball with his hands, Morgantini explained every step of his process in Italian, carefully creating what he likened to a “little planet” Earth. After forming his sphere, he covered the surface with lush green moss, as well as a healthy plant clipping that will continue growing in the ball of soil. 

To keep all the greenery in place, Morgantini secured his botanical design by wrapping it with string. While kokedama can be showcased in a variety of ways, it’s sometimes suspended in the air. Morgantini showed the group what a suspended display looked like, tying the end of his kokedama’s string to a nearby door handle and letting it hang like a decorative ornament as he invited others to make their own kokedama.

Even if this technique isn’t already part of your skill set, Morgantini says kokedama is a super beginner-friendly way for novice botanists to add some green tranquility to a room. For plant parents who aren’t the best at watering, the partial-light-loving kokedama only requires a drink once every 15 days or so — plus, a full submerging once a year. This little slice of the natural world can be especially nice, Morgantini continues, for international students at FUA-AUF adjusting to daily life in Italy.

“It’s easy to maintain in time, and it’s really, really sustainable,” Morgantini says. “For entry-level, ‘year zero’ of your connection with plants, it’s great, because you get satisfied. The aesthetic is nice, (and) we’ll see the plant grow.”

Although kokedama didn’t originate in Italy, its place in Florentine plant shop windows, as well as its starring role in botanical workshops like this one, feels fitting. With a focus on simplicity, sustainability and an intriguing, modern aesthetic, kokedama embodies the principles that make various facets of Italian culture, ranging from local slow food to timeless high fashion, so remarkable.

For more information on the Palazzi Community Center, please visit the website. Don't miss the chance to join Lapo Morgantini again on October 31, as he presents "Cocktail Botanici." Learn the art of mixing botanical cocktails featuring elderflower, artichoke, and mint. Reserve your spot by signing up here.