Wabi-Kusa DIY Guide — Making and Caring for Aquatic Moss Ball Planters

Wabi-kusa is an interior green created by gathering aquatic plant emersed leaves into a round moss ball-like shape. It is a style advocated by ADA (Aqua Design Amano) and has become popular as a new way to appreciate aquatic plants that can be enjoyed both submerged in an aquarium and placed above water. This article explains how to make and care for wabi-kusa.

What is Wabi-kusa?

Wabi-kusa is made by planting emersed leaves of aquatic plants into a nutrient-rich soil base and finishing it into a moss ball shape. By simply placing a small amount of water in a glass container, you can enjoy the beauty of aquatic plants on your desk or shelves. Its charm lies in the fact that no elaborate equipment like an aquarium is required—all you need is lighting to cultivate aquatic plants easily. Since it can be placed directly in an aquarium and used as part of the layout, it is also used to simplify the setup of aquatic plant tanks. Commercial wabi-kusa typically costs around 2,000 to 5,000 yen per piece, but you can also make your own. By making it yourself, you can freely combine your preferred aquatic plants and reduce costs. The name wabi-kusa reflects the Japanese aesthetic of "wabi-sabi," and there is joy in finding a miniature of nature within a small vessel.

Aquatic Plants Suitable for Wabi-kusa

When selecting aquatic plants for wabi-kusa, choose varieties with beautiful emersed leaves that are hardy and easy to grow. New large pearl grass spreads across the ground and is ideal as a base to cover the foundation with a green carpet. Glossostigma can be used similarly. For accent plants, stem plants from the Rotala family (such as Rotala rotundifolia and Rotala indica) are recommended. Their emersed leaves develop round shapes and form compactly. Hygrophila pinnatifida is distinctive with its uniquely jagged leaves and adds a wild quality to wabi-kusa. Bucephalandra grows slowly even as an emersed leaf and its leather-like leaves create an elegant atmosphere. Small varieties of Cryptocoryne are also suitable for wabi-kusa. Tying moss relatives to the base creates a natural overall impression. Combining 3 to 5 types of aquatic plants in one wabi-kusa creates variety and improved aesthetics.

How to Make Wabi-kusa

Materials needed are keto soil (clay-based soil), fine-grained red volcanic soil, sphagnum moss, and emersed leaves of aquatic plants. First, mix keto soil and red volcanic soil in a 7:3 ratio, add water, and knead into a clay-like consistency. Roll this into a ball approximately 5-8 cm in diameter. Wrap rehydrated sphagnum moss thinly around the surface of the base. Fixing the moss with fishing line (tegsus) prevents it from crumbling. Once the base is complete, make holes with chopsticks or tweezers and insert the aquatic plants. Placing tall stem plants at the top and prostrate foreground plants on the sides and bottom creates good balance. After planting is complete, mist the entire piece and place it in a glass container. Fill the container with water deep enough to submerge the bases of the aquatic plants. Immediately after making it, cover with plastic wrap to maintain high humidity, and be careful not to let it dry out for 1-2 weeks until the plants are rooted.

Care Tips

Daily care of wabi-kusa is simple. Turn on LED lights for 8-10 hours per day. You don't need high-output lights for aquatic plants—most varieties will grow with desk lamp-level brightness. Keep the water in the container at a constant depth of 1-2 cm, and refill as it evaporates. Use dechlorinated tap water or water that has been left sitting overnight. Change all the water in the container once a week and wipe away any algae on the glass. If plants grow too tall, trim them with scissors and reshape them. Stems that are cut can be replanted in the base and will grow as new plants. Dilute liquid fertilizer and spray it on the leaves 1-2 times a month to promote growth. During summer, be careful of high temperatures and excess moisture; it's safest to keep the plants in an air-conditioned room. During winter, a heated room is fine, but avoid placing near windows where it will be too cold.

Sourcing Aquatic Plants for Wabi-kusa from Breedoku

For making wabi-kusa, aquatic plants sold as emersed leaves or tissue-cultured cups are convenient. At Breedoku, you can purchase a variety of aquatic plants from growers who specialize in cultivating emersed aquatic plants. You can also consult on plant varieties suitable for wabi-kusa and receive advice on cultivation tips. We encourage you to try creating your own original wabi-kusa.