Sedum makinoi 'Tornado' in Kokodama

Species, Cultivar and Kokedama Background

The plant in this kokedama is Sedum makinoi ‘Tornado’. The species is native to parts of eastern China and Korea and to central and southern Japan, where creeping stems occupy thin soil and crevices and can root at contact points.

Sedum makinoi ‘Tornado’ is a cultivated selection of the East Asian species. Its moss-ball presentation follows the Japanese kokedama tradition, in which the root system is enclosed in a rounded, moss-covered ball of substrate.

Care for a plant growing in kokedama

Settling in, light and temperature: Place Sedum makinoi ‘Tornado’ in kokedama form in the brightest position available, including acclimated outdoor sun during the frost-free season. Rotate the ball so all sides receive light and air. The exposed root ball has less protection from freezing than a planted stonecrop, so shelter it from prolonged frost, winter rain and a cold, waterlogged centre.

Watering: Use the weight of the complete ball as the main watering cue. When it has become distinctly lighter and the inner core is genuinely drying, immerse it briefly so the root ball rehydrates evenly, then drain until no water continues to drip.

Watering and root care: Surface misting can leave the centre dry, while a damp moss shell can conceal a wet core. The inner medium should remain gritty and aerated rather than dense and water-retentive. Never leave the ball standing in water.

Propagation, leaf care and feeding: For propagation, trim and root healthy tips when the mat becomes open or outgrows the limited root volume. Feed only very lightly during active growth, preferably through a dilute soak followed by complete drainage. Keep dead leaves from collecting beneath the stems or around the binding thread. If the ball remains heavy for many days, increase light and airflow and delay the next soak rather than following a weekly schedule.

Kokedama Problems and Recovery

Do not judge this succulent from the moss colour alone. Wrinkled but firm shoots together with a dry centre mean the whole ball can be immersed and then left to drain thoroughly. A sour smell, soft glassy stems or a centre that stays wet point to rot instead. Remove the soft material, loosen the surrounding moss enough to admit air and allow a longer drying period.

A widening, open mat usually needs stronger light. Introduce brighter conditions gradually and clear dead leaves trapped around the ties, since damp debris can damage the stems. Healthy firm tips can be rooted again if the centre has already failed. Aphids and mealybugs may hide where the shoots enter the moss ball, so inspect those junctions closely.

Brown moss can surround moist roots, and green moss can cover a failing core. Stem firmness, smell and moisture inside the ball give a much clearer picture. Kokedama changes how this Sedum is watered, but it does not remove its need for strong light, a drying interval and air around the roots.

Keep Sedum makinoi ‘Tornado’ in Kokodama away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

How the name Sedum makinoi came about

Sedum is the classical Latin name for stonecrops. The epithet makinoi commemorates the Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Sedum in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 430.

Carl Johann Maximowicz first described Sedum makinoi in 1888 in Bulletin de l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg, series 3, volume 32, page 487.