Pune: The monsoon season is driving renewed interest in indoor gardening and nature-inspired home decor, with crafts such as terrariums and kokedama witnessing a surge.“Moss is abundantly available in the monsoon and I am in the process of learning garden crafts. I will be attempting a live moss terrarium this season,” said Pradnya Chaudhari, a resident of Baner.Workshops on creating low-maintenance plant arrangements such as terrariums and bonsai kokedama are also seeing higher participation.“Gardening enthusiasts and hobbyists are eager to build intricate, living art such as moss-wall terrariums that resemble raw, misty rainforest cliffs. Geometric shapes are also surging, making open terrariums a favourite for gifting. Because a closed biome mimics a dense rainforest, the Deccan monsoon is our perfect muse. The season brings ideal tropical temperatures and a spectacular wave of fresh moss, ferns, and exotic flora to our local nurseries,” said Sagar Dave, an early adopter and terrarium enthusiast, who runs Jungle in a Jar.Monsoon is also the time when many engage in plant swaps and enroll in garden maintenance workshops. “This season, you can make kokedamas using the neon green moss that usually grows over soil, brick walls, fences, and similar damp surfaces. You can gently scrape it and use it as a moss layer. Unfortunately, this moss thrives mainly during the monsoon. Later, it needs a lot of maintenance to stay alive,” said Vaishali Kasture, a kokedama artist.Enthusiasts are also taking advantage of the humidity and trying to grow moss at home. “The weather is perfect to grow moss at home. We want to make moss wall art. It’ll be a fun exercise with the kids,” said Rashmi Makwana, a resident of Aundh.For this, apply a thick paste of blended moss and buttermilk on a rough brick wall or on the outer side of a clay pot. Spray it with water to keep it damp. The buttermilk helps feed the tiny moss spores until they begin to grow. It usually takes about six to eight weeks for the moss to appear on the surface, Makwana added.Monsoon is also the best time for bonsai art, said hobbyists. “This is the best season if you want to trim and shape the bonsai in the shape of your choice. I plan to attend workshops on shaping and wiring the plants,” said Sakina Oberoi, a resident of Kondhwa.
