Kokedama – the Japanese techique of plant cultivation and its potential for therapeutic applications

Kokedama is a Japanese art of growing plants using natural substrates, moss and ornamental plants, which is in line with trends of the bonsai art. It is a soilless and containerless cultivation method that allows reducing amounts of plastics and aids the care for the natural environment. It has also been proven that not only growing plants, but also just staying in their vicinity has a positive effect on human mental and physical health. These positive effects have been observed in ancient times when plants were introduced into the living space. Today, this is particularly important in the era of urbanization and spending more time indoors, which increases man’s pursuit of contact with the natural environment. This work attempts to present the possibilities of using kokedama in horticultural therapy aimed at improving socialization of the populations.