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Do you have a plant that’s flopping over under its own weight? If so, this post is for you! Today I’ll be showing you how to create a natural support for all those lovely stems.
I have a beautiful Split Leaf Philodendron plant that has gotten enormous. I repotted it last year and since then it’s really taken off. The pot is still the right size, but the stems have gotten very heavy and droopy.
Gather And Prep Your Materials
I could have simply ordered a metal plant support, but really wanted something that looked a bit more rustic and natural. So, I decided to take a walk around my yard to see what kind of pliable branches I could scavenge. I have no idea what this shrub is, but it was growing wild in the treeline. The branches were easy to bend and manipulate so I knew it would work perfectly. If you have any Crepe Myrtles or Willows in your yard, those would work well too. Even soft tree suckers should do the trick. I also grabbed some twine to help hold the ring together once it was woven and shaped.
Take your secateurs and clip off all the small twigs and leaves so you have bare branches. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfectly straight.
Weave The Branches
Now it’s time to start weaving the branches together. I recommend wearing gloves for this part, because some of the nubs are a bit sharp. There’s really no right or wrong way to do this. Simply start by twisting two branches together, and then weave other branches to them. Tuck any stray ends into your weave, and it will hold itself together. Once you have them all woven into a bundle, it will look something like this:
Add Support Stakes
The next thing you will need to do is add some vertical stakes into your pot. Be very careful you don’t damage the roots when you hammer them in. I used some branches from a dead cedar tree for this.
The best time to add plant supports is before your plant needs them, but I didn’t manage to get this one done earlier. Otherwise, you’ll be wrestling with the stems and leaves as you work. Add a curious baby goat into the mix, and it really becomes a two person job. There are worse things in life I suppose…
Add Your Support Ring
Once the vertical supports are in place, take the bundle of woven branches and form a circle around the base of your plant. I had to have some help holding the stems up out of the way so I could ‘collar’ the support ring underneath them. Make sure you set your support ring onto the stakes and push it down far enough that it holds firmly. It may take some wiggling – just put the stake through a gap in the woven branches and it will hold just fine. Tie the two ends together with some twine and you’re done!
I just love how natural this plant support looks!
And here’s a view of the support from above:
Here’s how my Philodendron looks after her ‘lift’. So much better!
Making a natural plant support from scavenged branches is such a fun and easy way to add a rustic look to your pots. Even better, it costs nothing and is environmentally friendly. Happy Creating!
