Designer Adenium Stem Sculpture 2 - Twist Basket Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

To be able to twist the cage (or basket) of the Adenium Stem Sculpture, you need to be able to rotate the top half or upper stem of the adenium plant. Rotation may be up to 180 degrees or to the extent that the stem will allow.

Once the cage is twisted, there is a waiting time of two weeks. This will allow the cut adenium strips to partially dry and heal while set into their new curved positions.


How to Twist the Cage - Adenium Stem Sculpture

Materials


  • You will need the adenium plant with the stem that was cut into six strips (shown above) as discussed in Part 1 of this article.


  • Corrugated Cardboard - Cut into a circle, this will be used to rotate the top part of the stem, which in turn, will twist the cage.

  • Bamboo Stick - For cutting into 1-inch lengths and used as spacers.

  • Tape - To help secure the adenium stem to the cardboard. Scotch tape or masking tape will work for this purpose.

  • Map Pin - For punching holes on the cardboard. A thin nail or a big needle will also work for this purpose.

  • Scissors - For cutting the corrugated cardboard.

  • Twist ties - For tying the cardboard to the bamboo sticks.

  • Bamboo stakes - Used as support and hold the cardboard in place. Three 18-inch long bamboo stakes that are half-inch thick were used for the adenium plant.





Procedure

  1. With a pair of scissors, cut a 4-inch circle on the corrugated cardboard as shown below.


  2. With a pin, punch three equidistant holes near the edge of the cardboard circle.


  3. Punch a center hole on the cardboard circle.


  4. Jab the sharp point of a pair of scissors into the punched center hole as shown below. Do not out cut a center hole on the cardboard. The center hole should be snug enough to hold the adenium stem.


  5. With a pair of scissors, cut a radial slit towards the center of the cardboard.


  6. Attach the cardboard to the adenium stem. Push one edge of the slit upward as shown. This will open up the slit and allow you to slide the adenium stem to the center hole of the cardboard. Position 3 bamboo stakes equidistant to each other in the pot as shown below.


  7. Rotate the cardboard clockwise (or counterclockwise, if preferred). The adenium stem should rotate with the cardboard. You may rotate to as much as 180 degrees or to the extent the stem will allow.


  8. To further secure the adenium stem to the cardboard, add adhesive tapes. Insert twist ties into the punched holes near the edge of the cardboard.


  9. Tie the twist ties on the cardboard to the bamboo stakes. This will keep the adenium stem in the rotated position until the adenium stem strips dry and heal.


  10. Shown below is how the twisted cage now looks like.


  11. Insert some bamboo spacers in between the adenium stem strips to keep them in place. The spacers also prevent the adenium stem strips from sticking to each other and rejoining.


  12. Ensure the top and bottom part of the stem are centered and aligned. Keep the adenium plant in a shady place and where it won't be disturbed, preferably, indoors.


    After two weeks, the adenium stem strips have started to dry and heal. The cardboard circle may be removed. By removing the cardboard, you will still have the opportunity to further correct the positions of the adenium stems and strips by bending and manipulation. But to do this, you need to put a support post inside the twisted cage.

  13. Cut a 4-inch plastic drinking straw and insert three 7-inch thin wires (or twist ties) inside. The plastic straw must be stiff enough. This cut plastic drinking straw will become a central support post


  14. It will be used to support the upper half of the adenium plant. The thin wires inside will attach the upper and lower stems to the support post.


  15. Insert the support post inside the twist cage. Flare out the thin wire ends and position one wire in between two adenium stem strip as shown below.


  16. Secure the top end of the support post to the upper stem by tying the thin wires together.


  17. Secure the bottom end of the support post to the lower stem by tying the thin wires together.


  18. At this time, take the opportunity to straighten the upper and lower stems by bending and massaging.


  19. This will keep the upper and lower stems as vertical and as centrally-aligned as possible.


  20. Massage and bend the adenium stem strips so they will curve at the right places.


  21. You may retain the bamboo stakes to support the adenium plant and keep it upright.


  22. Or you may choose to remove the bamboo stakes together if the support post is adequate in keeping the adenium plant upright. Remove some of the old leaves if the upper half is too heavy. Again, put the plant in a shady place where it will not be disturbed.


  23. After two months, the cuts would have healed and the plant recovered. The adenium plant would have continued to grow and is now top-heavy. With a sharp knife or razor blade, cut the top half of the plant at a point around 3 inches above the twisted cage (or basket) as shown below.


  24. After cutting the top half, untie the wires and remove the center support post. The plant will regrow and re-branch. After 10 months, the plant will be looking like the one below:



Notice that in the last photo, all the adenium stem and the six strips have thickened. The six adenium strips have completely healed and have hardened. They now have the same color as the main plant.

Finally, here's the youtube video for this tutorial:


Enjoy!









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