When plants get top heavy and need support, it's Plant Hugger Dude to the rescue!

A super easy and inexpensive project that's a fun conversation piece, it takes less than an hour to make and is a cool novelty gift for someone at the office, a Father's Day Gift, a present for a boyfriend, or a housewarming gift for someone with a good sense of humor!

Most likely you already own some of the materials needed for this project, although you may have to bribe a kid to part with one of his figurines ;)
I bought mine at a garage sale for less than a dollar each!

I hope you have fun with this project!

Step 1: Supplies Needed

1. Most important is a strong figurine with the following qualities:
- Can fit into your planter, and is proportional to the plant that he will be supporting
- Has moveable arms and legs. The arms are especially important, as they will need to be adjusted to encircle the plant stem.

2. One wire coat hanger

3. Wire cutter (strong enough to cut through the coat hanger}

4. Gorilla Glue (or something of similar strength}

5. Water sprayer

6. A drill with a bit the diameter of the coat hanger

7. Safety glasses (when cutting wire - as it can fly when it snaps)

8. And, of course, your plant!

OPTIONAL (for customization)

- Acrylic paint & small brushes or spray paint
- Plaster, water and large tub
- Newspapers to cover work area
- If working with plaster, a face mask and gloves is advised.

Step 2: Cut Coat Hanger Wire

Using safety goggles to protect your eyes, cut the coat hanger into a length that is about 4" longer than the height of your Plant Hugger Dude. It may have to be longer or shorter, depending on the depth of your planter. The ideal length will allow about an inch to go into the figurine, and enough to securely sit in the soil to support both the Plant Hugger Dude AND the plant he's supporting.

Step 3: Bend Wire and Cut to Size

Bend the wire to form an "L" shape, with about one inch on the short end, cutting off any excess wire.

Step 4: Drill Hole in Plant Hugger Dude Figurine

Using a Dremel with a drill bit the diameter of the wire coat hanger, drill a hole in the back of the figurine slightly above the waist.
Test the wire to see if it fits snugly.

Step 5: Glue Wire to Figurine

Put a TINY bit of glue onto the small bent portion of the wire. Keep in mind that Gorilla Glue will expand substantially, so use just the least amount necessary.

IMPORTANT!! Gorilla Glue needs water to become "activated." After putting glue onto the hanger, spray or sprinkle a few drops of water onto the glue and immediately insert it into the figurine.

Hold the wire securely to the figurine and keep an eye on it for about 5-10 minutes because the glue will start to expand. I like to wipe away the excess (for aesthetic reasons) with a small piece of dampened paper towel or q-tip.

Step 6: Place Your Plant Hugger Dude in the Planter Pot

Gently place the wire into the soil, in close proximity to the stem, being careful not to damage the roots or the plant. Gently gather the tender stem and leaves and arrange them in your Planter Hugger Dude's arms, which should encircle the stems.

Optional - If there are many stems going in various directions, you can use a soft string to gather up the stems before arranging them in the Planter Hugger Dude's arms. Don't tie it too tightly or use wire, as it may cut through tender stems and damage them.

Wasn't that fun AND easy?!!

You can even take this a step further by customizing your figurine (see photos, below).
For example, if you're giving this as a gift to someone, you can paint the hair and clothing so it looks like the recipient.

You can also dip the figurine into Plaster of Paris for a cool "geeky" look or spray paint it in a metallic color for a sci-fi "Star Wars" effect. If you do opt for plaster, it's a good idea to seal it with a water resistant top coat, such as Varethane.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Plant Hugger Dude!

You can really get creative with your Plant Hugger Dude, like paint it to look like the recipient, spray paint it a metallic color for a sci-fi "Star Wars" effect (see the photos), or dip it into Plaster of Paris for a geeky look.

Enjoy!! (Oh, and if you did, please remember to vote!!)

Mama Da Vinci