Rope light mini trees

[Creg]

I need to make a bunch of mini trees. They have these spiral ones in stores that collapse flat - great space saver, but they have very few mini bulbs per tree so I quesiton how effective they'll be.

I was wanting to make the same spiral effect out of rope light. Does anyone have any ideas on how to form the rope light into position so that it keeps it's form? I was thinking wire backing, like coathanger wire, but that would be very tedious. Small tomato plant cage would work, but then wouldn't be collapsable but would likely be stackable.

Would appreciate any ideas.

[NogginBoink]

Tomato plant cages and floral easels seem to be the formers of choice for many. Your suggestion of a collapsible mini tree certainly has merit, though! Let us know if you find anything; I'm sure there'd be a lot of interest here.

[Macrosill]

Creg,
If you want the "collapsible" type the I would buy the spiral trees and just take the minis off and ziptie the ropelight on.

[Warlock]

Another easier idea is to use a piece of pipe.Bury some of it in the ground.Whatever height you use going up go half the distance in a circle around the bottom(exparamented with this and it looks hot).So for example if you do 2 foot high mini trees then go a foot in diameter.You can take a set of 25 lights and divide it in half.Half goes to the front the other goes to the back with light number 25 sitting at the top of the pipe.Then simple drape over the lights.I used tent pegs to anchor the lights to the ground.After all light strings are on then you simply wire up the channels.Everything is flat and perfect this way and stores very easily.Hope this helps as this is a mega tree design that is altered to fit for smaller trees.Looks great lights up nicely as well...