...unless he meant for you to tie it from the bottom? I once worked at a place run by the HSE, where there were small cactus plants in plant boxes on display in the foyer. Inside each box was a very small sign on a stick pushed into the soil, warning you that you must not touch the cactus. "Thank heavens for that sign", I thought, just as I was about to grab a cactus with my ungloved hand....