Hi, first post! 

Any insights into how to 'fuse' chilli plants together?

I've currently got three ring of fire chilli plants growing together in one pot and I've carefully 'braided' them over the course of a few months.

However; it would be better if their stems would fuse together. They're all one species and as they grow the braid is getting tighter; is there a way I can encourage fusing? I thought about tying rubber bands around the stems, would that work?