Easy DIY Big Cactus Plant Using Pool Noodles

Thinking of getting a cactus plant but afraid that you’ll not be able to care for it? How about just making a DIY instead buying a real one? This DIY big cactus plant from DIY Lily Ardor on Youtube only used a couple of pool noodles and some easy materials. It’s a fun DIY project you can make with your friends over the weekend! Watch the video below to learn the step-by-step instructions.

Materials:

• utility knife
• foam sealant
• plaster of Paris
• two dowels
• 2 – 3 paintbrushes
• scissors
• level
• terracotta pot
• tape
• pool noodle
• mixing bowl + brush
• sharpie
• interior paint in dark green and light green

Directions:

Step 1

To begin, measure your pot to determine where your dowels sit. It can also act as support for the dowels. Before securing your dowels with foam, install first the pool noodles onto them just to see where you wanted your cactus to sit. After this, remove the pool noodles and use your level to see if the dowels were sitting straight, then fill the pot with foam. (Don’t fill your pot up as it will expand as it dries.) Make a few oblongs also on saran wrap to use as the cactus arms. Let it sit overnight and remove the tape in the morning. Next, insert the pool noodles and add foam inside the pool noodles from the top as much as you could, and left a blob of foam on top to get that round top a cactus has. Let this set overnight. Once it dries, use a sharp knife to shape the top and start marking the cactus shape. (Simply use a sharpie and mark lines about an inch apart from the to the bottom.)

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Step 2

After drawing the lines, start tracing those lines with a utility knife and cut strips out of the cactus. You’ll also need to do the same cuts in your little cactus arms. Next, to make the cactus have a smoother texture, plaster it. in a bowl, combine a small amount of plaster and work fast as it dries fast. Brush two coats of this on your cactus to eliminate the foam texture. Let this set overnight, then sand it. Now, after sanding, bring your cactus out for painting. Start off by giving it a solid coat of your darkest green. After it dries, add lighter tones. To add the prickles, cut a brush into little pieces, then use the mod podge and dotted it into your cactus about one inch apart. After this, stuck the prickles onto the mod podge and let it dry. Once your prickles are dry, use hot glue to attach the cactus arms beneath.

Easy DIY Big Cactus Plant Using Pool Noodles