1.)Simply stuff pantihose with with fiberfill (available at fabric stores);  Don't' worry about runs in stocking, it will just add to character of the piece.

2.) Tie excess panty part of pantihose into a knot that you put through a hole or slot in to cardboard circle base;

3.)Add fake thorns (small cones made of paper or toothpicks );  Curly thorns can be made from hot glue.

4.)spray paint entire thing green, with a few flecks of brown/tan paint for texture and flaws. 

5.) If you want a potted cactus, hot glue cardboard base in a pot.  If you need a stand alone floor cactus, then hot glue cardboard to a plywood or weighted base and stage decorate to hide the base.

 

If you want stiffer, add cardboard inside.  Cardboard allows you to make a big paddle shape, or to make round/barrel cactus etc..  This is an easy throw away project for a volunteer.  You can make several small cactii or one large cactii out of a pair of hose, because they stretch.  The whole thing will cost about $5 (if you have to buy the fiberfill and paint) and look surprisingly realistic.

 

All in all a better and more comfortable use of panty hose than the actual real use.

 

I'm directing "Cactus Pass Jamboree" this summer, and was at a loss as to how to fake the cacti.   The entire show takes place in the main town square, and the script calls for "several large cacti."

 

I'll definitely need having a cacti crew of volunteers, I'm thinking.