sending e-mail - Sharon

Karyn, i am sure they will be faster in growth in your hot steamy summers than they are here in cool coastal San Francisco/Berkeley, where they grow well enough, but certainly not fast. I have one planted out in the garden that is now blooming and is about 3 feet tall, it did nothing for me previously when it was still in a container and not getting much direct sun. In habitat in South Africa, it is a forest marginal plant is the subtropical Kwazulu-Natal area, which has a climate much more like Florida than California. It will take abit of frost and drought, but prefers not to. Acid fertilizer and a slightly acidic soil ph is the preferred medium. Good luck getting it to blooming size, the plant is stunning when it is in full bloom...

The roots growing from the underside of the pads are normal. This is often how cuttings of Opuntia root. They can wait months before doing anything and not unusual for them to do nothing until Spring. Generally, with Opuntia, you don't need to do a lot and the cuttings will eventually grow roots.

Mickey with a bad case of acne. Dave