Hi there. I don't think it's ever too late in the year to root prickly pear cactus.I vacationed in florida last year, and when I was there, a neighbor trimmed his prickly pear. I took a few pads. I brought them home (Maine). let them dry on a shelf for a few weeks and potted them both in one pot. I was hoping one of them would root. It was February and last winter was brutal. Long story short, they both rooted, they have been transplanted into separate pots, and one has produced a second pad. They have spent the entire summer on my porch and love it. They are the easiest things to propagate and grow. :) Here is a link that might be useful:

Does any one have prickly pear cactus seeds that I can trade for? Or a cutting from a prickly pear cactus that they would like to trade. See my trade list. I have an unnamed brugmansia (pink or peach) about 8" -10" tall, growing and healthy, that I would trade for a prickly pear cactus or a couple of good sized cuttings.

I know Kansas well. I'm really from Oklahoma, I just happen to live in Raleigh NC at the moment. I've spoken to a guy in California that sent away for opuntia pads from the research station in Bolivia and they sent him some. I'm not sure what sort of credentials he needed but I believe he just explained what he was interested in and they sent him what they had that fit his criteria. There are US Dept of Ag research stations that will send private gardeners plants - you just have to wait a while. They are set up to provide samples to Universities and researchers but if they have material available they will share with the general public. I have had no problem growing prickly pear from seed. With a greenhouse you can keep them growing all year and get sizable plants in a couple of years. You might also just test out different growing methods to see if anything will affect fruit production and quality. I have a completely thornless Opuntia in my garden that seems hardier than most but it rarely blooms or fruits - but that would be another direction to explore. I just got back from Mexico, where I ate grilled cactus pads often. Once the weather warms up and the young pads start to fill out I plan on testing out that technique at home.

Is the brown bit soft and moist? Is that the plant's permanent growing condition, in that bucket-ish container? If so, it is potted far too low. I am not a cactus grower, but I can tell you from reading here that the cactus needs to be in a container with holes in the bottom in a fast draining soil. Most often recommended here is commercial cactus/succulent potting mix combined 50/50 with perlite or pumice from your nursery. If you repot in that pot with the soil level a couple inches from the top, I believe it will be too much potting mix for the plant; it won't dry out fast enough. Other cactus growers will check in here and advise you about the brown area, but I suspect you will have to start over. Personally, I prefer clay pots for these plants which don't like wet feet. Good luck with your plant.